LEED

How To Achieve Water Efficient

Credits
Water Supply vs. Water Demand

World population is expected to

increase from 5.9 billion to 8.9
billion by 2050

By 2025, it is estimated that 3

billion people will live in cities
that are considered water
stressed based on their
population to water ratio

Climatic changes are estimated

to change the availability of
fresh water

Ground water is being used at

rates higher than the capacity
for recharge
Water Conservation and Irrigation Efficiency

Effects of Irrigation Water

Landscape irrigation can
increase average water use by
over 100% during the hottest
seasons.

Water demand, water quality

and habitat protection issues
make water supplies more
expensive and difficult to find.

Typical Irrigation systems do

not conserve water.
 Evaluates environmental performance from a
whole building perspective over a buildings
life cycle
Applies only to projects, not products or
services
www.usgbc.org
 LEED Rating Systems

LEED for Existing Buildings

LEED for New Construction
LEED for Commercial Interiors
LEED for Core and Shell
LEED for Schools
LEED for Retail
LEED for Healthcare
LEED for Homes
LEED for Homes Midrise Multi-family
LEED for Neighborhoods
 Additional LEED Rating Systems
with WE Points

Those following the same WE requirements as LEED for

New Construction
LEED for Commercial Interiors
LEED for Core and Shell
LEED for Schools
LEED for Retail (not released)
LEED for Healthcare (not released)
 LEED for New Construction
Point Categories
(14 pts.)
Materials &
Resources (15 pts.)
Indoor
Environmental
Quality

(26 pts.)
Sustainable
(35 pts.)
Sites
Energy &
Atmosphere
(10 pts.)
Water
Innovation & Design Process: 5 points Efficiency
LEED Accredited Professional: 1 point
Regional Priority: 4 points
Categories for LEED for New Construction

Total of 10 possible points in Water Efficiency (WE)

category
Category includes:
WE Credit 1: Water Efficient Landscaping (4 points)
WE Credit 2: Innovative Wastewater Technologies
(2 point)
WE Credit 3: Water Use Reduction 30% Reduction
(2-4 points)
WE Credit 1: Water Efficient Landscaping
(4 points)
WE Credit 1.1: Reduce by 50% (2 Points)
WE Credit 1.2: No Potable Water Use or No
Irrigation (2 Points in addition to WE Credit 1.1)
 WE Credit 1.1: Water Efficient Landscaping:
Reduce by 50% (2 Points)
Intent
Limit or eliminate the use of potable water, or other natural surface or subsurface
water resources available on or near the project site, for landscape irrigation.

Requirements
Reduce potable water consumption for irrigation by 50% from a calculated mid-
summer baseline case.
Reductions shall be attributed to any combination of the following items:
Plant species, density and microclimate factor
Irrigation efficiency
Use of captured rainwater
Use of recycled wastewater
Use of water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for non-
potable uses

Groundwater seepage that is pumped away from the immediate vicinity of building
slabs and foundations can be used for landscape irrigation to meet the intent of this
credit. However, it must be demonstrated that doing so does not affect site
stormwater management systems.
 WE Credit 1.1: Water Efficient Landscaping:
Reduce by 50% (2 Points)
Potential Strategies
Use most appropriate plant material for the project climate
Use native or adapted plants to reduce or eliminate irrigation
Use high-efficiency equipment when irrigation is required
Use climate-based controllers
 Case Study 1

Social Sciences Building

Lewis & Clark College
Portland, OR

LEED Gold
Landscape Architect: WalkerMacy
Lewis & Clark College

Social Sciences Building - LEED Gold

Integrated Stormwater / Irrigation System
Social Sciences Building Lewis & Clark College

LEED Gold
Integrated Stormwater / Irrigation System
Social Sciences Building Lewis & Clark College

Native and adaptive plantings

allow for a reduced irrigation
schedule

Lawn areas have been minimized

LEED Gold
Integrated Stormwater / Irrigation System
Social Sciences Building Lewis & Clark College

x On-Site roof water

is collected,
drained, and
stored in the water
quality gardens
surrounding the
social sciences
building

LEED Gold
Integrated Stormwater / Irrigation System
Social Sciences Building Lewis & Clark College

LEED Gold
Integrated Stormwater / Irrigation System
Social Sciences Building Lewis & Clark College

LEED Gold
Integrated Stormwater / Irrigation System
Social Sciences Building Lewis & Clark College

Central Control
using
evapotranspiration
ET
Social Sciences Building Lewis & Clark College

Strategy to achieve 50%

reduction
Minimize Lawn
Use drought tolerant plants
Re-use storm water
Irrigation management with
central control using ET
Optimize system efficiency using
proper design and products such
as PRS and drip equipment
 Proving Water Use Reduction
LEED Water Calculator
PRS Calculator
Case Studies
 LEED Water Calculator
Tool to compare:
stereotypical plant and irrigation system
vs.
using drought tolerant plants and water efficient irrigation
technology
Accounts for vegetation, microclimates, and
irrigation method
Compares Baseline Case to Design Case
Can be used to demonstrate your system design
reduces potable water use by 50% over baseline
case.
LEED Water Calculator
LEED Water Calculator
 WE Credit 1.2: Water Efficient Landscaping:
No Potable Water Use or No Irrigation
(2 Points in addition to WE Credit 1.1)
Intent
Eliminate the use of potable water, or other natural surface or subsurface water
resources available on or near the project site, for landscape irrigation.

Requirements
Achieve WE Credit 1.1 AND:
OPTION 1
Use only captured rainwater, recycled wastewater, recycled greywater, or water
treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for non-potable uses for
irrigation.
OR
OPTION 2
Install landscaping that does not require permanent irrigation systems. Temporary
irrigation systems used for plant establishment are allowed only if removed within
one year of installation.
If the Percent Reduction of Potable Water is 100% AND the Percent Reduction of Total
Water is equal to or greater than 50%, WE Credit 1.2 is earned in addition to WE Credit
1.1.
 WE Credit 1.2: Water Efficient Landscaping:
No Potable Water Use or No Irrigation
(2 Points in addition to WE Credit 1.1)
Potential Technologies & Strategies
Perform a soil/climate analysis to determine appropriate landscape types and
design the landscape with indigenous plants to reduce or eliminate irrigation
requirements. Consider using stormwater, greywater, and/or condensate water for
irrigation.
 Case Study 2

Hillsdale Library
Portland, OR

LEED Silver
Landscape Architect: WalkerMacy
 Hillsdale Library

LEED Gold
Preservation of Existing Vegetation / No permanent Irrigation
 Hillsdale Library

Designed for LEED Silver

Preservation of Existing Vegetation / No permanent Irrigation
 Hillsdale Library

LEED Gold
Preservation of Existing Vegetation / No permanent Irrigation
 Hillsdale Library

LEED Gold
Preservation of Existing Vegetation / No permanent Irrigation
WE Credit 2: Innovative Wastewater
Technologies (2 points)
OPTION 1
Reduce potable water use for building sewage by 50% by using
water-conserving fixtures or non-potable water (captured rainwater,
recycled greywater, and on-site or municipally treated wastewater).

OR

OPTION 2
Treat 50% of wastewater on-site to tertiary standards. Treated water
must be infiltrated or used on-site.
 Innovative Wastewater Technologies
Reclaimed Water

LEGOLAND
Carlsbad, CA
90% of water used for
irrigation is recycled
Higher levels of chlorine
in reclaimed water
systems
Innovative Wastewater Technologies
Captured Storm-water

Storage
Filter
Pump
Meter
Low Volume
Irrigation
WE Credit 3: Water Use Reduction
(2-4 points)
WE Prerequisite 1: Water Use Reduction: 20% Reduction is
REQUIRED
Employ strategies that in aggregate use 30%-40% (2-4 points) less
water than the water use baseline calculated for the building (not
including irrigation).
30% reduction, 2 points
35% reduction, 3 points
40% reduction, 4 points
 RP Credit 1: Regional Priority Credit (14 Points)

Intent
To provide incentive for the achievement of credits that
address geographically-specific environmental priorities.

Requirements
Earn one of the six Regional Priority credits to a
maximum of 4 credits per project

Credits identified as having additional regional

environmental importance by the USGBC Regional
Councils and Chapters for the projects location.
 RP Credit 1: Regional Priority Credit (14 Points)

74 Regional Chapters in U.S.

Alabama Chapter Detroit Regional Chapter Los Angeles Chapter Northern California Chapter

Arizona Chapter East Tennessee Chapter Louisiana Chapter Northern Gulf Coast Chapter

Arkansas Chapter Flatwater Chapter Maine Chapter Northwest Ohio Chapter

Baltimore Regional Chapter Florida Capital Region Chapter Memphis Regional Chapter Oklahoma Chapter

CA Central Coast Chapter (C4) Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Middle Tennessee Chapter Orange County Chapter

Cascadia Region Green Building Council Georgia Chapter Mississippi Chapter Piedmont Triad (NC) Chapter

Central California Chapter Greater Houston Area Chapter Mississippi Headwaters (MN) Chapter Redwood Empire Chapter

Central Florida Chapter Hampton Roads Green Building Council Missouri Heartland Chapter Rhode Island Chapter

Central Illinois Chapter Hawaii Chapter Montana Chapter San Diego Chapter

Central Texas-Balcones Chapter Heart of Florida Chapter National Capital Region Chapter South Carolina Chapter

Charlotte Region Chapter Idaho Chapter Nevada Chapter South Florida Chapter

Chicago Chapter Indiana Chapter New Jersey Chapter Southwest Virginia Chapter

Chihuahuan Desert Chapter Inland Empire Chapter New Mexico Chapter St. Louis Regional Chapter

Cincinnati Regional Chapter Iowa Chapter New York Chapter U.S. Caribbean Chapter

Colorado Chapter James River Green Building Council New York Upstate Chapter Utah Chapter

Connecticut State Chapter Kansas City Chapter North Carolina Triangle Chapter Vermont Green Building Network

Delaware Valley Green Building Council Kentucky Chapter North Florida Chapter West Michigan Chapter

Long Island Chapter North Texas Chapter

 Additional LEED Rating Systems
with WE Points
LEED for Existing Buildings
WE Credit 1: Water Performance Measurement (2 points)
WE Credit 1.1: Have in place a permanently installed
water meter that measures total water use for the entire
building and associated grounds (1 point)
WE Credit 1.2: Meet the requirement for WE 1.1 and have
in place permanently installed water sub-meter serving at
least 80% of the irrigated landscape area on the grounds
excluding non-routine irrigated areas. (1 point)
 Additional LEED Rating Systems
with WE Points
LEED for Existing Buildings
WE Credit 3: Water Efficient Landscaping (3 points)
WE Credit 3.1: 50% reduction in potable water use for
irrigation over conventional means of irrigation (1 point)
WE Credit 3.2: 75% reduction in potable water use for
irrigation over conventional means of irrigation (2 points)
WE Credit 3.3: 100% reduction in potable water use for
irrigation over conventional means of irrigation (3 points)
 Other Credits Associated with Irrigation

ID Credit 1: Innovation in Design (1-5 points)

Points for exceptional innovative performance
Example: Instructional educational program,
manual or outreach program/tour that includes
on-site signage which calls attention to water-
conserving landscape features
 Other Credits Associated with Irrigation

ID Credit 2: LEED Accredited Professional (1 point)

At least one principal participant of the project team shall be a LEED
Accredited Professional (AP).

MR Credit 5.1/5.2: Materials and Resources

(Recycled Content) (1-2 points)
Use materials with recycled content
Example: Rain Birds black valve box bodies and black lids
contain 100% recycled HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
to qualify for this credit.
Recycled Material
Valve Boxes
Points for Recycled
material
Cumulative for
project
Based on
percentage of
overall material
costs
Rain Bird products & LEED
 Improve Irrigation Efficiency
Landscapes are over watered
Distribution
Improve uniformity
Control
Smart Control Reduce Water Waste
 Key Technologies to Conserve Water
1. Operates Based 2. Flow Sensing and 3. Pressure
on Weather and Leak Detection/ Regulation
Evapotranspiration Prevention
9 PRS Sprays &
(ET)
9 Central Control Rotors
9 Central Controls
9 SAM Check 9 PRS Swing Joint
9 ET Manager Valves
9 PRS-Dial
9 Booster Pumps
4. High-Efficiency 5. Low Volume and 6. Durability / Low
Nozzles Direct to Root Maintenance to
Perform as
9 U-Series 9 Landscape Drip
Specified
9 Rotary Nozzle 9 Root Watering
9 Technology for
Series
9 MPR long life and low
maintenance
9 Rain Curtain
 Keys to Demonstrating Water
Conservation
1. Operates Based 2. High-Efficiency 3. Pressure Regulation
on Weather and Nozzles
9 PRS Sprays &
Evapotranspiration
9 U-Series Rotors
(ET)
9 Rotary Nozzle 9 PRS Swing Joint
9 Central Controls
9 MPR 9 PRS-Dial
9 ET Manager
9 Rain Curtain 9 Booster Pumps

4. Low Volume and

Direct to Root
9 Landscape Drip
9 Root Watering
Series
 Central Control
Multi-Site Control System
Maxicom
SiteControl
IQ
 Smart Stand Alone Clocks
ET Manager
A simple, low-cost means to use weather data to
automatically control irrigation for any sprinkler
system.

+ +
 Rain Measurement
vs.
Rain Shut-off

Sensor = Automatic shut off during

rainfall
Gauge = Measures quantity of rainfall

Rain Sensor

Rain Gauges
 The Mysterious CE Number
Controller efficiency can vary widely

Use manufacturer site reports to justify

20,000,000

January
15,000,000 February
March 2 year
April
savings
Gallons

May
Used

10,000,000 June approx.

July 56 million
August gallons
September
5,000,000 October
(42%)
November
December
0
2000 2001 2002 2003
2000 Total: 2001 Total: 2002 Total: 2003 Total:
55.0 Million 79.2 Million 42.6 Million 35.1 Million
Gallons Gallons Gallons Gallons
 Inland Empires Utility Agency
Chino, CA LEED Platinum

http://www.rainbird.com/landscape/site_reports/index.htm
 Low Volume Irrigation

Drip Irrigation Achieves 90% efficiency

Square foot per square foot this equals about 31%
improvement over conventional
 Managing Pressure
PRS -Pressure Regulating System
 1800 PRS Series
Ensures optimal performance at
30 PSI
Eliminates fogging & misting
Restricts water loss by 70% if the
nozzle is damaged or removed
 PRS Calculator

http://www.rainbird.com/calculators/4steps.htm
 PRS Calculator

http://www.rainbird.com/calculators/4steps.htm
 PRS Swing Joints
Pressure regulating
swing joints
Factory set at:
@ 45 PSI
1 @ 70 PSI
 PRS-Dial Pressure Regulator
Regulates from 15 to 100
psi at 3 psi accuracy
Adjustment knob
with detents permit
fine tune adjustments
in 1/3 psi increments
Low Pressure
Donuts - no close-in watering
 Pressure = Efficient Performance
Dont run zones longer
to compensate for poor
efficiency
Provide enough
pressure
Variable Frequency
Drives = Energy Efficient
Properly sized pump
stations operate
efficiently
Catch Can Testing
Water Audits
Good Square Spacing
Low Pressure (SC=2.2)
U-Series Nozzles Use 30% less water*

Patented dual-orifice delivers

most uniform coverage
Highly efficient distribution
Superior close-in watering
Shorter run times
 Rotary Nozzle
Low precip. rate of 0.60 in/hr
Higher Efficiency: 0.75
Matched precipitation rate (MPR)
with 5000 Plus MPR Nozzles
 LEED Resources
Your local Rain Bird representative.
More training with Rain Bird Academy: www.rainbird.com/training
Rain Bird Catalog: www.rainbird.com
CAD Details: www.rainbird.com
Water Saving Calculators: www.rainbird.com
Local USGBC Chapter
LEED Training Courses www.gbci.org
LEED Online V3 www.leedonline.org requires account to log-in.
Case Studies, Economic Analyses, White Papers on USGBC
Website: www.usgbc.org
World Green Building Council: www.worldgbc.org
 Summary

ET management of irrigation controllers provide highest

degree of system control
Rain gauges are necessary for accurate ET based
irrigation control
Proper pressure not too high or too low is necessary
for optimum efficiency
Rotors and rotary nozzles achieve most efficient
broadcast irrigation coverage
Drip irrigation provides the highest degree of efficiency
Water Conservation & Quality Protection