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WATER

Qualitative Analysis
1 Composting Toilet

Composting Toilets Principles

Source: Smithgroup

Composting Toilets Principles

Source: Smithgroup

Composting Toilets 

Source: http://www.solaripedia.com/13/283/3124/chesapeake_bay_foundation_composting_toilet.html

  • Composting toilets, which were purchased for all the restrooms, use minimal water to maintain appropriate levels of moisture for decomposition.

  • The resulting compost is nutrient rich, and has the opportunity to be used as a fertilizer

  • Waste is controlled on-site where it cannot leach into the surrounding ecology.

  • Composting toilets save approximately $2,100 per year on water and sewage rates compared to an office of 100 people with conventional toilets.

 

Source: Smithgroup case study

http://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/offices-operations/philip-merrill-environmental-center/savings-of-building-green

2 Rain Water Collection System

Rainwater Collection System 

Source: Smithgroup

  • Three large cisterns located on the front roof of the building collect and store filtered rainwater.

  • Rainwater is reused for all allowable functions inside the building - contributing to the buildings low water use.

  • It also reduced the need to draw from wells as a source of water.

     

     

     

    Source: Smithgroup

     

     

     

     

     

     

Rainwater Collection System 

Source: Prakash Patel, courtesy of SmithGroup

3 Other Green Strategies

  • Uses bio retention filter to treat oil and other pollutants in runoff from the previous parking area. 

  • Install gravel paving in a matrix to retain permeability

  • Use planted swales instead of curbs and gutters

  • Design a constructed wetland for pollutant removal from storm water

  • Select plants for drought tolerance

  • Use automatic faucet controls for lavatories

 

Source: https://buildingdata.energy.gov/project/chesapeake-bay-foundations-philip-merrill-environmental-center

Source: http://www.cbe.berkeley.edu/mixedmode/chesapeake.html

Quantitative Analysis
1 Water Use Data

Source: http://www.buildinggreen.com/hpb/site.cfm?ProjectID=69

2 Water Saving Data

  • In total about 83 percent of used water came from the cisterns, with the remainder being sourced from an on-site well.

  • The combination of the catchment system and other water strategies resulted in the building using 94 percent less water than the average office building. CBF uses ~10% the water of a conventional office building

 

Source: Smithgroup case study

Qualitative

  • Composting Toilet

  • Rain Water Collection System

  • Other Green Strategies

 

Quantitative

  • Water Use Data

  • Water Saving Data

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