Image courtesy of Pixabay.
There’s been a major update to the sustainability aspect of our industry as of late. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the opening of the first public comment period for its draft rating system, LEED v5.
This step marks a milestone for LEED and the building industry at large, providing a comprehensive framework for creating sustainable built environments.
LEED v5 emphasizes interconnectedness to support initial and ongoing sustainability efforts throughout a building’s lifecycle. Impact highlights include:
- LEED v5 Operations + Maintenance puts existing buildings on a path to decarbonization and ties Platinum-level certification to near-zero carbon operating emissions.
- LEED v5 Building Design + Construction provides a framework for new buildings to reach near-zero carbon emissions operationally by 2050, on a decarbonized grid, and, at the Platinum level, for buildings to achieve near-zero carbon operationally and embodied carbon reductions today.
- Project teams will be equipped with key information to guide goal setting and project delivery, including assessment methodologies for climate resilience, carbon emissions through 2050, and social equity.
- LEED v5 users will receive a LEED Impact Report that will help them measure, manage, and communicate their project’s performance and allow them to make improvements over time.
The current drafts and comment forms are available on the USGBC website. Final versions of LEED v5 incorporating feedback received during the public comment period are scheduled to be released in early 2025.
The revisions made through public comment will help ensure that LEED v5 drives transformative change while remaining accessible and applicable to all project types and regions.
Recently, Building Enclosure had the pleasure of chatting with Laurie Kerr, Principal Climate Advisor for USGBC.
Listen in to hear Laurie talk about LEED v5 and what this milestone means for our industry.
Information sessions on LEED v5 will be held throughout the public comment period. Check usgbc.org or contact your local USGBC community for more information.
So what do you think about LEEDv5 so far? I want to know! You can connect with me directly at lewisl@bnpmedia.com.
Lindsay Lewis
Editor
