855773667-LEED-v5-O-M-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition-1 - Page 103

Extracted Content

Determining the Baseline

The baseline water use intensity threshold is based on the primary space type(s), function(s), or main activities of the building. Table 1 in the Rating System identifies primary space types and their baseline intensity thresholds.

In many cases, teams can select a single space type, like hospital or industrial manufacturing, to directly calculate the baseline threshold using Equation 1.

Equation 1. Baseline water consumption

where :

𝐵 𝐵 𝐵 𝐵 𝑤 𝑤 𝑤𝑤 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐𝑐= 𝐺𝐺𝐹 × 𝑇 𝑇 𝑇𝑇 1 𝑣 𝑣 𝑣𝑣

GFA: gross floor area (sq. ft. or sq. m.)

In cases where projects are mixed-use, like a project with both office and retail, use multiple Space Types from Table 1 to determine the prorated baseline, using Equation 2.

Equation 2. Prorated baseline (multiple space types)

where :

𝐴𝐴 𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵 𝐵𝐵 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏 = (𝐺 𝐺𝐺 × 𝑇 𝑇 𝑇𝑇 1 𝑣 𝑣 𝑣𝑣 ) + (𝐺 𝐺𝐺 × 𝑇 𝑇 𝑇𝑇 1 𝑣 𝑣 𝑣𝑣 )

GFAA: gross floor area of Space Type A (sq. ft. or sq. m.)

Table 1 ValueA: water use intensity for Space Type A from Table 1

GFAB: gross floor area of Space Type B (sq. ft. or sq. m.)

Table 1 ValueB: water use intensity for Space Type B from Table 1

Calculating a Project’s Water Performance

Using the project’s total water consumption from potable water sources for the 12-month reporting period, determine the performance water use intensity using Equation 3.

Equation 3. Performance water use intensity

where :

Equation 3. Performance water use intensity [𝑡] [𝑡][ 𝑎] [𝑎] [𝑎] [ 𝑝] [𝑡] [𝑡] [𝑡][ 𝑤] [𝑤] [𝑤][ 𝑐] [𝑐] [𝑐] 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐

𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃𝑃 𝑤 𝑤 𝑤𝑤 𝑢 𝑢𝑢 𝐼 𝐼 𝐼 𝐼 𝐼𝐼= [𝑡] 𝐺 𝐺

Total annual potable water consumption: annual potable water use in gallons or liters

GFA: gross floor area (sq. ft. or sq. m.)

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Operations and Maintenance, April 2025 Launch Edition 93