Ask an Engineer: Building Water Use

What type of commercial building has the highest water usage?

The ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager tracks energy and water usage for more than 50,000 U.S. commercial buildings. According to the information gathered in Portfolio Manager, total water use and water use intensity (WUI) in gallons per square foot vary greatly based on the type of building. Buildings in which people live as well as work have the highest WUI.

Senior care facilities have highest water use intensity at about 60 gallons per square foot. Hospitals and hotels have a WUI exceeding 50 per square foot. Other high users include multifamily housing and residence halls. By comparison, office buildings have a WUI of about 13 gallons per square foot.

The following are some simple tips for reduce facility water use:

•Find and repair all water leaks
•Install faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads
•For kitchen and laundries, run dishwashers and clothes waters on full loads only
•Regularly maintain all water-using equipment
•Water the lawn or landscaping only at morning or night
•Adjust sprinklers to water the lawn only — not the street or sidewalk

See Best Management Practices from the U.S. Environment Protection Agency for information and resources about conserving water at your facility.

For more information, visit our Commercial Water Conservation Rebate Program page at ladwp.com/cwr, or contact your account advisor.