TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includes theWater Efficiency (WE) Credit: Outdoor Water Use, which awards points based on the ratio of turf grass (high water use) to native or adapted plants (low water use) in the softscape to reduce irrigation needs.

According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

WE Credit: Outdoor Water Use (1–4 points)

Reduce outdoor water use by selecting native or adapted plants and limiting turf grass. Points are awarded based on the percentage of softscape area:

< 5% turf grass and > 75% native or adapted plants: 4 points.The total softscape area is used to calculate the percentages of turf grass and native/adapted plants.Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Water Efficiency Credit: Outdoor Water Use, p. 98–99.

TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:

WE Credit: Outdoor Water Use

Achieve 4 points by ensuring less than 5% of the softscape is turf grass and more than 75% is native or adapted plants, based on area calculations.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

Calculation for 4 points:

Total softscape area: 57,500 ft².

For 4 points:

Turf grass: < 5% of 57,500 ft² = < 0.05 × 57,500 = < 2,875 ft².

Native or adapted plants: > 75% of 57,500 ft² = > 0.75 × 57,500 = > 43,125 ft².

Evaluate options:

A. 12,600 ft² turf grass and 40,000 ft² native or adapted:

Turf grass: 12,600 / 57,500 = 21.91% (> 5%).

Native: 40,000 / 57,500 = 69.57% (< 75%).

Does not meet 4-point criteria (only qualifies for 1 point: < 60% turf, > 25% native).

B. 11,500 ft² turf grass and 40,000 ft² native or adapted:

Turf grass: 11,500 / 57,500 = 20% (> 5%).

Native: 40,000 / 57,500 = 69.57% (< 75%).

Does not meet 4-point criteria (qualifies for 2 points: < 40% turf, > 50% native).

C. 2,500 ft² turf grass and 44,000 ft² native or adapted:

Turf grass: 2,500 / 57,500 = 4.35% (< 5%).

Native: 44,000 / 57,500 = 76.52% (> 75%).

Meets 4-point criteria.

D. 4,500 ft² turf grass and 44,000 ft² native or adapted:

Turf grass: 4,500 / 57,500 = 7.83% (> 5%).

Native: 44,000 / 57,500 = 76.52% (> 75%).

Does not meet 4-point criteria (qualifies for 3 points: < 20% turf, > 75% native).

Answer:Option C(2,500 ft² turf grass and 44,000 ft² native or adapted landscape) meets the requirements for 4 points.

TheLEED AP Homes Candidate Handbookemphasizes WE credits, including outdoor water use, and references theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Constructionas a key resource. The exam is based onLEED v4, ensuring the relevance of the table’s criteria.