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Credit language straight from USGBC
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32 Comments
No current irrigation
If the project site does not currently use any irrigation is it eligible for this credit? Or is this credit only concerned with the amount reduced from your original consumption?
Jenny Carney replied Director, YRG sustainability Oct 20 2009
Patrick, good question. You can find information about the eligibility requirements in the Rating System language (see p. 101 of the Reference Guide). Basically, it states that your site has to contain some vegetation (at least 5% of the building site area) in order to be eligible.
No Irrigation
My project contains sizable lawns and landscaped areas, but no irrigation is used. Can I get points under this credit? Seems I should be able to somehow, but since we have no irrigation, we cannot demonstrate a reduction.
Jenny Carney replied Director, YRG sustainability Nov 15 2009
Good news, Kathy. There's a compliance path for just this type of situation. As long as the property's landscaped area is equal to at least 5% of the total site area, the Rating System and other documents state you are eligible for the credit. If the project is registered, check out the form in LEED Online for how to document compliance based on zero use of irrigation (and if it's not registered yet, it's a good idea to do so and always look at the submittal forms early on to get a full sense of the compliance and documentation options).
Another thing to note - you'll need to make sure there's no regular hand watering going on, as sometimes even if there's not a permanent irrigation system the grounds are still regularly watered.
Definition of non-potable
We have a facility that has a well system for irrigation only. The water has been tested and is not suitable for drinking without shock treating the well. The facility is on a municipal supply. On the LEED V3 site it looks like we would qualify under the 100 percent non-potable route. Am I reading the credit correctly and does anyone know what the exact definition is of non-potable?
Corinna Kester replied Consultant, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, KEMA Mar 07 2010
Jeff -
Unfortunately, I don't think your well system will comply with this credit under Option 4.
If you look at the intent of the credit, it says "To limit or eliminate the use of potable waterPotable water meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water quality standards and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction; it may be supplied from wells or municipal water systems. or other natural surface or subsurface resources available on or near the project site for landscape irrigation." Your well system would certainly fall under "natural surface or subsurface resources available on or near the project site." This is further reinforced on the v2008 Template, as Option 4 requires you to certify that your irrigation system does not use "natural surface or subsurface water."
Unfortunately, nonpotable waterNonpotable water: does not meet EPA's drinking water quality standards and is not approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction. Water that is unsafe or unpalatable to drink because it contains pollutants, contaminants, minerals, or infective agents. is not clearly defined in the "Definitions" section of this credit, but p. 103 of the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Operations and Maintenance describes it as "rainwater, graywater1. Defined by the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) in its Appendix G, titled "Gray water Systems for Single-Family Dwellings," as "untreated household wastewater which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Grey water includes used water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, and water from clothes-washer and laundry tubs. It shall not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers." 2. The International Plumbing Code (IPC) defines graywater in its Appendix C, titled "Graywater Recycling Systems," as "wastewater discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers, and laundry sinks." Some states and local authorities allow kitchen sink wastewater to be included in graywater. Other differences with the UPC and IPC definitions can probably be found in state and local codes. Project teams should comply with the graywater definitions as established by the authority having jurisdiction in their areas., or reclaimed water", and some examples are given in the text.
non-potable is everything
non-potable is everything that is not potable waterPotable water meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water quality standards and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction; it may be supplied from wells or municipal water systems., including rainwater, storm water run-off, grey water (definitions vary, but usually soapy shower, bath, sometimes kitchen sink water). If you have to treat the water in anyway before it is fit for human consuption, it is non-potable.
If you never (except the first year I believe for new plants) use any water except well water and or other non-potable water for irrigation, then you can go 100 percent non-potable route.
Jean Marais replied b.i.g. Bechtold INGENIEURGESELLSCHAFT MBH Mar 08 2010
As Corinna mentioned, LEED does mention "natural surface" or other "subsurface" resources. Many such sources are potable. Well water for example is often very brackish (hard, full of calcium), but technically still fit for human consumption. I don't think LEED is refering to using non-potable subsurface or surface water. The intent is to reduce the demand on our potable waterPotable water meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water quality standards and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction; it may be supplied from wells or municipal water systems. supply infrastructure as well as reducing the loads on our aquifers.
No Irrigation
We have more than 5% vegetation but we don't have any irrigation system. Watering is only done at some plants only and that is also is done when needed. All the other areas are covered with natural vegetation where we don't water at all.Therefore, will we comply in the path of not having an irrigation system?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Mar 17 2010
Rashid, there is no path associated with this credit for not having an irrigation system. Perhaps you are thinking of the NC version?
I think you may be able to earn several points here but you will have to follow one of the three options given for the credit.
RASHID HAMEEN replied Mar 18 2010
Thanks for the replies,
We are not in the version of NC as our facility was built few years ago. We do not have any mechanical systems and as i have mentioned we only use manual watering then and there only in the times of dry days.
Corinna Kester replied Consultant, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, KEMA Mar 19 2010
Tristan and Rashid -
There is no path outlined in the Reference Guide for buildings without a permanent irrigation system; however, there is such a path listed on the Template (both v2008 and v2009). As documentation, you must upload a signed statement "from the facility manager, property manager, or property owner stating that there is no permanent irrigation system installed on the grounds and that temporary or hand-watering occurs only on an as-needed basis and only during periods of drought or for the establishment of new plantings."
The key for you, Rashid, will be proving that watering only occurs on rare occasions, during periods of drought or for the establishment of new plantings. If you water by hand regularly (say weekly or bi-weekly), then this would definitely not be considered "only on an as-needed basis".
Jordan Friedberg replied Apr 13 2010
My situation is similar to Rashid, except my building does not even do the "as needed" irrigation. There is no permanent system, and no water of any kind is used to irrigate the landscaping. Does this qualify as a 100% reduction, and 5 points? How do I document this for my building?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Apr 13 2010
Jordan, the credit is very simple to document in this situation. In the LEED Online credit form, you will need to check a few boxes, and upload the following: (quoting here from the LEED Online form)
"Provide a signed statement from the facility manager, property manager, or property owner stating that there is no permanent irrigation system installed on the grounds and that temporary or hand-watering occurs only on an as-needed basis and only during periods of drought or for the establishment of new plantings."
Jordan Friedberg replied Apr 13 2010
Tristan, thanks for your reply. I apologize if I've missed this, but should I then expect to earn all 5 points for this credit?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Apr 13 2010
Yes, sorry I didn't say that explicitly. You should earn 5 points via this path.
optimizing schedules & retrofit to weather-based controls
While it makes sense for project teams to eliminate unnecessary water use by optimizing irrigation schedules and retrofit the irrigation system with weather-based controls, how can project teams demonstrate compliance if they have not metered the irrigation separately?
Dan Ackerstein replied Principal, Ackerstein Sustainability, LLC Jun 20 2010
Without metering irrigation water use you're almost certainly going to be working on an Option 2 approach. In this approach, you basically model your current irrigation regime vs a conventional regime, applying actual vs conventional filters for each variable (vegetation, irrigation system, topography, etc...). I believe the Reference Guide discusses integrating factors like schedules and weather-based controls as well, but there is ample room for documenting technologies that influence water use and adjusting the modeling accordingly. I'll say that having a knowledgeable landscape architect involved in this process is probably very worthwhile. . .
Surface Type
Is grass considered turf or vegetation?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jun 21 2010
"Turf" or "turf grass" generally refers to "grass" in the conventional sense of mowed Kentucky bluegrass monoculture lawn. "Vegetation" implies a broader array of plants.
"Grass" is of course a type of vegetation and native, mixed grasses may be a low-irrigation solution in some climates.
Water Use Period
My performance period includes April, May and June for a project in Atlanta. I am comparing the actual water use to the calculated water use. The credit says that when I establish the baseline I have to include the growing season. Am I covered with these three months? Do I need to include July? If so do I use July from 2009 (I do not have July 2010 yet)
Jenny Carney replied Director, YRG sustainability Jul 30 2010
David,
Page 106 of the v2009 RG explicitly calls out the need to include July in the analysis, so reviewers may well be on the look out for its inclusion. You could include data from 2009 if you wanted/it's available, because the performance period can be up to two years long.
setting coefficients for baseline case
Is drip irrigationDrip irrigation delivers water at low pressure through buried mains and submains. From the submains, water is distributed to the soil through a network of perforated tubes or emitters. Drip irrigation is a high-efficiency type of microirrigation. considered a conventional practice for rooftop gardens? Is turf grass considered a typical landscaping practice in the northeast?
Dan Ackerstein replied Principal, Ackerstein Sustainability, LLC Jul 19 2010
I think your question illustrates exactly the reason the USGBC hasn't established clear guidance as to what is conventional or typical in various regions or settings. Practices may differ widely based on applications, context, etc... and there simply aren't hard and fast rules out there that anticipate all these variables. I think your best bet is to do some legwork to establish what common practice in your neighborhood, in similar applications/buildings/settings is and document your conclusions for the reviewer. That being said, though I can't speak to roof gardens, I would think that turf grass is considered a typical/conventional landscaping practice pretty much anywhere in the US. Hope that helps a little. . .
mid-summer irrigation data
my client is using treated gray water for landscape irrigation which is metered. we need to establish the mid-summer baseline irrigation water useBaseline irrigation water use is the amount of water used by conventional irrigation in the region.. the project is located in asia. how do we get this data?
Pablo Fortunato Suarez replied Principal ESD Consultant/Architect, GreenArc Sustainable Building & Architecture Jul 16 2010
can we resort to alternative compliance path since 100% of irrigation is coming from treated gray water? - this has been in place for the past 2-1/2 years.
Dan Ackerstein replied Principal, Ackerstein Sustainability, LLC Jul 16 2010
In your situation with 100% of your irrigation water coming from a non-potable, non-natural source (reclaimed water), your compliance with the credit is basically automatic. Using an alternative compliance path to document this is the right way to go.
Pablo Fortunato Suarez replied Principal ESD Consultant/Architect, GreenArc Sustainable Building & Architecture Jul 16 2010
Thank you Dan! regards
installed but unused irrigation systems
Our site is approximately 20% turf and shrubs. It was constructed in 1990 and has a permanent irrigation system in place, but the valve to the entire system has been shut off for years. There is no plan to use irrigation on the site in the future, but ripping out the existing system would be a waste of money and time. Would explaining the situation and certifying that the system is in a perpetual state of disuse satisfy the zero-irrigation compliance path?
Dan Ackerstein replied Principal, Ackerstein Sustainability, LLC Aug 04 2010
I'd suggest a middle ground of sorts. By carefully explaining that the system has been shut down (completely I assume) for X years and that shutdown was a strategic decision rather than simple convenience due to abundant rainfall, I think you're halfway there. But to really convince the reviewer that you are committed to zero irrigation water use going forward, you might consider some physical interruption to the system that would render its use more difficult than opening a valve. Perhaps there is a main line that could be cut or removed while the remainder of the system stays in place? That would ensure that there was no reactivation of the system by a new facility manager or landscape contractor without some kind of formal approval, and mitigate costs by leaving 99% of the system undisturbed.
Jordan Smith replied Washington University in St. Louis Aug 04 2010
Thanks Dan, that sounds reasonable and straight-forward.
Establishing a Baseline
I am working on a project in San Francisco and need help establishing a "Baseline irrigation water". The building has sub-metered water and I have to go with option 1, but since there were no recent upgrades, I need to establish "the amount of water used by conventional irrigation in the region". If the landscaper can't help, is there a site from which I can pull this info? Another resource I should be using?
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