Embracing the moment for the Green Building Standard LEEDv5

Launch of a newer version of LEED: LEED v5

“A breathtaking transformation that is elevated from LEED v4 to haven for LEEDv5”.

In its metamorphosis, the version that masterminded energy efficiency, water management, indoor air quality, and material sustainability now upgrades green building standards by mandating improved decarbonization, resilience, equity, and occupant health targets.

Buildings are responsible for around 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions, with 28% stemming from operational emissions according to USGBC. Hence, the launch of LEED v5 is an important milestone designed to meet the current global sustainability challenges. Though a draft was released in September 2023, this version is scheduled to be fully available for use in 2025.

So, what’s new in LEED v5?

With LEED v5, the rating system framework has been restructured around three system goals:

1. Climate Action (50% of the points)
2. Quality of Life (25% of the points)
3. Ecological Conservation and Restoration (25% of the points)

Decarbonization

Decarbonization targets are at the forefront of building standards and executives’ minds.

Beyond just energy efficiency, it is focused on reducing carbon in every aspect of the built environment. This includes all operational sources of carbon – onsite combustion, use of potentially harmful refrigerants, a building’s embodied carbon (total carbon emitted during the construction of a building), and the extraction/manufacturing of materials.

LEEDv5 aims for deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by creating a decarbonization plan for buildings over decades. HVAC, heating and cooling, and alternative refrigerant manufacturers could benefit from this new LEED credit.

Health

LEED v5 places a strong emphasis on human health and well-being, focusing on air & water quality, and community support & engagement. This enhancement ensures that buildings provide not only a sustainable but also a healthy and safe environment for occupants.

Resilience

Due to the threats posed by climate change and recent events like the COVID pandemic and wildfires, the new version of LEED places a large emphasis on the resilience of a building in the face of disasters. Resilience is also considered within the context of the natural disaster risks of a building’s specific region.

LEED v5 recognizes that readiness and adaptation are critical and rewards operational preparedness for extreme events. For example, LEED BD+C is being developed to promote proactive evaluation of, and preparation for, the changing climate and the risks posed by shocks and stressors.

Resilience goes beyond the readiness of the built environment. For example, in LEED O+M, the project understands who is in the building and meets occupant needs with a health-centric approach, including identifying health resilience goals.

Equity

A new mandatory credit is introduced to assess the social impact of projects and the occupant’s needs for indoor environments. Diversity, equity, and inclusion work is a priority in LEED v5. To get the maximum out of equity, project teams will have to prove that they’ve considered things like the race, income, access to greenspace, and disabilities of the people expected to spend time in their buildings.

To conclude, LEED v5 stands as a transformative force poised to reshape the construction industry and sets stringent standards to promote sustainable practices. The influence of LEEDv5 extends beyond individuality, offering opportunities to build a low carbon future that addresses equity, health and resilience.