Water Use Reduction The INTENT of this innovation credit is to provide exemplary water use reduction. The proposed REQUIREMENTS are to employ strategies that use in aggregate use 45% less water than the water use baseline calculated for the building after meeting the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The required SUBMITTALS would be to provide the LEED Letter Template, signed by the MEP engineer and also provide the spreadsheet demonstrating that water-consuming fixtures specified for the stated occupancy and use of the building reduce the potable water consumption by 45%. The DESIGN APPROACHES utilized on this project were Dual Flush toilets, Waterless urinals, .5gpm lavatories and Low flow showers. Since the original LEED credits require a 20% reduction and then 30%, we feel that had another credit been provided in this category at 40%, our reduction of 45% could provide exemplary water use reduction. Water is becoming a growing concern in our region and we hope that more project teams will focus on water efficiency.
Exemplary performance is an established method by which Innovation Credits are awarded. On incremental credits (EA Credit 1, WE Credit 3, etc.) exemplary performance is considered the next threshold of achievement. For WE Credit 3, the exemplary performance threshold is 40% less water than the water use baseline calculated for the building. Provided the water use baseline is acceptable, this strategy appears likely to achieve an exemplary performance Innovation Credit. The project applicant should note that exemplary performance Innovation Credits are awarded because the project has reached the next LEED threshold, not for use of a specific technology. Applicable internationally.