InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Water Sustainability in Cities > Student Materials > Unit 5: Net Zero Water Buildings
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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These student materials complement the Water Sustainability in Cities Instructor Materials. If you would like your students to have access to the student materials, we suggest you either point them at the Student Version which omits the framing pages with information designed for faculty (and this box). Or you can download these pages in several formats that you can include in your course website or local Learning Managment System. Learn more about using, modifying, and sharing InTeGrate teaching materials.

Unit 5: Net Zero Water Buildings

Welcome to the unit covering the concept of Net Zero Water for buildings. In this unit, you will learn to estimate indoor water demand, then combine it with estimates of outdoor water demand from Unit 4, and consider the Net Zero potential of a case study building using precipitation records.

Pre-class Activities

Come to class prepared by completing the following:

  • See Pre-Class Activity Handout (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 20kB Sep13 15)
  • Read "Water Conservation" by Joseph Bourg.
  • Watch Video: U-Miami's New "Net-Zero Water" Dorm from P.W. Grosser Consulting.
  • Provide responses to the following:
    • In your own words, explain the concept of Net Zero Water for buildings (< 3 sentences).
    • Provide a list and one-sentence description of three best practices to help buildings achieve Net Zero Water.

In-class Activities

Activity 5.1 Net Zero Water of Building: Part 1. Baseline Indoor Water Use Estimation

In this activity, you will work with a spreadsheet to estimate indoor water use.

a. See Net Zero Water Activity Handout (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 23kB Sep11 16)

b. Review the indoor water use spreadsheet (Excel 2007 macro-enabled (.xlsm) 123kB Aug26 16)

c. Work in teams to complete the Part 1 activity described in the handout.

Activity 5.1 Net Zero Water of Building: Part 2. Reducing Indoor Water Use

In this activity, you will explore ways to reduce indoor water use through conservation practices.

a. Complete Tables 3 and 5 from spreadsheet to estimate the water savings from conservation practices.

b. Select and enter your choices into the spreadsheet following instructions in activity handout.

c. Be prepared to report and describe your results.

Activity 5.1 Net Zero Water of Building: Part 3. Evaluate Plan for Net Zero Water

In this activity, you will synthesize completed work to evaluate the potential of the case study building to achieve Net Zero Water.

a. Review the second spreadsheet used in this activity, Net Zero Water Check Spreadsheet (Excel 2007 (.xlsx) 14kB Sep13 15)

b. You will notice Outdoor Water Use is already inserted into the Net Zero Water Check spreadsheet.

c. Enter your annual indoor water use values for baseline and design scenarios.

d. Evaluate the potential for the CME building case study to achieve Net Zero Water (check your water budget and total the monthly differences).

e. Report your answers

These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »