There are fewer codes and associated costs for collecting and reusing stormwater for irrigation than for interior water reuse. Captured stormwater can often be reused for irrigation without much treatment. Reuse for toilet flushing and cooling tower make-up usually requires treatment.

Stormwater collection, storage and reuse equipment will increase costs, but will reduce the expenses of potable water.

Installing a green roof is one successful way to control and treat stormwater. Different types of green roofs provide varying levels of stormwater management, amenity, benefits and maintenance requirements. While green roofs can be expensive, they can often reduce the costs of traditional stormwater systems for a net savings.

List and tabulate in the Building Reuse Calculator all of the exterior and structural elements being reused, restored and renovated in the project.

Bioinfiltration strategies on streets and parking lots, such as vegetated filter strips and grass swales,  are alternatives to typical curb and gutter design that allow for infiltration of stormwater, as opposed to conveying the runoff to storm drains. Reducing the number of curbs, storm drains, and piping systems can substantially reduce construction costs.

Incorporate restoration specifications into the construction documents.

The most cost-effective stormwater management strategies are those that preserve or restore natural site features and promote natural infiltration: reducing hardscapes, designing a smaller building footprint, increasing landscaping area, using porous paving materials, natural swales, and other low impact development strategies. Natural infiltration may also decrease the cost of maintenance compared to other structural and packaged stormwater control systems.

Stormwater features such as constructed wetlands, green roofs, and bioswales can be designed as a site asset (aesthetic, habitat, etc.) and provide valuable amenities. Including these features can also increase property value.

If a LEED project includes both existing structure and new construction, the LEED project boundary must encompass the entire existing building regardless of the scope of work within the existing building. The only instance where a portion of an existing building may be excluded from the LEED project boundary is if it functions independently with its own mechanical and electrical system.

Quantity of stormwater is typically the more difficult measurement for project teams to reduce. Detention basins can help reduce peak flow rate, but they may not reduce overall stormwater quantity. This is a common municipal requirement, and you may need to take additional measures to meet the credit requirements.