Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

This Arizona project has landscaped exclusively with xeriscape materials. The local zoning authority requires an automated irrigation system and will not issue a building permit without one. Our intention is to use no potable water, via the mandated drip irrigation system, except during the plant establishment period and after that only in case of extreme drought where precipitation falls below "normal" anticipated rainfall (e.g. between 10/18/2005 and 03/11/2006 we experienced 144 continuous days of no precipitation-a period that averages 3.58"). We will install a dedicated water meter on the irrigation system and will log quarterly water meter readings and local precipitation records to verify the performance of the intent. The 8/16/2005 Ruling states, "WEc1.2 may be achieved (by)demonstrating that the quantity of \'normal\' anticipated rainfall meets 100% of your irrigation needs ... ,providing potable water as a backup is acceptable". We have met the credit intent with our xeriscape landscape palette, as well as provided a method of verification of continued performance via data logging. Since a permanent irrigation system is mandated by zoning, it would be onerous and wasteful to spend money, time and resources to design and build a parallel captured rainwater or recycled water system. We cannot eliminate the permanent irrigation system due to zoning restrictions, and since our intent is to only use it to supply potable water for establishing plantings and as a drought backup, we believe we have met the full intent of the credit.