LEEDv5 has arrived with many exciting and innovative updates to the world’s leading sustainability rating system. As sustainability in the built environment continues to evolve, the primary changes to the LEED v5 rating system include a stronger focus on decarbonization, social inequities, and building resilience as they pertain to sustainable building practices.
Prioritizing Carbon
Decarbonization has become a major focus in recent years, and LEED® v5 now reflects that shift with updated prerequisites and new credits aimed at tracking and cutting carbon emissions. This update requires all projects attempting certification to provide operational carbon projections along with a 25-year decarbonization plan. This prerequisite ensures stakeholders are planning for low-carbon outcomes and can visualize how current design decisions can impact long-term emissions.
As part of this shift, LEED® v5 will require all projects to quantify their embodied carbon for materials associated with the structure, enclosure and hardscape of a development. Projects will also need to outline the strategies considered to reduce emissions at key carbon hotspots.
While there are many brand-new credits in LEED® v5 relating to decarbonization, some older prerequisites and credits are getting a new look – one notable change involves refrigerant management: all refrigerants must now be inventoried, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are no longer permitted, equipment alternatives must be explored for any refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) above 700, and a leak check with necessary repairs must be completed prior to substantial completion for all projects.
Addressing Social Inequalities
LEED® v5 calls for a more human-centered approach to building construction, requiring developments to understand the social context of the communities they’re built in and to consider addressing any potential social inequities. To support this, all projects will be required to conduct a Human Impact Assessment that evaluates the demographics, local infrastructure and land use, human use and health impacts, and occupant experience associated with the proposed development.
Furthermore, projects can now earn points for engaging the local community — whether that means hiring local labour, offering job or life skills training to construction workers, or providing equitable public access to building facilities.
Additional points are available for supporting the diverse needs of building occupants, which may include accessibility for physical disabilities, aging populations, social well-being, and wayfinding.
Building Resilience
In a world where climate change is heavily impacting the built environment, building resilience is more important than ever. LEED® v5 introduces a new prerequisite requiring projects to conduct a comprehensive assessment of climate and natural hazards that could affect the project site — this may include strategies for extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, sea level rise, or more. Projects can also earn points for integrating climate resilient strategies that ensure long-term safety and sustainability of new developments.
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Contact us to see if LEEDv5 could be a fit for your project or to get your LEEDv4 project registered before the deadline.
