L E E D A N D WAT E R E F F I C I E N CY C R E D I TS
L E E D ( L e a d e r s h i p i n E n e rg y a n d
E nv i ro n m e n t a l D e s i g n ) i s o n e o f t h e
m o re we l l - k n ow n g re e n b u i l d i n g
certifications in the United States. A
LEED-certified building meets
s t r i n g e n t s u s t a i n a b i l i t y re q u i re m e n t s
i n s eve ra l d i f f e re n t c a t e g o r i e s . A s
ex p re s s e d i n t h e t a g l i n e , “ B e t t e r
b u i l d i n g s a re o u r l e g a c y,” t h e L E E D
p ro g ra m s e e k s t o e n c o u ra g e
s u s t a i n a b l e p ra c t i c e s i n t h e wa y
t h a t b u i l d i n g s a re p l a n n e d ,
constructed, maintained and
o p e ra t e d . L E E D c e r t i f i c a t i o n i s
ove r s e e n by t h e U . S . G re e n B u i l d i n g
Council (USGBC).
L E E D G OA L S
Ac c o rd i n g t o t h e U S G B C , t h e g o a l s
f o r a n y L E E D p ro j e c t a re t o :
• Enhance individual human health
a n d we l l - b e i n g ,
• P ro t e c t a n d re s t o re w a t e r
re s o u rc e s ,
• P ro t e c t , e n h a n c e a n d re s t o re
b i o d i ve r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m
services,
LEED Certification Overview & Credits for Water Usage June 2016
• P ro m o t e s u s t a i n a b l e a n d
re g e n e ra t i ve m a t e r i a l re s o u rc e s
c yc l e s ,
• R eve r s e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o g l o b a l
climate change,
• B u i l d a g re e n e r e c o n o m y,
• E n h a n c e s o c i a l e q u i t y,
e nv i ro n m e n t a l j u s t i c e , a n d
community quality of life.
W h y wo u l d yo u wa n t a L E E D -
certified building or project?
B u s i n e s s e s a n d h o m e ow n e r s h ave
va r i o u s re a s o n s f o r s e e k i n g L E E D
c e r t i f i c a t i o n . A f ew o f t h e p o p u l a r
re a s o n s i n c l u d e :
Sustainability – Many companies
a re m a k i n g s u s t a i n a b i l i t y a c o re p a r t
of their business plan or long-term
g o a l s . A g re e n b u i l d i n g i s a way t o
d e m o n s t ra t e p ro g re s s t owa rd s t h o s e
goals.
G ove r n m e n t I n c e n t i ve s – S o m e c i t i e s
o r s t a t e s o f f e r i n c e n t i ve s f o r g re e n
b u i l d i n g p ra c t i c e s . F o r ex a m p l e ,
Fa n n i e M a e o f f e r s l owe r i n t e re s t ra t e s
t o m u l t i f a m i l y p ro p e r t i e s w i t h a L E E D
certification.
L o n g -Te r m S a v i n g s – M o re e f f i c i e n t
b u i l d i n g s a n d h o m e s re d u c e o p e ra t i n g
c o s t s : l owe r e n e rg y b i l l s , l owe r wa t e r
b i l l s . L o n g - t e r m s av i n g s o f t e n o f f s e t
t h e c o s t s o f i n i t i a l i n ve s t m e n t s .
Public Relations – The ability of
c o m p a n i e s t o re p o r t o n p o s i t i ve
e nv i ro n m e n t a l p ra c t i c e s t o t h e p re s s
o r i n a n n u a l re p o r t s c a n b e ve r y
p owe r f u l . Ad o b e , f o r ex a m p l e , h a s
re c e i ve d p o s i t i ve p re s s c ove ra g e f o r
its LEED certifications in multiple
buildings.
Real Estate Profitability – A business
c a s e s t u d y ex a m i n i n g t h e S a n D i e g o
re a l e s t a t e m a r ke t s h owe d t h a t t h e
ove ra l l va c a n c y ra t e f o r g re e n
b u i l d i n g s wa s f o u r p e rc e n t l owe r t h a n
f o r n o n - g re e n p ro p e r t i e s —1 1 .7 p e rc e n t ,
c o m p a re d t o 1 5 .7 p e rc e n t . T h e a n a l ys i s
a l s o s h owe d t h a t L E E D - c e r t i f i e d
b u i l d i n g s a l s o ro u t i n e l y c o m m a n d e d
t h e h i g h e s t re n t s . ( U S G B C , T h e
B u s i n e s s C a s e f o r G re e n B u i l d i n g ) .
H a p p i e r E m p l oye e s – L E E D - c e r t i f i e d
b u i l d i n g s a re o f t e n b u i l t w i t h f e a t u re s
that enhance the comfort of humans
i n t h e b u i l d i n g , s u c h a s m o re o p e n
s p a c e s , l a rg e w i n d ow s a n d
thoughtfully located sites. As study
a f t e r s t u d y h a s s h ow n , h a p py
e m p l oye e s a re m o re p ro d u c t i ve
e m p l oye e s .
LEED Certification Overview & Credits for Water Usage June 2016
L E E D c e r t i f i c a t i o n d e m o n s t ra t e s yo u r
o rg a n i z a t i o n ’s c o m m i t m e n t t o b e i n g a
l e a d e r i n s u s t a i n a b i l i t y a n d d e c l a re s
yo u r c o m m i t m e n t t o exc e l l e n c e i n
o p e ra t i o n s , m a i n t e n a n c e a n d
c o n s t r u c t i o n . U n d e r s t a n d i n g h ow
L E E D c e r t i f i c a t i o n wo r k s i nvo l ve s
c a l c u l a t i n g a n d we i g h t i n g p o i n t s
a c ro s s n i n e d i f f e re n t c a t e g o r i e s .
N I N E C AT E G O R I E S O F
LEED POINTS
Th e U . S . G re e n B u i l d i n g C o u n c i l h a s
c re a t e d a p o i n t s ys t e m t o m e a s u re
whether a building meets goals for a
L E E D p ro j e c t . To re c e i ve c e r t i f i c a t i o n ,
a building has to meet minimum
re q u i re m e n t s i n a va r i e t y o f a re a s ;
t h e n g a i n p o i n t s i n c a t e g o r i e s t h a t a re
i n l i n e w i t h t h a t p ro j e c t ’s n e e d s .
P o i n t s a re awa rd e d f o r s p e c i f i c
a c h i eve m e n t s i n t h e f o l l ow i n g a re a s .
(All definitions courtesy of the
U S G B C ’s L E E D C re d i t L i b ra r y ) .
N I N E C AT E G O R I E S O F L E E D
CREDITS:
1 . L o c a t i o n & Tra n s p o r t a t i o n
Th i s c a t e g o r y rewa rd s t h o u g h t f u l
decisions about building location, with
c re d i t s t h a t e n c o u ra g e c o m p a c t
d eve l o p m e n t , a l t e r n a t i ve
t ra n s p o r t a t i o n , a n d c o n n e c t i o n w i t h
a m e n i t i e s s u c h a s re s t a u ra n t s a n d
parks.
2. Sustainable Sites
Th e S u s t a i n a b l e S i t e s c a t e g o r y
f o c u s e s o n t h e e nv i ro n m e n t
s u r ro u n d i n g t h e b u i l d i n g ,
awa rd i n g c re d i t s f o r p ro j e c t s t h a t
e m p h a s i z e t h e v i t a l re l a t i o n s h i p s
among buildings, ecosystems, and
e c o s ys t e m s e r v i c e s . I t f o c u s e s o n
re s t o r i n g p ro j e c t s i t e e l e m e n t s ,
i n t e g ra t i n g t h e s i t e w i t h l o c a l a n d
re g i o n a l e c o s y s t e m s , a n d p re s e r v i n g
t h e b i o d i ve r s i t y t h a t n a t u ra l s y s t e m s
re l y o n .
3 . Wa t e r E f f i c i e n c y
Th e Wa t e r E f f i c i e n c y s e c t i o n
a d d re s s e s wa t e r h o l i s t i c a l l y, l o o k i n g a t
indoor use, outdoor use, specialized
uses, and metering. The section is
based on an “efficiency first”
a p p ro a c h t o w a t e r c o n s e r va t i o n .
4 . E n e r g y & At m o s p h e r e
Th e E n e rg y a n d At m o s p h e re c a t e g o r y
a p p ro a c h e s e n e rg y f ro m a h o l i s t i c
p e r s p e c t i ve , a d d re s s i n g e n e rg y u s e
re d u c t i o n , e n e rg y - e f f i c i e n t d e s i g n
s t ra t e g i e s , a n d re n ew a b l e e n e rg y
s o u rc e s .
5. Material & Resources
Th e M a t e r i a l s a n d R e s o u rc e s c re d i t
category focuses on minimizing the
e m b o d i e d e n e rg y a n d o t h e r i m p a c t s
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e ex t ra c t i o n ,
p ro c e s s i n g , t ra n s p o r t , m a i n t e n a n c e ,
a n d d i s p o s a l o f b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s . Th e
re q u i re m e n t s a re d e s i g n e d t o s u p p o r t
a l i f e - c yc l e a p p ro a c h t h a t i m p rove s
p e r f o r m a n c e a n d p ro m o t e s re s o u rc e
e f f i c i e n c y.
6. Indoor Environmental Quality
Th e I n d o o r E n v i ro n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y
c a t e g o r y rewa rd s d e c i s i o n s m a d e by
LEED Certification Overview & Credits for Water Usage June 2016
p ro j e c t t e a m s a b o u t i n d o o r a i r q u a l i t y
and thermal, visual, and acoustic
c o m f o r t . G re e n b u i l d i n g s w i t h g o o d
i n d o o r e nv i ro n m e n t a l q u a l i t y p ro t e c t
the health and comfort of building
occupants.
7. I n n ova t i o n
S u s t a i n a b l e d e s i g n s t ra t e g i e s a n d
m e a s u re s a re c o n s t a n t l y evo l v i n g a n d
i m p rov i n g . N ew t e c h n o l o g i e s a re
c o n t i n u a l l y i n t ro d u c e d t o t h e
m a r ke t p l a c e , a n d u p - t o - d a t e s c i e n t i f i c
re s e a rc h i n f l u e n c e s b u i l d i n g d e s i g n
s t ra t e g i e s . Th e p u r p o s e o f t h i s L E E D
c a t e g o r y i s t o re c o g n i z e p ro j e c t s f o r
i n n ova t i ve b u i l d i n g f e a t u re s a n d
s u s t a i n a b l e b u i l d i n g p ra c t i c e s a n d
s t ra t e g i e s .
8. Regional Priority
B e c a u s e s o m e e nv i ro n m e n t a l i s s u e s
a re p a r t i c u l a r t o a l o c a l e , vo l u n t e e r s
f ro m U S G B C c h a p t e r s a n d t h e L E E D
I n t e r n a t i o n a l R o u n d t a b l e h ave
i d e n t i f i e d d i s t i n c t e nv i ro n m e n t a l
p r i o r i t i e s w i t h i n t h e i r a re a s a n d t h e
c re d i t s t h a t a d d re s s t h o s e i s s u e s .
Th e s e R e g i o n a l P r i o r i t y c re d i t s
e n c o u ra g e p ro j e c t t e a m s t o f o c u s o n
t h e i r l o c a l e nv i ro n m e n t a l p r i o r i t i e s .
9 . I n t e g ra t i ve P r o c e s s
B e g i n n i n g i n p re - d e s i g n a n d
c o n t i n u i n g t h ro u g h o u t t h e d e s i g n
phases, identify and use opportunities
t o a c h i eve s y n e rg i e s a c ro s s d i s c i p l i n e s
a n d b u i l d i n g s ys t e m s
D e p e n d i n g o n t h e t y p e o f p ro j e c t
t h a t yo u a re l o o k i n g t o c e r t i f y,
d i f f e re n t o p t i o n s a re ava i l a b l e f o r
g a i n i n g p o i n t s i n e a c h o f t h e s e a re a s .
WEIGHTING OF LEED POINTS
Th e U S G B C i s l o o k i n g a t a b u i l d i n g ’s
ove ra l l wa t e r e f f i c i e n c y. I t e n c o u ra g e s
wa t e r c o n s e r va t i o n , wa t e r q u a l i t y
p ro t e c t i o n , a n d t h e p ro t e c t i o n o r
re s t o ra t i o n o f wa t e r re g i m e s a n d
n a t u ra l h yd ro l o g i c a l c yc l e s . D e p e n d i n g
o n t h e t y p e o f b u i l d i n g t h a t yo u
m a n a g e , u p t o 1 2 L E E D Wa t e r
E f f i c i e n c y p o i n t s a re ava i l a b l e , w i t h
p o s s i b l e a d d i t i o n a l p o i n t s i f wa t e r
i s s u e s a re c o n s i d e re d a p r i o r i t y i n
yo u r re g i o n .

F o l l ow i n g a re t h e a re a s t h a t L E E D
t a ke s i n t o c o n s i d e ra t i o n a n d s o m e
basic information about each section*.
In addition to categories, LEED points
Buildings must first fulfill certain
a re we i g h t e d a c c o rd i n g t o a re a o f
p re re q u i s i t e s – b a s i c l eve l s o f
i m p a c t . Th e t o p t h re e we i g h t i n g s a re
e f f i c i e n c y t h a t U S G B C ex p e c t s f o r a n y
climate change, human health, and
g re e n b u i l d i n g ( re a s o n a b l y e f f i c i e n t
wa t e r re s o u rc e s . T h e U . S . G re e n
f i x t u re s a n d a p p l i a n c e s , f o r ex a m p l e) .
B u i l d i n g C o u n c i l h a s m o re d e t a i l s o n
P o i n t s a re t h e n awa rd e d f o r wa t e r u s e
t h e we i g h t i n g s . T h e p ro m i n e n c e o f t h e
e f f i c i e n c y ove r a n d a b ove t h o s e
wa t e r we i g h t i n g s h ow s t h e i m p o r t a n c e
p re re q u i s i t e s .
o f h av i n g a wa t e r p l a n a s a p a r t o f
yo u r L E E D c e r t i f i c a t i o n .
I n d o o r Wa t e r U s e
Earning LEED Credit for P o i n t s re l a t e d t o i n d o o r
Wa t e r E f f i c i e n c y wa t e r u s e a re a l l o c a t e d f o r
e f f i c i e n c y i n f i x t u re s ,
I n t h e i r ove r v i ew o f t h e Wa t e r
a p p l i a n c e s , a n d p ro c e s s e s .
E f f i c i e n c y ( W E ) c re d i t , t h e U S G B C
Examples of items that
o f f e r s t h e f o l l ow i n g d e s c r i p t i o n :
contribute to the indoor
wa t e r u s e c re d i t i n c l u d e : d e c re a s i n g
ove ra l l i n d o o r wa t e r u s e b eyo n d a
Th e Wa t e r E f f i c i e n c y ( W E )
g i ve n b a s e l i n e , e f f i c i e n t c o o l i n g
section addresses water
t owe r s , e f f e c t i ve m e t e r i n g ( a n d
h o l i s t i c a l l y, l o o k i n g a t i n d o o r
t h e re f o re e f f e c t i ve m o n i t o r i n g ) o f
use, outdoor use, specialized
wa t e r s ys t e m s .
u s e s , a n d m e t e r i n g . Th e
section is based on an
“efficiency first” approach to
wa t e r c o n s e r va t i o n .

* N o t e t h a t va r i o u s t y p e s o f b u i l d i n g s a re e l i g i b l e f o r d i f f e re n t p o i n t s i n t h e L E E D s y s t e m . Th i s
ove r v i ew d o e s n o t c ove r a l l o f t h e w a ys i n w h i c h L E E D W E c re d i t s c a n b e e a r n e d . F o r m o re
d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n re l a t e d t o yo u r p ro j e c t , v i s i t u s g b c .o rg / L E E D.

LEED Certification Overview & Credits for Water Usage June 2016
I r r i g a t i o n Wa t e r
Many facilities use
s i g n i f i c a n t l y m o re wa t e r
t h a n t h ey n e e d o u t d o o r s .
B a n ya n Wa t e r o f t e n s e e s
p ro p e r t i e s w h e re l a n d s c a p e
health can easily be maintained with
less than half of the irrigation water
c u r re n t l y b e i n g u s e d . R e c o g n i z i n g
t h i s , t h e U S G B C f o c u s e s c re d i t s f o r
o u t d o o r wa t e r u s e o n i n t e l l i g e n t ways
t o c a l c u l a t e a n d m a i n t a i n re a s o n a b l e
l eve l s o f wa t e r u s e f o r i r r i g a t i o n .
S o m e o f t h e m e t h o d s t h a t t h ey
endorse include:
E PA’s Wa t e r S e n s e Wa t e r B u d g e t
To o l , a n d re d u c i n g u s e b eyo n d t h e
b a s e l i n e t h a t t h e E PA p rov i d e s ,
• M e t e r i n g o u t d o o r wa t e r u s e a n d
d e m o n s t ra t i n g s i g n i f i c a n t re d u c t i o n
f ro m a n e s t a b l i s h e d b a s e l i n e .
Th e n u m b e r o f p o i n t s ava i l a b l e i n
e a c h a re a a n d t h e l eve l o f i m p o r t a n c e
o f e a c h o f t h e s e e f f o r t s va r y
significantly depending on the type of
building that is being certified. An
ex i s t i n g re t a i l b u i l d i n g , f o r ex a m p l e ,
m ay b e e l i g i b l e t o e a r n Wa t e r
E f f i c i e n c y c re d i t s i n a ve r y d i f f e re n t
way t h a n a n ew m u l t i f a m i l y h o u s i n g
d eve l o p m e n t .

• C re a t i n g l a n d s c a p e s t h a t re q u i re n o
i r r i g a t i o n b eyo n d t h e w a t e r t h a t Th e c h a r t b e l ow s u m m a r i z e s B a n ya n
t h ey n e e d t o b e c o m e e s t a b l i s h e d , Wa t e r ’s re s e a rc h o n t h e d i f f e re n t
wa t e r c re d i t s ava i l a b l e f o r d i f f e re n t
• C a l c u l a t i n g re a s o n a b l e “ wa t e r
types of buildings.
budgets” for landscapes using the

C l i c k h e re t o d ow n l o a d f u l l c h a r t

LEED Certification Overview & Credits for Water Usage June 2016
B a n ya n Wa t e r a n d L E E D • H i g h l i g h t i n g wa t e r - s av i n g
Certification o p p o r t u n i t i e s a c ro s s a p ro p e r t y,
s h ow i n g yo u w h i c h a re t h e m o s t
B eyo n d L E E D c e r t i f i c a t i o n , yo u c a re
important.
a b o u t s av i n g wa t e r f o r m a n y re a s o n s .
LEED certification is a public
d e c l a ra t i o n t h a t c o n s e r va t i o n i s a
Conclusion
p r i o r i t y f o r yo u . B a n ya n Wa t e r h e l p s
i t s p a r t n e r s c o n s e r ve w a t e r a n d e a r n W i d e l y re c o g n i z e d a s o n e o f t h e
c re d i t t owa rd s L E E D C e r t i f i c a t i o n . p re m i e r g re e n c e r t i f i c a t i o n s i n t h e U . S .
B a n ya n Wa t e r C e n t ra l T M e n a b l e s yo u a n d t h e wo r l d , L E E D c e r t i f i c a t i o n
t o d ra s t i c a l l y re d u c e w a t e r u s e i n helps building managers to gain
o rd e r t o e a r n L E E D p o i n t s a n d re d u c e re c o g n i t i o n , f i n a n c i a l b e n e f i t s , a n d
c o s t s . Th e a re a s w h e re B a n ya n c a n p re s s c ove ra g e f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s
h e l p yo u re d u c e w a t e r u s e a n d e a r n t owa rd s s u s t a i n a b i l i t y.
L E E D p o i n t s a re n o t l i m i t e d t o , b u t
include:
Understanding LEED certification
i nvo l ve s d e l v i n g i n t o a c o m p l ex
• Reducing outdoor water use to collection of rules and points.
b e l ow - b a s e l i n e t h ro u g h d a t a - d r i ve n B e c o m i n g f a m i l i a r w i t h t h i s s t r u c t u re
wa t e r i n g t e c h n i q u e s e n a b l e s yo u t o s e t g o a l s f o r yo u r
f a c i l i t i e s a n d p re p a re f o r
• M o n i t o r i n g i n d o o r wa t e r u s e t o m e e t
c o nve r s a t i o n s w i t h L E E D c e r t i f i c a t i o n
b u i l d i n g - l eve l m e t e r i n g
consultants.
re q u i re m e n t s
• H i g h l i g h t i n g a re a s ( i n d o o r a n d
o u t d o o r ) w h e re wa t e r u s e i s Wa t e r e f f i c i e n c y c o m m a n d s t h e t h i rd
unusually high and could easily be m o s t L E E D p o i n t s o f a l l we i g h t i n g s .
re d u c e d P r i o r i t i z e wa t e r e f f i c i e n c y a n d e a r n
t h o s e c r i t i c a l p o i n t s . G a i n m o re t h a n
• M o n i t o r i n g c o o l i n g t owe r w a t e r u s e
L E E D c e r t i f i c a t i o n . S ave m o n ey i n t h e
t h ro u g h f l ow m o n i t o r i n g t e c h n o l o g y
p ro c e s s . I t ’s j u s t s m a r t b u s i n e s s .
• Detecting leaks, including difficult-
to-detect slab leaks, that could be
ke e p i n g yo u f ro m m e e t i n g w a t e r - u s e
re d u c t i o n t a rg e t s
• P rov i d i n g a c l e a r p i c t u re o f w h e re
wa t e r i s g o i n g o n a p ro p e r t y t o
identify inefficient systems

Find more water-related news and

information at www.banyanwater.com

LEED Certification Overview & Credits for Water Usage June 2016