How can projects demonstrate exemplary performance in water efficiency?

To demonstrate exemplary performance in water efficiency, projects can exceed the minimum reduction threshold for water use established by LEED. This performance level is designed to encourage innovation and push the boundaries of what is considered standard practice. By going beyond the established thresholds, projects can show leadership in water conservation and significantly reduce their overall water consumption. Achieving this not only benefits the environment but also enhances the project's sustainability credentials and potentially reduces operational costs.

The choice that focuses solely on local standards may not provide a comprehensive approach to water efficiency, since local standards can vary widely and may not reflect the most sustainable practices available. Using recycled water for irrigation contributes positively to water conservation, but it does not necessarily meet the criteria for exemplary performance, which requires surpassing LEED's specified thresholds. Similarly, installing low-flow fixtures is a useful step towards water efficiency, but on its own, it does not demonstrate the level of improvement necessary for exemplary performance within the LEED framework.