This prerequisite requires teams to design water-efficient landscapes, and encourages a multi-faceted and integrated approach. Outdoor water use is impacted by vegetation type, vegetation density, overall planted area, and irrigation efficiency, so consider all of these variables in approaching prerequisite compliance.

Minimizing turf grass, installing native and drought-tolerant plants, and using efficient irrigation systems will typically align with meeting the prerequisite requirements.

A landscape design that does not require permanent irrigation is the most straightforward way to earn this prerequisite, as long as programming and operations and maintenance practices align with a non-irrigated landscape.

SITES-LEED equivalency

SITES-LEED equivalency is not offered for this prerequisite. The related SITES prerequisite cannot be used to automatically earn this LEED v4.1 prerequisite.

What’s New in LEED v4.1

• SITES-LEED equivalency is no longer offered for this prerequisite.

Should I Upgrade?

This prerequisite is unchanged between v4 and v4.1 except for the SITES-LEED equivalency path. Projects that want to use a SITES prerequisite to comply will need to stay with v4.