Landscape professionals can ease industry concerns and unlock business value for manufacturers and designers by developing a proper understanding of how the changes in version 4 fit into the irrigation sector. This includes how LEED credits apply to the irrigation industry, and how irrigation systems can earn LEED points.

The release of LEED version 4 has ushered in strong business opportunities for irrigation industry leaders, according to Adrienne Johnson, U.S. Green Building Council. The industry goals of increased water efficiency are echoed in the new LEED system, which goes further than any previous version to support intelligent water practices. Although many manufacturers and designers will thrive under this strategy, the mandatory restrictions on outdoor water use have created a considerable amount of uncertainty among industry professionals.

Key Takeaways
LEED v4 continues to incentivize non-potable water use and offers more diverse opportunities to gain points than v2009. Efficiency first, alternative water sources second, and metering are the LEED principles that will separate irrigation industry leaders. Smart irrigation can help earn a total of up to six points in LEED v4 BD+C and up to seven in O&M.

Rainwater Management
The rainwater management credit now includes green infrastructure and low impact development principles, where rainwater is treated as a resource that should be used on-site, rather than piped out like a waste product. This new approach to stormwater management creates a synergy with the outdoor water use reduction credit, in which non-potable sources can be used to meet water demand.

Outdoor Water Use Reduction
Although the credit language excludes the word potable from outdoor water use reduction, non-potable sources (i.e., rainwater, graywater and municipally-supplied recycled water) are still encouraged after the overall water demand has been reduced through techniques such as: WaterSense-labeled controllers; SWAT-tested controllers; drip irrigation; plant substitution.

The newly required EPA's WaterSense Water Budget Tool returns the water demand of a landscape based on the area, plant type and irrigation method of the landscape. Its baseline water demand considers a well-maintained lawn composed entirely of cool season turfgrass. Therefore, reductions in water use are simple to gain through plant substitutions and smart irrigation.

Irrigation system metering, already a best management practice according to the Irrigation Association, is now supported by LEED. To earn points, 80 percent of irrigated land must be metered along with one other building subsystem.