LEED v4.1 now available for cities, communities, residential/homes
By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor
LEED v4.1 is now available for residential/homes, and cities and communities. LEED v4.1 certification emphasizes performance monitoring, fully integrated design, social equity and human health factors.
For the residential market, LEED v4.1 combines aspects from four previously-existing LEED for homes rating systems (LEED for Low-rise homes, LEED for Midrise Homes, LEED for Core and Shell and LEED for New Construction) into three rating systems – LEED v4.1 Residential: New Single-family homes, LEED v4.1 Residential: New Multifamily homes and LEED v4.1 New Multifamily homes core and shell.
The updated rating system is designed to make the decision to implement LEED easier for residential projects. LEED credits that have a higher value to homeowners and residents, such as health and well-being improved comfort, energy and water savings, green and healthy materials, are prioritized. Options have been added to existing LEED credits that lower both hard and soft costs to achieve certification.
For the LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities rating systems, LEED v4.1 expands on the earlier performance-based approach to support planning, design, operation and performance management phases of new and existing cities and communities.