Which metric is most commonly used to measure facility water efficiency?

• A. Carbon intensity
• B. Water use intensity
• C. Percent waste recycled
• D. Energy use intensity

Answer: (B)

Water use intensity is the metric most commonly used to measure facility water efficiency because it normalizes water use to the size or level of activity of the facility. By expressing water use per unit of output or per unit of floor area (for example, gallons per square foot per year or liters per square meter per year), it allows fair comparisons between buildings of different sizes and production levels and makes it easier to track improvements over time.

Other metrics focus on different resources or outcomes: energy use intensity looks at energy per area or output, carbon intensity tracks emissions per unit of production, and percent waste recycled measures waste management performance. They don’t directly describe how efficiently water is being used, which is why water use intensity is the most appropriate choice for evaluating facility water efficiency.