What is the minimum water cycle requirement to earn 2 points for Cooling Tower Water Use?

The requirement to earn 2 points for Cooling Tower Water Use under the LEED BD+C V4 credits is achieving a minimum of 10 cycles of concentration. This standard is based on the idea that increasing the cycles of concentration will reduce the overall water consumption of cooling towers by maximizing the effective use of water and minimizing the demand for makeup water from potable sources.

Cooling towers have a significant impact on overall water use in buildings, as they often require large amounts of water for cooling. By ensuring at least 10 cycles of concentration, projects encourage the implementation of efficient systems that recycle water use instead of relying heavily on fresh, potable water. This practice not only promotes sustainability but also aligns with water conservation efforts.

Higher cycles of concentration can lead to potential scaling and maintenance challenges, which is why 10 is identified as a practical threshold for achieving the balance between efficiency and operational reliability in cooling tower systems. Hence, 10 cycles is deemed sufficient for significant water savings while still being manageable for typical systems used in practice.