Water Efficiency Strategies in LEED Certification

Most buildings rely on municipal water sources to meet their diverse needs, from running toilets to washing dishes and watering green areas. This high demand for water can deplete the supply and, in extreme situations, lead to the need to ration water.

Green building promotes novel approaches to saving water, helping projects to use this resource more responsibly. In this article, we will explore the strategies proposed by certification LEED with the objective of improving water use efficiency.

Implementing efficiency strategies in conjunction with monitoring systems that monitor water consumption and detect problems as they arise can have a significant impact on water conservation, compared to the approach used in conventional buildings. The certification LEED recognizes and rewards those projects that manage to reduce the demand for water and reuse this resource for both indoor and outdoor purposes.

Use of indoor water

These strategies can make a significant contribution to water conservation in buildings and projects, promoting a more responsible use of this essential resource.

1. Installing efficient plumbing fixtures: Low-flow plumbing fixtures can be installed, such as washbasins, kitchen sinks, showers, double-flush toilets, waterless urinals, and low-flow composting toilets. These accessories use less water than the standards established in the Energy Policy Act (ePact) from 1992. It is important to select products with the label of EPA WaterSense and EnergyStar to ensure its efficiency. In existing buildings, if replacing porcelain is costly, new flush valves or flow-reducing valves, such as aerators, can be installed to achieve savings in water use.
2. Use of non-drinkable water: When legislation allows it, collected rainwater, gray water or reclaimed water supplied by the municipality can be used for flushing accessories. Plumbing systems capable of using collected rainwater or grey water in flush fittings should be designed and installed. However, it's important to check local laws before planning to use this strategy, as it's not available in all municipalities.
3. Submeter installation: The installation of submeters makes it possible to measure indoor water systems and monitor data to track consumption trends, evaluate the performance of accessories and detect leaks.

Outdoor water use

The following are strategies for reducing water consumption in outdoor areas:

1. Choice of locally adapted plants: Choose to use native plants adapted to the region, which require less irrigation and are more resistant to local weather conditions. These plants offer the added benefit of providing suitable habitat for native wildlife.
2. Xeriscape: In particular in arid regions, the xeriscape concept can be implemented when designing the site landscape. This approach involves the use of drought-tolerant plants that require very little watering. By applying xeriscape principles, the need for water for landscape maintenance is significantly reduced.
3. Selection of efficient irrigation technologies: Opt for efficient irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation and bubble irrigation, as well as climate-based controllers that automatically adjust irrigation according to weather conditions. These technologies allow for a more efficient use of water by avoiding waste.
4. Use of non-drinkable water: When possible and permitted by local regulations, collected rainwater, gray water (treated wastewater that does not contain hazardous contaminants) or reclaimed water provided by the municipality can be used to irrigate outdoor areas. This reduces the dependence on drinking water for irrigation and contributes to the conservation of the resource.
5. Submeter installation: The installation of submeters in the irrigation system makes it possible to measure and track water consumption in outdoor areas, making it easier to identify possible losses and optimize irrigation to avoid wasting water.

If you want support and advice with obtaining certification LEED with your next building, write to us here.