855773644-LEED-v5-BD-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition - Page 178

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Determining the baseline and design-case water use Teams must determine the project’s baseline water consumption. Total annual consumption depends on project-specific data, including fitting and fixture types, flush and flow rates, the number of full-time equivalents and visitors, annual days of operation, and gender ratios. This data must remain consistent across all LEED BD+C: New Construction and LEED BD+C: Core and Shell credits to maintain the integrity of the submission.

The total number of uses for each fixture and fitting remains the same in the baseline and design case calculations. The baseline flush and flow rates must use values from Table 2, which represent the maximum allowed flush and flow rates. The design case must use designed values that represent the fixtures and fittings installed in the project. For projects that have dualflush toilets, use the full-flush volume in the design case calculations. Do not use the weighted average.

Develop calculations using the USGBC-approved calculator for this option to determine the percentage reduction.

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Minimum Equipment Water Efficiency

During design, teams must identify appliances, kitchen equipment, and processes within the project boundary and specify products that meet the requirements of Tables 3 and 4. Projects in the U.S. and Canada must use ENERGY STAR®-labeled equipment. For international projects, a performance-based equivalent meets the requirements.

ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances perform better than conventional appliances. For example, ENERGY STAR® washing machines and dishwashers use 30% and 18% less water, respectively, than their conventional counterparts. These appliances also consume 10% to 50% less energy than conventional appliances. [85] Commercial kitchens employ processes that use high levels of energy and water, such as dishwashing and food preparation.

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Minimum Outdoor Water Efficiency

OPTION 1. NO IRRIGATION

For projects that do not install permanent irrigation, Option 1 offers a streamlined path to compliance. Teams may use irrigation during the first two years of the initial establishment period but must remove irrigation after that period.

85 U.S. Department of Energy, (n.d.), Guide to home water efficiency, energy.gov/sites/prod/files/guide_to_home_water_efficiency.pdf.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 168