LEED v2009
Commercial Interiors
Water Efficiency
Water use reduction

CI-2009 WEc1: Water use reduction 6-11 points

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Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To further increase water efficiency within tenant spaces to reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems.

Requirements

Employ strategies that in aggregate use less water than the water use baseline calculated for the tenant spaces (not including irrigation). The minimum water savings percentage for each point threshold is as follows:

Percentage Reduction

Points

30%

6

35%

8

40%

11
Calculate the baseline according to the commercial and/or residential baselines outlined below. Calculations are based on estimated occupant usage and must include only the following fixtures and fixture fittings necessary to meet the needs of the occupants including fixtures and fixture fittings that may be outside the tenant space: water closets, urinals, lavatory faucets, showers, kitchen sink faucets and pre-rinse spray valves. [Europe ACP: Water Use Baseline]

Commercial Fixtures, Fittings, and Appliances

Current Baseline (Imperial Units)

Current Baseline (Metric Units)

Commercial toilets

1.6 gallons per flush (gpf)*
Except blow-out fixtures: 3.5 (gpf)

6 liters per flush (lpf)
Except blow-out fixtures: 13.5 lpf

Commercial urinals

1.0 (gpf)

4.0 lpf

Commercial lavatory (restroom) faucets

2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 pounds per square inch (psi), private applications only (hotel or motel guest rooms, hospital patient rooms)
0.5 (gpm) at 60 (psi)** all others except private applications
0.25 gallons per cycle for metering faucets

8.5 liters per minute (lpm) at 4 bar (58 psi), private applications only (hotel or motel guest rooms, hospital patient rooms)
2.0 lpm at 4 bar (58 psi), all others except private applications
1 liter per cycle for metering faucets

Commercial prerinse spray valves
(for food service applications)

Flow rate ≤ 1.6 (gpm)
(no pressure specified; no performance requirement)

Flow rate ≤ 6 lpm (no pressure specified; no performance requirement)

Residential Fixtures, Fittings, and Appliances

Current Baseline (Imperial Units)

Current Baseline (Metric Units)

Residential toilets

1.6 (gpf)***

6 liters per flush (lpf)

Residential lavatory (bathroom) faucets

2.2 (gpm) at 60 psi

8.5 lpm at 4 bar (58 psi)

Residential kitchen faucet

Residential showerheads

2.5 (gpm) at 80 (psi) per shower stall****

9.5 lpm  at 5.5 bar (80 psi) per shower stall

 

*       EPAct 1992 standard for toilets applies to both commercial and residential models.
**     In addition to EPAct requirements, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standard for public lavatory faucets is 0.5 gpm at 60 psi (2.0 lpm at 4 bar (58 psi) (ASME A112.18.1-2005). This maximum has been incorporated into the national Uniform Plumbing Code and the International Plumbing Code.
***   EPAct 1992 standard for toilets applies to both commercial and residential models.
****                Residential shower compartment (stall) in dwelling units: The total allowable flow rate from all flowing showerheads at any given time, including rain systems, waterfalls, bodysprays, bodyspas and jets, must be limited to the allowable showerhead flow rate as specified above (2.5 gpm/9.5 lpm) per shower compartment, where the floor area of the shower compartment is less than 2,500 square inches (1.5 square meters). For each increment of 2,500 square inches (1.5 square meters)of floor area thereafter or part thereof, an additional showerhead with total allowable flow rate from all flowing devices equal to or less than the allowable flow rate as specified above must be allowed. Exception: Showers that emit recirculated nonpotable water originating from within the shower compartment while operating are allowed to exceed the maximum as long as the total potable water flow does not exceed the flow rate as specified above. 

The following fixtures, fittings and appliances are outside the scope of the water use reduction calculation:
  • Commercial Steam Cookers
  • Commercial Dishwashers
  • Automatic Commercial Ice Makers
  • Commercial (family-sized) Clothes Washers
  • Residential Clothes Washers
  • Standard and Compact Residential Dishwashers

Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)

Europe ACP: Water Use Baseline
Projects in Europe may use the values defined by European Standards. [view:embed_resource=page_1=4887984] See all forum discussions about this credit »

Frequently asked questions

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Cost estimates for this credit

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Addenda

This credit has no LEEDuser summary

See all forum discussions about this credit »
Guest expert

Carlie Bullock-Jones

LEED Fellow, WELL AP

Ecoworks Studio
Principal

LEEDuser overview

Frank advice from LEED experts

LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.

For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium

Already a premium member? Log in now

Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To further increase water efficiency within tenant spaces to reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems.

Requirements

Employ strategies that in aggregate use less water than the water use baseline calculated for the tenant spaces (not including irrigation). The minimum water savings percentage for each point threshold is as follows:

Percentage Reduction

Points

30%

6

35%

8

40%

11
Calculate the baseline according to the commercial and/or residential baselines outlined below. Calculations are based on estimated occupant usage and must include only the following fixtures and fixture fittings necessary to meet the needs of the occupants including fixtures and fixture fittings that may be outside the tenant space: water closets, urinals, lavatory faucets, showers, kitchen sink faucets and pre-rinse spray valves. [Europe ACP: Water Use Baseline]

Commercial Fixtures, Fittings, and Appliances

Current Baseline (Imperial Units)

Current Baseline (Metric Units)

Commercial toilets

1.6 gallons per flush (gpf)*
Except blow-out fixtures: 3.5 (gpf)

6 liters per flush (lpf)
Except blow-out fixtures: 13.5 lpf

Commercial urinals

1.0 (gpf)

4.0 lpf

Commercial lavatory (restroom) faucets

2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 pounds per square inch (psi), private applications only (hotel or motel guest rooms, hospital patient rooms)
0.5 (gpm) at 60 (psi)** all others except private applications
0.25 gallons per cycle for metering faucets

8.5 liters per minute (lpm) at 4 bar (58 psi), private applications only (hotel or motel guest rooms, hospital patient rooms)
2.0 lpm at 4 bar (58 psi), all others except private applications
1 liter per cycle for metering faucets

Commercial prerinse spray valves
(for food service applications)

Flow rate ≤ 1.6 (gpm)
(no pressure specified; no performance requirement)

Flow rate ≤ 6 lpm (no pressure specified; no performance requirement)

Residential Fixtures, Fittings, and Appliances

Current Baseline (Imperial Units)

Current Baseline (Metric Units)

Residential toilets

1.6 (gpf)***

6 liters per flush (lpf)

Residential lavatory (bathroom) faucets

2.2 (gpm) at 60 psi

8.5 lpm at 4 bar (58 psi)

Residential kitchen faucet

Residential showerheads

2.5 (gpm) at 80 (psi) per shower stall****

9.5 lpm  at 5.5 bar (80 psi) per shower stall

 

*       EPAct 1992 standard for toilets applies to both commercial and residential models.
**     In addition to EPAct requirements, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standard for public lavatory faucets is 0.5 gpm at 60 psi (2.0 lpm at 4 bar (58 psi) (ASME A112.18.1-2005). This maximum has been incorporated into the national Uniform Plumbing Code and the International Plumbing Code.
***   EPAct 1992 standard for toilets applies to both commercial and residential models.
****                Residential shower compartment (stall) in dwelling units: The total allowable flow rate from all flowing showerheads at any given time, including rain systems, waterfalls, bodysprays, bodyspas and jets, must be limited to the allowable showerhead flow rate as specified above (2.5 gpm/9.5 lpm) per shower compartment, where the floor area of the shower compartment is less than 2,500 square inches (1.5 square meters). For each increment of 2,500 square inches (1.5 square meters)of floor area thereafter or part thereof, an additional showerhead with total allowable flow rate from all flowing devices equal to or less than the allowable flow rate as specified above must be allowed. Exception: Showers that emit recirculated nonpotable water originating from within the shower compartment while operating are allowed to exceed the maximum as long as the total potable water flow does not exceed the flow rate as specified above. 

The following fixtures, fittings and appliances are outside the scope of the water use reduction calculation:
  • Commercial Steam Cookers
  • Commercial Dishwashers
  • Automatic Commercial Ice Makers
  • Commercial (family-sized) Clothes Washers
  • Residential Clothes Washers
  • Standard and Compact Residential Dishwashers

Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)

Europe ACP: Water Use Baseline
Projects in Europe may use the values defined by European Standards. [view:embed_resource=page_1=4887984] See all forum discussions about this credit »

Checklists

Step by step to LEED certification

LEEDuser’s checklists walk you through the key action steps you need to earn a credit, including how to avoid common pitfalls and save money.

For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium

Already a premium member? Log in now

Documentation toolkit

The motherlode of cheat sheets

LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.

For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium

Already a premium member? Log in now

Guest expert

Carlie Bullock-Jones

LEED Fellow, WELL AP

Ecoworks Studio
Principal

See all forum discussions about this credit »