USGBC launches LEED Version 5

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched LEED v5, the new version of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building program on April 28.

The version was developed with input from thousands of green building professionals to respond to the pressing challenges and the significant opportunities at the intersection of sustainability and buildings. LEED v5 focuses on impact areas that touch decarbonization, human and ecological health, and resilience.

Decarbonization accounts for half of all points for LEED v5 certification. The new rating system provides clear, actionable steps to deliver ultra-low-carbon buildings by targeting emissions reductions across all aspects of the building life cycle, including operations, embodied carbon, refrigerants, and transportation.

All LEED v5 projects will complete an operational carbon projection and will be given tools to craft a comprehensive, long-term decarbonization strategy, creating pathways for sustainable transformation. Quality-of-life credits focus on human-centric strategies that address the health and well-being of occupants and the communities in which buildings are located.

Global demand for healthier and greener spaces has grown in recent years, with occupants increasingly demanding more transparency and accountability around sustainability and health in the built environment, USGBC says.