A builder plans to build two semi-detached residential homes at a rural lot he just bought, where the municipal water system cannot reach. The homes will use well water dug on site. The builder would like to build the two units as LEED certified homes. To meet the prerequisite of Water Efficiency domain in LEED Homes, what should the builder do?

The LEED for Homes v4 WE Prerequisite: Water Metering requires projects with multiple dwelling units to provide consumption feedback to occupants. For a project with two semi-detached homes, this is achieved by installing a separate water meter for each individual unit. This allows each homeowner to monitor and manage their specific water usage, which is a core intent of the prerequisite. The source of the water, whether municipal or a private well, does not alter this requirement; all potable water entering the dwelling must be metered.

B. A single meter for both units does not provide individual consumption data to each homeowner, failing to meet the prerequisite's intent for multi-unit projects.
C. The use of on-site well water does not exempt a project from the Water Efficiency prerequisites. The requirement to meter potable water use remains applicable.
D. A shared meter for the dwelling units is insufficient. The prerequisite mandates individual metering for each unit in a multi-family configuration to encourage occupant-level conservation.

1. U.S. Green Building Council. (2016). LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4. Washington, DC: U.S. Green Building Council. Page 337, WE Prerequisite Water Metering, Requirements, "For Multiple dwelling units": "Install a water meter for each individual dwelling unit." or "Install a building-level water meter and submeter at least 80% of the dwelling units." For a two-unit project, 80% requires submetering both units, making the outcome identical to the first option.

2. U.S. Green Building Council. (2021). LEED v4.1 Homes and Multifamily. USGBC.org. WE Prerequisite Water Metering section, which maintains the requirement for individual dwelling unit metering in multifamily projects to provide data to tenants or owners.