To meet this prerequisite, teams must design and install plumbing systems using highefficiency indoor plumbing fixtures including lavatory faucets, toilets, urinals, kitchen sinks, and showerheads, and determine how much potable water is consumed relative to a LEED baseline case.

In order to meet the prerequisite, a minimum of 20% savings must be demonstrated.

The calculation is performed using a calculator developed by USGBC. Teams should become very familiar with the calculator, the information needed to complete it, and the various rules for using it in order to accurately assess performance and demonstrate prerequisite compliance.

In addition to meeting the 20% performance threshold, teams must select WaterSense labeled fixtures for any fixture type that is eligible for the WaterSense label. Remember that your project must also meet prescriptive requirements for appliances and process water equipment, including clothes washers, dishwashers, pre-rinse spray valves, ice machines, heat rejection and cooling, cooling towers, and evaporative condensers. 

What’s New in LEED v4.1

• New instructions are provided for projects with a different standard water supply pressure than the LEED baseline supply pressure.
• Clarification is provided for existing appliances that will be reused in the project.
• There is a new option for European projects to install residential appliances that meet the EU A+++ label.

Should I upgrade?

The changes to this credit are limited in scope and will only come into play under specific scenarios. Projects outside the U.S. or those that plan to reuse existing appliances should consider whether v4.1 might be worth the upgrade.