Written by
Katie Freeze-Becker, LEED AP, WELL AP, Fitwel
Director, New Construction
New Prerequisites
LEEDv5 will require all project teams to complete a series of assessments early in design to inform their sustainability targets and, ideally, place their certification goals within reach.
Climate Resilience Assessment
Teams must identify the climate hazards most likely to affect their project site, and develop strategies for addressing them. For example, a property in California will most likely need to plan for wildfire and extreme rainfall events. (We like Munich Re and First Street’s climate risk assessment tools).
Social Equity Assessment
A social equity assessment looks at the design and construction process through a human rights lens. Considerations include the safety of your construction team, supply chain ethics, and the impacts (both negative and positive) your project may have on the fabric of the surrounding neighborhood. The AIA Framework for Design Excellence offers resources that can be used to inform your assessment’s priorities.
Operational Carbon Projection and Plan
This prerequisite takes the v4 approach to energy modeling a step further by requiring project teams to develop decarbonization-specific targets in addition to traditional EEMs. Specifically, projects must develop strategies to achieve full electrification by 2050. Plans may include equipment retrofits, electrification “readiness” measures and passive survivability.
Embodied Carbon Assessment
This means tracking the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of all structural, enclosure, and hardscape materials used on your project. (For reference, check out this case study.)
Impact Areas
Previously, credit categories served as the sole organizing system for LEED credits. Under v5, each credit is also assigned a minimum of one of three of the following:
A whopping 50% of credits now include a decarbonization component. Additionally, v5 is the first LEED version to incorporate a focus on accessibility and equity, concerns traditionally associated with other rating systems like WELL and Fitwel.
Earlier versions of LEED relegated ecological concerns to the Sustainable Sites credit category. The v5 scorecard, by contrast, addresses issues ranging from the impacts of raw materials extraction on wildlife habitat to equitable nature access. Zero lot-line projects that once glossed over any mention of the building exterior will want to reconsider the relevance of this critical aspect of sustainability to their strategy.
New Platinum Requirements
LEED v5 will make earning the coveted title of Platinum even more challenging than its predecessors did. In addition to attaining a score of 80, aspiring projects will need to meet specific decarbonization thresholds to qualify:
Actionable Impact
LEED v5 is redefining what it means to be a LEED certified building. Coupled with a more holistic focus that includes communities and ecosystems, the increased rigor LEEDv5 demands can seem daunting to even seasoned designers.
That said, an increased reliance on measurable impact has its benefits for project teams. Many new prerequisites, including the assessments discussed above, not only set minimum baselines for performance but also help teams to lock in strategies that will earn projects a higher number of points.
In terms of credits, some new opportunities you haven’t seen in past LEED versions include leak detection for plumbing fixtures, biophilic interior design, and inclusive features like nursing rooms, wayfinding and all-gender restrooms. These and many other updated features are already familiar to design teams and celebrated among industry leaders. While the number of Platinum-level certifications will almost certainly decrease, the expanded scope of LEEDv5 may well lower the barrier to entry by allowing for more varied and flexible approaches to sustainable design.
Important Dates, Fees, and Resources
Final Thoughts
By aligning itself with industry leadership and the latest science, LEEDv5 is poised to push the boundaries of what a top-performing building can and should look like. Some of these transitions will be tricky to navigate; after all, decarbonization relies not only on individual buildings but on the infrastructure that supports them. Still, other changes, especially those centering inclusivity and human needs, will give many deserving projects the boost they need to achieve their targets.
The central message LEEDv5 seems to share is that all buildings, regardless of size, typology, or location, have a role to play in improving our communities and combatting the climate crisis. Exactly what that role looks like is up to each of us.
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