Has anyone had any luck documenting showers available outside of their boundary, like in a campus environment? Our project is an academic classroom building in the middle of a university campus. The campus has several athletic facilities nearby that have showers/changing rooms available for all of our FTEs and students. They can't justify adding showers in individual buildings b/c they already have the other dedicated use buildings to serve this purpose. The university has a robust support system in place for biking around campus and will be providing the required racks at the project site; their entire campus is limited to 15 mph for bike safety...it's just the showers requirement that is precluding us from earning this credit.
I don't even see the option in the guide for shared showers within a certain distance of our entrance that was in place in previous versions.
Related, the following statement in the Guide seems to suggest an alternative approach, but then cancels itself out: "If space for shower and changing facilities is limited, free access to on-site shower facilities or health club shower facilities within the LEED project boundary may be provided to all occupants in lieu of inhouse facilities. Health club or shower facilities must be accessible to occupants without their having to go outdoors and available during the project’s hours of operation."
Doesn't that statement say you can provide access to other facilities within the boundary, but it basically still has to be within your own building if you can't go outside to get to it...? I realize there are some instances where buildings may be connected via an enclosed bridge or underground tunnel, but those features aren't common in my experience.
Though it hasn't come up yet, I anticipate getting similar questions for other project types, particularly military bases and other secure campus types. Figured I might as well ask now.
Emily Purcell
Sustainable Design LeadCannonDesign
LEEDuser Expert
370 thumbs up
July 5, 2018 - 3:43 pm
I believe that statement in the guide was corrected in addenda 1000001978 and replaced with the following sentence - I'm looking at the web reference guide now and not seeing the one you quoted:
"On-site shower facilities should be available to all project occupants without cost during the project’s hours of operation and be within reasonable walking distance from long-term bicycle storage."
"On site" still feels pretty vague to me - does that mean within the LEED boundary only, or could you stretch it to include a campus building? I'm running into this on an academic project as well, so I'd love to hear if anyone has experience earning the credit that way.
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
476 thumbs up
July 5, 2018 - 7:55 pm
Ah, interesting update. I should have checked the online version versus the static PDF we first purchased.
I am emailing LEED Coach for some clarity and will report back here when they respond.
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
476 thumbs up
July 5, 2018 - 10:00 pm
Well, that was quick! Got a response, and it goes like this:
"Per the credit requirements, showers must be located “on-site”, meaning within the LEED project boundary, to earn LTc Bicycle Facilities.
That said, if there are special circumstances and the showers are located just outside the LEED project in a neighboring campus building, that scenario will be considered on a case-by-case basis if documentation is provided to confirm:
- Sufficient shower capacity. Include supplemental calculations confirming that sufficient shower facilities have been provided to serve all occupants with access to the amenities, including individuals who are not part of the LEED project.
- The LEED project occupants will have full access to the shower facilities and that the building containing the shower facilities is open at least during the same hours as the LEED project, and
- The LEED project occupants are/will be made aware of the shower access.
Alternately, the project team may submit a CIR to confirm whether a non-standard approach will be accepted."
So, sounds like it still needs to be within the LEED project boundary, or potentially just outside it in an immediately adjacent building. Still doesn't help my particular current project, but good to know anyway.
Kelsey Wotila
Foresight Management6 thumbs up
August 3, 2022 - 8:55 am
Somewhat related to this thread, I'm working on an existing building with existing showers that are not included in the project scope to update. Can we count them for bicycle facilities without having to update them to the indoor water reduction requirements?
Kara Strong
Project DirectorSustainable Design Consulting
LEEDuser Expert
31 thumbs up
August 4, 2022 - 8:34 am
I'm working on a campus project where the showers are located outside of our building. The reviewer is requiring us to add those (very old) showers to our WE calculations. This change may cost our project 2 LEED points.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
530 thumbs up
August 4, 2022 - 10:56 am
Kelsey, if you use existing showers that are not included in the project scope to demonstrate compliance with LTc Bicycle Facilities, then you need to include them in the Indoor Water Use Reduction Calculations. (WEp calc includes all fixtures in scope, WEc calc includes all fixtures in scope + all fixtures used by occupants of the space pursuing LEED)
Kara, you can exlude the showers that are located outside the building IF you are not attempting LTc Bicycle Facilities. This is written into the Core & Shell rating system variation section of the reference guide....but i believe this is how GBCI should (not would) review this particular situation.
Gioia Connell
ConsultantWSP
LEEDuser Expert
1 thumbs up
August 4, 2022 - 10:57 am
When we work with clients, clearly articulating the importance of what improvements are required for achieving credits that are critical to certification can be successful in adding work to scope.
While a lot of the most readily available literature focuses on home water savings, pulling materials on the relatively low cost of efficient showerheads and a rough magnitude of water utility savings is a good place to start. EPA resources are helpful for this. Showerheads | US EPA
Finally, some state and local Green Banks include low-flow showerhead replacements in their cost-supplimented efficiency upgrade programs. If your project is in an area with a Green Bank, it could be worth calling your representative and asking them about what resources are available for your project type.
Erin Holdenried
Sustainable Design DirectorBell Architects
45 thumbs up
August 4, 2022 - 3:49 pm
In LEED v2009, I have used the Master Site to document the Bicycle Facilities credit. The bike racks and showers were located outside the Individual project LEED boundary. In this case, the showers were excluded from the Individal LEED project WE calculations. Sometimes, reviewers let you take the "Campus Approach" for credits without creating a Master Site.