LEED v5 boosts green building standards worldwide

By introducing resilience tactics, occupant wellness priorities, and more ambitious decarbonisation targets, LEED v5 advances global green building and redefines sustainability standards.

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has launched LEED v5, the most recent version of its flagship LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building programme. LEED v5 builds on LEED’s 25-year legacy and global impact by updating and strengthening the most widely recognised, influential sustainability standard for the building industry while also providing user-friendly tools for building owners and teams to pursue certification via enhanced technology updates.

“Since its public launch 25 years ago, LEED has profoundly impacted millions of people in cities and communities around the world,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of USGBC. “LEED v5 raises the bar, further defining and evolving best practices and giving stakeholders across the building industry clear pathways to address today’s challenges to our health, climate, and communities.” 

Meeting today’s pressing challenges
The most recent version of the LEED standard was created with input from thousands of green building professionals to address today’s most pressing challenges and significant opportunities at the intersection of sustainability and buildings. LEED v5 focuses on impact areas such as decarbonisation, human and environmental health, and resilience. The new version expands on what it means to be a high-performance building today, resulting in even greater investment potential.

Decarbonisation accounts for half of all LEED v5 certification points to address current climate needs. The new rating system outlines specific steps for achieving ultra-low-carbon buildings by reducing emissions throughout the building’s lifecycle, including operations, embodied carbon, refrigerants, and transportation. All LEED v5 projects will complete an operational carbon projection and receive tools to develop a comprehensive, long-term decarbonisation strategy, paving the way for sustainable transformation.

Quality of life credits are based on human-centred strategies that address the health and well-being of occupants and the communities where buildings are located. Global demand for healthier and greener spaces has increased in recent years, with occupants demanding greater transparency and accountability for sustainability and health in the built environment.

Another major theme running through the rating system is resilience, which addresses both human and natural systems in order to strengthen communities. All LEED v5 projects will conduct climate resilience assessments to increase hazard awareness, risk transparency, vulnerability reduction, and long-term safety and sustainability. These assessments provide projects with the tools they need to conserve and restore ecosystems, mitigate risks, and minimise business disruptions while protecting asset value, all of which contribute to economic prosperity and community safety. Once projects have completed their assessments, LEED v5 provides a variety of strategies that can be implemented at any stage of the building’s lifecycle to reduce risk and improve resilience.

“Investors, owners, occupants, and policymakers are asking for high-performing buildings that reduce emissions, mitigate climate risk, provide healthy, productive spaces, positively impact communities, and protect natural systems,” says Sarah Zaleski, Chief Products Officer of USGBC. “LEED v5 provides the best practices and accountability to drive performance across all these dimensions, delivering tangible benefits to building owners and their stakeholders.” 

A sound investment 
LEED-certified assets are proven to drive return on investment and greater future earning potential. Notably, LEED buildings achieve a 21.4 prcent higher average market sales price per square foot over non-LEED buildings; an average 11 percent  higher rent rate; attract more favourable and stable financing options; and reduce water, energy and waste by more than 20 percent. These environments also result in healthier and more productive employees and occupants.  

“For more than two decades, LEED has played a critical role in transforming the real estate sector at a global scale by bridging the gap between sustainability and commercial value,” Anica Landreneau, senior principal and director of sustainability, HOK. “It has empowered organisations to develop high-performance buildings that significantly reduce environmental impacts and provide healthier, more resilient spaces for occupants, while also supporting the achievement of business goals.” 

A sustainability story for every project  
LEED is the most widely used and globally recognised leadership certification, allowing building owners to clearly articulate their sustainability commitment and achievement, which is verified through rigorous third-party certification. All LEED v5-certified projects will receive impact reports to help internal and external stakeholders understand their strategies and performance. Furthermore, the new project priorities category enables LEED to be tailored to the unique opportunities found in all global regions and market sectors.

LEED provides the transparency and integrity required for a project’s certification, ensuring project teams adhere to design plans and goals. The standard promotes additional accountability tied to project-specific goals and provides building owners with proof points for successfully meeting goals and proudly articulating those outcomes.

“LEED v5 represents a bold step forward in transforming the built environment,” said Grace Kwok, chief sustainability strategist, AEC Capital Limited. “It emphasises climate resilience, recognising the need to adapt our built environment to a changing climate. We have the privilege to complete the first LEED v5 project in Asia, with ICC (International Commerce Centre) setting a new benchmark and leading the charge for innovation and excellence in green buildings.”

LEED v5 was created with the assistance and support of the USGBC’s extensive global network of knowledgeable members and volunteers. In 2024, the USGBC held two public comment periods, receiving over 7,000 comments from LEED users worldwide that helped shape the final version of the rating system. The new version was ratified by USGBC members earlier this year, providing final approval for the new rating system.

For more details, visit: https://www.usgbc.org