Hunter Irrigation Products and LEED
This guide provides information on how Hunter irrigation products and landscape strategies can contribute to achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification points.
Understanding USGBC and LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC comprises local affiliates, member companies, and professionals working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy. Its mission is to transform how buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, fostering an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment.
LEED is a voluntary, internationally recognized green building certification system that provides third-party verification for buildings and communities designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across key metrics: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, indoor environmental quality, and resource stewardship.
LEED Rating System Products
Several LEED rating system products cater to different project goals and types, including:
- New Construction and Major Renovations
- Existing Buildings
- Commercial Interiors
- Core & Shell
- Schools
- Retail
- Healthcare
- Homes
- Neighborhood Development
LEED 2009 New Construction
The LEED rating system promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability. The New Construction and Major Renovations rating system is organized into five environmental categories:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy & Atmosphere
- Materials & Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
Additionally, there are two key performance areas:
- Innovation in Design
- Regional Priority
The points available for each category are:
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Sustainable Sites | 26 |
| Water Efficiency | 10 |
| Energy & Atmosphere | 35 |
| Materials & Resources | 14 |
| Indoor Environmental Quality | 15 |
| Innovation in Design | 6 |
| Regional Priority | 4 |
| Total Points Available | 110 |
Certification levels are based on earned points:
- Certified (40+ Points)
- Silver (50+ Points)
- Gold (60+ Points)
- Platinum (80+ Points)
More information is available on the USGBC website: www.usgbc.org.
Hunter Irrigation Products and LEED
Hunter Industries supports LEED goals by providing water-efficient irrigation products that can help projects earn LEED credits. While LEED does not certify individual products, the selection of Hunter products plays a role in meeting project requirements.
Hunter's high-efficiency landscape irrigation products can contribute to earning points in the following LEED for New Construction credits:
- Water Efficiency Credit 1 (2 Options)
- Innovation in Design Credit 1
- Sustainable Sites Credit 5.1
- Sustainable Sites Credit 6.1
- Sustainable Sites Credit 7.2
- Energy & Atmosphere Credit 1
The Water Efficiency (WE) category offers 10 total points, with 4 points available in Credit 1 if both options are met through efficient landscape and irrigation decisions.
Water Efficiency Credit 1: Water Efficient Landscaping
Option 1: Reduce by 50% (2 Points)
Intent: To limit or eliminate the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.
Requirements: Reduce potable water consumption for irrigation by 50% from a calculated mid-summer baseline case. Reductions can be achieved through:
- Plant species factor
- Irrigation efficiency
- Use of captured rainwater
- Use of recycled wastewater
- Use of water treated by a public agency for non-potable uses
Potential Technologies & Strategies: Perform soil/climate analysis, use native or adapted plants, and employ high-efficiency irrigation equipment or climate-based controllers.
Calculations: Involve establishing a baseline water use rate and calculating the project's as-designed water use rate. Calculations should be based on the month with the highest evapotranspiration (ET) rate. Documenting Irrigation Efficiency (IE) for each landscape area is also necessary.
Irrigation Efficiency (IE): This refers to the efficiency of the selected irrigation products. For example, using a Hunter I-Core Controller with a Hunter Solar Sync ET Sensor might yield a 20% water saving, resulting in a CE of 0.8 (CE = 1 - 0.2).
Hunter offers a spreadsheet to help estimate potential savings and CE numbers. Reuse water (rainwater, graywater, treated wastewater) can also be added to savings calculations.
To earn WE Credit 1, Option 1, the total percentage reduction of potable water use must be 50% or greater.
Option 2: No Potable Water Use or No Irrigation (2 Points)
Intent: Eliminate the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.
Requirements:
- PATH 1: Use only captured rainwater, recycled wastewater, recycled graywater, or water treated by a public agency for non-potable uses for irrigation.
- PATH 2: Install landscaping that does not require permanent irrigation systems. Temporary systems for plant establishment are allowed if removed within 18 months.
Potential Technologies & Strategies: Similar to Option 1, focusing on plant material and efficient irrigation or climate-based controllers.
To earn both Option 1 and Option 2, the Percent Reduction of Potable Water must be 100%, and the Percent Reduction of Total Water must be 50% or greater.
Hunter Water Efficient Products
Hunter offers various products that contribute to water efficiency and LEED credits:
| Product Category | Hunter Model | Water Savings Percentage | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotating Stream Sprinklers | MP Rotator | 30% | Performance and Water Conservation Potential of Multi-Stream, Multi-Trajectory Rotating Sprinklers for Landscape Irrigation |
| Pressure Regulating Spray Head Bodies | Pro-Spray PRS-30 and PRS-40 | 5 to 50+% (based on pressure differential) | Pressure regulation helps maintain optimum operating pressure, reducing inefficiencies and water usage. |
| Valve Pressure Regulation | Accu-Sync | 5 to 50+% (based on pressure differential) | See Above Pressure Reference |
| Micro Irrigation | Hunter PLD Landscape Drip Line | 20 to 40% | Drip irrigation has an average efficiency of 90%, applying water directly to the root zone. |
| Micro Irrigation | Root Zone Watering System (RZWS) | Up to 40% | Pressure compensating bubbler irrigation applies water directly to the root zone. |
| Check Valves | Pop-up Spray and Rotor Sprinklers | 5+% | In-sprinklers check valves hold water in the piping system, preventing drainage and saving water. |
| Automatic Controllers | X-Core, XCH, Pro-C, PCC, ICC, I-Core, ACC | Up to 10% | Controllers offer programming flexibility for various landscape materials and climate types, adjusting for seasonal weather changes. |
| Rain Sensors | Mini-Clik, Rain-Clik, Wireless Rain-Clik | Up to 20% | Rain sensors preempt or stop irrigation when sufficient precipitation occurs, saving water based on rain events. |
| Wind and Freeze Sensors | Freeze-Clik, Wind-Clik | Less than 5% | Prevent irrigation during windy or freezing conditions, saving water. |
| Flow Sensors | Flow-Clik (All Controllers), HFS (ACC and I-Core Controllers) | Varies | Automatically stop irrigation during high flow conditions (e.g., broken sprinkler, broken line), saving water. |
| ET Sensors | Solar Sync ET System | 20 to 40% | Monitor on-site weather and adjust controllers, with documented average savings of 30%. |
| Central Control | IMMS 3.0 | Up to 40% | Allows control and monitoring of multiple irrigation controllers, with potential savings of 20-50% depending on management practices. |
Hunter Products for use in Non-Potable Water Irrigation Systems
Hunter offers products designed for non-potable water irrigation systems, often requiring specific identification for public awareness:
| Product Category | Hunter Model | Non-Potable Water Identification |
|---|---|---|
| Spray Sprinklers | PROS-00 | PROS-00 molded in purple. |
| Pro-Spray | Optional factory-installed Reclaimed water ID cap (purple), or a purple snap-on cover. | |
| MP Rotator | Pro-Spray PRS-30, Pro-Spray PRS-40 | Optional factory-installed Reclaimed water ID cap (purple), or a purple snap-on cover. |
| Rotor Sprinklers | PGJ, PGP Ultra, 1-20, 1-25, 1-35, 1-40, 1-60, 1-90 | Purple Reclaimed water ID covers available as a factory-installed option. |
| Valves | SRV, PGV, PGV-JT, PGV-ASV, ICV, IBV (tag) | Valves with Flow-Control have purple Reclaimed Water ID Handles. A plastic tag denoting non-potable water use is also available. |
| Quick Coupling Valves | HQ-33, HQ-44, HQ-5 | Available with an optional locking TuffTop™ cover, molded in purple, denoting non-potable water use. |
| Micro Irrigation | PLD | Professional Landscape Dripline available in Reclaimed versions (purple color) with the universal "Do Not Drink" symbol. |
| RZWS | Root Zone Watering System has a locking reclaimed purple cap for -18 and -36 models. | |
| ACZ, PCZ, ICZ | Drip Zone Control kits have optional reclaimed water ID handles for installation on valves. |
Other LEED Credits
Hunter products and landscape strategies can also contribute to other LEED credits:
- Sustainable Sites Credit 5.1: Site Development—Protect and Restore Habitat (1 Point): Efficient irrigation supports the re-establishment of native vegetation and habitat restoration.
- Sustainable Sites Credit 6.1: Stormwater Design—Quantity Control (1 Point): Landscape design that directs water to the landscape, increases infiltration, and manages stormwater runoff contributes to this credit. Captured rainwater dispersed by an irrigation system aids infiltration.
- Sustainable Sites Credit 7.2: Heat Island Effect—Roof (1 Point): Efficient irrigation products like Hunter PLD Dripline or MP Rotator can be used for vegetated roof surfaces.
- Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance (1–19 Points): Appropriate landscape design, including trees for shading and turf areas for cooling, can reduce building heating and cooling loads. Efficient irrigation supports plant material for these benefits.
- Innovation in Design Credit 1: Innovation in Design (1–5 Points): Creative use of irrigation or landscape strategies that lead to quantifiable environmental benefits beyond existing LEED requirements can earn points in this credit.
Materials and Resources Credits & Hunter and the Environment
Hunter products are generally excluded from Materials and Resources (MR) credits like Recycled Content and Regional Materials, as mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components are typically excluded from these calculations. The focus for these credits is on bulk materials like steel, wood, and concrete.
Hunter Industries is committed to environmental responsibility. The Design Verification Facility reuses water, saving over 2.5 million gallons daily. 98% of extra plastic from injection molding is recycled, reducing landfill contributions. Packaging uses 30-80% recycled paper. Hunter also uses natural gas generators for its facilities and has built a LEED Certified Gold building.
