Feature image: The LEED Silver Engineering Building Oval in Raleigh, North Carolina. Image credit: Art Howard Photography.

Timing matters. Meeting the urgency of climate imperatives cannot only be accomplished by addressing buildings of the future. The buildings we build and operate today will have impacts that last for generations. This means that while looking ahead to LEED v5, the current versions of LEED must also move forward to address the urgency of the climate crisis.

An update to LEED v4 was proposed on Nov. 22, 2022, to reflect a focus on increased energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reductions. This update raises the threshold for energy performance and provides a mechanism for specifically evaluating and incentivizing GHG emissions reductions. It is critically important that the current version in use by projects reflect the future of LEED goals and that we can move the market forward while equipping you with the tools needed to make these changes.

As with all substantive changes to the LEED rating system, market feedback is an integral component, so the process began with a public comment period.

After reviewing the comments received in the first public comment period (Nov. 15, 2022–Jan. 13, 2023) and generating responses, we’ve made the following revisions, prompting a second public comment. The second public comment period will be held April 18–May 19, 2023.

Highlights of the second public comment period

LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction (BD+C): New Construction, Warehouse and Distribution Centers, Hospitality, Retail, and Schools)

EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance: Improvement beyond ASHRAE 90.1-2010 increased to 10%.

LEED v4 BD+C: Multifamily Midrise

EA Credit Annual Energy Use:

Home Size Adjustment revised to one point per 7% decrease in home size.
Thresholds for GHG emissions revised to award more points to projects that achieve 20% to 40% savings for both metrics.

LEED v4 BD+C: Homes

EA Credit Annual Energy Use: Home Size Adjustment was revised to one point per 7% decrease in home size (aligned with Multifamily Midrise).

No further changes are proposed in the second public comment for:

EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance for all LEED for Interior Design and Construction ID+C and for BD+C: Homes, Multifamily Midrise, Core and Shell, Data Centers and Healthcare
EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance for all ID+C and all BD+C.

Resources

LEED v4 energy update FAQ
Options for meeting requirements by project type BD+C (commercial) | ID+C
Responses to the first public comment feedback

How to comment

Comments can be submitted in two ways:

The second public comment is open to everyone—there are no restrictions on who may view the changes and provide feedback.

Timeline

Nov. 22, 2022–Jan. 13, 2023: First public comment
March 1: Deadline to join or renew to be counted as a USGBC member in good standing
Apr. 18–May 19: Second public comment period
Late April: Voter registration opens
Summer 2023: Ballot

Participate in the public comment

Participate in the second public comment for the LEED v4 energy update