LEEDuser’s viewpoint
Explore this LEED credit
Post your questions on this credit in the forum, and click on the credit language tab to review to the LEED requirements.
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Prerequisites
None.Credits
Note: Compensating shower valves and conventional, non-compensating shower valves may not work properly when low-flow showerheads (restricting water flow below 2.5 gpm) are installed. Installing low-flow showerheads where compensating valves or conventional, non-compensating valves are installed can increase the risk of scalding (or other types of injuries, such as slips and falls due to thermal shock) when the plumbing system experiences pressure changes. Make sure any low-flow showerhead is installed with a valve that has been designed, tested, and verified to function safely at the reduced flow rate. If in doubt, consult the manufacturer of the valve before installing a low-flow showerhead.3.1 High-efficiency fixtures and fittings (1 point each, maximum 3 points). Meet one or more of the following requirements by installing high-efficiency (low-flow) fixtures or fittings. A project cannot earn points in both WE 3.1 and WE 3.2 for the same fixture type (e.g., faucet, shower, or toilet).- The average flow rate for all lavatory faucets must be ≤ 2.00 gpm.
- The average flow rate for all showers must be ≤ 2.00 gpm per stall.
- The average flow rate for all toilets must be ≤ 1.30 gpf
- The average flow rate for all lavatory faucets must be ≤ 1.50 gpm OR lavatory faucets must meet the U.S. EPA WaterSense specification and be certified and labeled accordingly.
- The average flow rate for all showers must be ≤ 1.75 gpm per stall.
- The average flow rate for all toilets must be ≤ 1.10 gpf.
What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
See all forum discussions about this credit »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.
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Prerequisites
None.Credits
Note: Compensating shower valves and conventional, non-compensating shower valves may not work properly when low-flow showerheads (restricting water flow below 2.5 gpm) are installed. Installing low-flow showerheads where compensating valves or conventional, non-compensating valves are installed can increase the risk of scalding (or other types of injuries, such as slips and falls due to thermal shock) when the plumbing system experiences pressure changes. Make sure any low-flow showerhead is installed with a valve that has been designed, tested, and verified to function safely at the reduced flow rate. If in doubt, consult the manufacturer of the valve before installing a low-flow showerhead.3.1 High-efficiency fixtures and fittings (1 point each, maximum 3 points). Meet one or more of the following requirements by installing high-efficiency (low-flow) fixtures or fittings. A project cannot earn points in both WE 3.1 and WE 3.2 for the same fixture type (e.g., faucet, shower, or toilet).- The average flow rate for all lavatory faucets must be ≤ 2.00 gpm.
- The average flow rate for all showers must be ≤ 2.00 gpm per stall.
- The average flow rate for all toilets must be ≤ 1.30 gpf
- The average flow rate for all lavatory faucets must be ≤ 1.50 gpm OR lavatory faucets must meet the U.S. EPA WaterSense specification and be certified and labeled accordingly.
- The average flow rate for all showers must be ≤ 1.75 gpm per stall.
- The average flow rate for all toilets must be ≤ 1.10 gpf.
