Expansion area

No, these areas can't be counted towards compliance. LEED Interpretation 5195 indicates that areas that are intended to be left in a natural state and do not require irrigation may not be included in the calculations. Only landscaped areas can be included in the calculations.

No, vegetated areas that are intended to be left in a natural state cannot count towards compliance for WEc1. For example, LEED Interpretation 5195 states that "a project may not include planted areas in the irrigation calculations if these areas are intended to be left in a natural state, and do not require irrigation. Only landscaped areas can be included in the calculations."

I am trying to find a way to justify this interpretation to a client, and quite frankly I am having a hard time doing it. We could go into a naturally preserved area, rip it up, install landscaping, and be eligible for this credit but if we leave it natural we can't count it. I suppose if the natural area is so large that it outweighs the landscaped areas to the degree that basically no water efficiency measures are required to still gain 2 pts, I can see the logic. But if the natural area is fairly small - or if the decision not to landscape it is based on water conservation values - it doesn't seem fair.

Hi Heather, I understand you're line of thinking. However, the intent of the credit is really to examine irrigation practices. Where irrigation is used, the idea is to reduce potable and total water applied via efficient practices and/or captured water. The tradeoff, in your case, would be that you could potentially obtain the Protect/Restore Habitat credit in lieu of the water efficient irrigation credit.

totally agree, Heather.

That LEED Interpretation is not listed as applicable to v3.0 projects. So?