Building Better from LEED to Living: An Approach to Net Zero Water Management

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorAssefa, Getachew
dc.contributor.authorFatima, Kulsum
dc.contributor.committeememberTyler, Mary Ellen
dc.contributor.committeememberHilmi, Tawab
dc.date2025-02
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-17T21:54:39Z
dc.date.available2025-01-17T21:54:39Z
dc.date.issued2024-12
dc.description.abstractIn view of the increased concerns about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), there is a need to minimize water-related challenges and maximize water security and availability through sustainable green building practices. As significant water consumers, university campuses play a crucial role in addressing water-related challenges. By focusing on water-efficient buildings to achieve net-zero water management and exploring the influence of green building practices, universities can contribute to the UNSDGs, particularly in promoting sustainable water management, climate action, and the development of resilient communities. This thesis explores the influence of green building practices on water management by comparing objectives, directives, and applications suggested by the LEED certification system and the Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification system. It aims to understand the advantages and challenges in transitioning UCalgary from LEED-guided water-efficient operations to LBC-compliant net-zero water operations. This research evaluates best practices from three design precedent sites: CIRS at the University of British Columbia, Bullitt Center with the University of Washington, and Kendeda Building at Georgia Institute of Technology. For this purpose, two evaluation frameworks are used: Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) and Water Literacy Assessment Framework (WLF). UCalgary and design precedent sites are evaluated using the PAF and WLF frameworks to identify challenges and barriers to water performance efficiency and improve water management practices. This research hopes to encourage decision-makers and practitioners at higher education institutions (HEIs) to achieve net-zero compliance as per LBC, minimize performance gaps and water-related challenges, motivate water managers to develop an operational net-zero water scenario, and incentivize water users to support this scenario by promoting good water use behaviours on HEI campuses. This research provides insights into the factors influencing the adoption of LEED and LBC at higher education institutions. It also highlights the challenges and barriers project teams involved in LEED and LBC applications face. Additionally, the research identifies problem situations related to selecting and determining water strategies for LBC compliance. The understanding gained from this research is valuable for addressing the complexities of water management and promoting the appreciation and value included in the joy and everyday understanding of water.
dc.identifier.citationFatima, K. (2025). Building better from LEED to living: an approach to net zero water management (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/120502
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.facultyArts
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgary
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectgreen building practices
dc.subjectwater performance gaps,
dc.subjectnet-zero water management
dc.subjecthigher education institutions (HEI)
dc.subjectUNSDG6
dc.subject.classificationArchitecture
dc.titleBuilding Better from LEED to Living: An Approach to Net Zero Water Management
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineEnvironmental Design
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudentI do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
ucalgary_2024_fatima_kulsum.pdf
Size:
22.16 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.62 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Open Theses and Dissertations