October 2012
2-5
Building owners and operators should consider installing separate submeters to
measure specific end uses that are permanently plumbed, as indicated in Table 2-1.
For more information and additional recommendations on metering and subme-
tering, review the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® rating system
3
and the 2012
International Green Construction Code.™
4
Table 2-1. Submetering Recommendations
2.2
Metering and Submetering
3
Ibid.
4
International Code Council.
2012
International Green Construction Code
.
™
.
Submeter Application
Recommendation
Tenant Spaces
Meter all tenant spaces individually.
Cooling Towers
Meter cooling tower make-up water and blowdown water
supply lines. A single make-up meter and a single blowdown
meter can record flows for multiple cooling towers if they are
controlled with the same system. Separately controlled cool-
ing towers should have separate make-up and blowdown
water meters.
Heating, Ventilating,
and Air Conditioning
(
HVAC) Systems
Individually or collectively meter HVAC systems with ag-
gregate annual water use of 100,000 gallons or more or if
the facility has 50,000 square feet or more of conditioned
space. Metered systems should include evaporative coolers,
humidifiers, mist cooling devices, and recirculating water
systems with a fill water connection, such as chilled water,
hot water, and dual temperature systems.
Steam Boilers
Meter the make-up water supply line to steam boilers with
a rating of 500,000 British thermal units per hour (Btu/h) or
greater. A single make-up meter can record flows for mul-
tiple boilers.
Single-Pass Cooling
Systems
Meter any systems or equipment that use single-pass cool-
ing water and do not use a chilled water system or closed-
loop recirculation.
Irrigation
Meter irrigation systems that are automatically controlled.
Roof Spray Systems
Meter roof spray systems for irrigating vegetated roofs or
thermal conditioning.
Ornamental Water
Features
Meter make-up water supply lines for ornamental water
features with a permanently installed water supply.
Pools and Spas
Meter make-up water supply lines for indoor and outdoor
pools and spas.
Industrial Processes
Individually meter industrial processes consuming more
than 1,000 gallons per day on average.
(
continued)
