Would it be valid to claim 50% potable water reduction for irrigation if I have a landscape area that requires X galons of irrigation during the month of July (according to the LEED form) and I can prove that half of those X gallons are provided naturally with the rain that falls over the landscape area?
To increase the potable water reduction I can use harvested rainwater from other areas. But, It seems that the LEED form doesn´t take into consideration that part of the baseline needed irrigation is provided by rain that directly falls over the area.
Any comments or experiences documenting this circumnstance?
Kimberly Schlaepfer
Sustainability Coordinator LEED AP O+M, BD+C74 thumbs up
April 6, 2016 - 6:58 pm
Hi Rubén,
The baseline water use should take into account any water aside from natural rainfall that is required to maintain conventional landscaping. So, no rainfall is not considered in to be a strategy to reduce irrigation water use.
Refer to the reference guide on how to correctly calculate the baseline water usage for your project. Then, in the design case, strategies such as native plantings and drip irrigation will yield water savings.
Hope that helps!