Applicability of leed requirements to achieve water efficiency in Sri Lankan hotel industry

Abstract

LEED is an universally used green ranking system in the world. Among the six evaluation factors it specifically focuses on water use reduction, water efficient landscaping and innovative wastewater technologies. LEED provides a structure or collection of metrics to determine the water efficiency level that a building can achieve. Most of the hotels worldwide are inclined towards gaining LEED certification which is prompted by the higher volumes of water consumption in the facility. LEED is a US created rating system and the most categories of LEED certification are built according to the US aspects. Being an Asian country, Sri Lankan hoteliers also attempt to obtain LEED certification to their hotels with the motive of becoming in order to be more efficient. However, some of LEED requirements under the water efficiency category does not match the Sri Lankan hotel industry requirements. Therefore, the aim of the study to identify whether the LEED requirements under the water efficiency can be applied to Sri Lankan hotel industry. To accomplish the aim, literature synthesis was conducted to explore the water efficiency practices used by LEED certified hotels in other countries. A qualitative research methodology was subsequently adopted, directing semi-structured interviews with two LEED certified hotels in Sri Lanka to identify the LEED practices used in Sri Lankan hotel industry. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the collected data. Finally, a framework was developed to compare and contrast the water efficiency practices used in LEED certified hotels in other countries and Sri Lanka.