To attain the highest possible LEED-NC rating, all water-consuming fixtures should be selected for their capacity to conserve water and provide durability for long-lasting service. The more a product can maintain the habits of a population while conserving energy, the more a product will be accepted by the population itself. In general, products that conserve without sacrificing performance will be in greater demand than those that give up performance in favor of efficiency. For example, low-flow pressure toilets and 0.5-gpf urinals reduce water consumption without sacrificing performance.

Measures taken to achieve Water Efficiency objectives can overlap into other LEED-NC categories. Knowing the products and understanding the intent of the LEED-NC criteria can maximize point-earning potential. For example, low-flow 0.5 gpf urinals contribute to achieving water efficiency goals. Additionally, the urinal Flushometer may be manufactured from recycled content, and the fixture may be regionally manufactured.

Retrofit Applications

As more building owners are now choosing to reinvest in existing structures, plumbing retrofits are becoming more common and attractive to allow for accessibility, provide increased hygiene, and decrease water consumption. This reinvestment trend has led to the development of LEED standards for existing buildings to document the higher levels of efficiency and address the operation and upgrades of existing buildings that do not fall under the category of major renovation.

Low-consumption solid brass showerheads with self-cleaning, spring-loaded spray disks produce a cone-within-a-cone spray pattern.

LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) provides architects the opportunity to market their services to owners and operators of all existing buildings by explaining the financial and environmental benefits of sustainable facilities. LEED-EB covers a significant market with more than 4.6 million buildings in the United States already standing and billions of square feet of existing space that would benefit from the green design approach.

For these existing buildings, one of the first elements to examine to earn LEED points is the restroom, specifically, flushing technologies. The advantage of retrofitting old Flushometers is that products have vastly improved in terms of water efficiency over the past few decades. There have been advancements in electronic products, whereby the solenoid, which initiates the flushing sequence, is isolated from the water source for more reliable operation. There are also generational improvements to sensor technology, which can now identify users more consistently, ensuring a single flush per use instead of multiple flush, which wastes water. Sensor products meet the intent of sustainable design, in that they provide a hygienic hands-free bathroom environment, lessening cross-contamination and spread of germs in the workspace.

While older Flushometers can use more than three gallons a flush, waterfree urinals, which connect directly to existing drain lines for simple retrofit applications, consume no water to maximize conservation efforts without sacrificing hygiene. Waterfree urinals use a liquid-seal to form a barrier between the open air and urine, which prevents any odors from escaping from the drain line. Independent research studies have shown waterfree urinals have less bacteria per square inch than standard water-fed urinals, providing a hygienic and odor-free environment.

Other retrofit options include upgrades of manual units into touchless models with kits that flush electronically. Both side-mounted and integral top-load modules are available and provide the same advantages of new, touchless products that are "right out of the box."