Water Practices

Low-flow and Proximity Systems

• Use of shower heads, water faucets, toilets and urinals with flow rates that meet or exceed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards 
• Electronic proximity sensors for faucets and urinals in a number of buildings.

Cooling Systems

• "Once through" cooling systems for air conditioners, compressed air coolers, stand-by generators, electron microscopes, lasers, MRIs, etc. are gradually being eliminated in campus buildings and replaced by close looped systems.
  
  Why does it matter?"Once through" systems are inferior because they waste water and increase the load on sanitary sewer systems, and because they use potable water simply to remove heat.  That potable water is used once, then poured down the drain.

Waste Water

• Chernoff Hall has a built-in system to neutralize the acidic nature of waste water from its facilities

Storm Water

• Restricted flow roof drains (currently installed on approximately 15% of Queen's buildings) are used to reduce peak loading on storm sewers.
• Pervious surfaces, such as green areas and gravel parking surfaces help reduce storm water run-off.