Check out the latest information associated with the USGBC LEED v5 initiative.
LEED v5 the newest version of LEED. It marks a transformative milestone in the built environment’s alignment with a low-carbon future and addresses critical imperatives such as equity, health, ecosystems and resilience.
The LEED v5 O+M beta
As part of the launch, a beta will open with a select group of project teams across a diverse range of projects. The projects will provide critical feedback that will play a crucial role in refining the language and functionality of the system. Projects interested in participating in the beta will find an expression of interest form on USGBC's website, along with more information about LEED v5.
What’s new in LEED v5? Here are some examples of new and notable elements from the recently released LEED v5 for Operations and Maintenance (O+M) draft, as well as the highly anticipated LEED v5 Building Design and Construction (BD+C) rating system, which is currently under development.
Carbon
Most significant sources of carbon emissions in buildings include operational, embodied and transportation emissions:
Operational carbon emissions from energy used to operate buildings and from refrigerant-containing equipment
Embodied carbon emissions from materials used in the construction and renovation of buildings, as well as waste generated throughout building construction, operation and renovation
Transportation carbon emissions from transportation to and from the building
All LEED v5 rating systems will enhance the carbon literacy of the industry:
O+M: Rewards existing buildings for leadership and planning to hit future decarbonization targets for buildings with ultra-low carbon emissions.
BD+C: Provides clear steps for delivering new buildings with ultra-low greenhouse gas emissions.
Health
LEED v5 facilitates the creation and maintenance of safe and healthy spaces that promote physical, mental and behavioral well-being for all occupants, in current and future climates:
O+M: Includes a credit for continual assessment and verification of measurable indoor air quality, which also rewards projects for having strategies in place that address air quality management modes for infection risk, wildfires and other extreme shifts in air quality.
BD+C: Is being developed to promote proactive evaluation of, and preparation for, the changing climate and the risks posed by shocks and stressors. Credits are anticipated to promote resilience strategies in site design, envelope and infrastructure design, and ventilation system design.
Resilience
LEED v5 recognizes that readiness and adaptation are critical and rewards operational preparedness for extreme events.
O+M: Helps projects understand who is in the building and meets occupant needs with a health-centric approach, including identifying health resilience goals.
O+M: Requires all projects to conduct an assessment for climate resilience and rewards proactive establishment of a plan for responding to present and potential future hazards that could affect the project site and/or building function.
BD+C: Is being developed to promote proactive evaluation of, and preparation for, the changing climate and the risks posed by shocks and stressors. Credits are anticipated to promote resilience strategies in site design, envelope and infrastructure design, and ventilation system design.
Equity
LEED v5 asks teams to understand and address the social impact of a project.
O+M: Focuses on equity within cleaning operations and protections for cleaning personnel.
O+M: Encourages equity, access and economic empowerment by rewarding the development of renewable energy projects that directly support underserved and front-line communities, including the transfer of energy rights ownership to the community.
BD+C: Is being developed to encourage equitable development practices through community engagement, to foster greater equity within construction practices, and to promote equitable access to green buildings and the resources they provide.
The first LEED v5 release is focused on existing buildings and designed to deliver an understandable, actionable and transformational rating system with a clear road map for progressive actions that facilitate LEED certification.
The draft provides industry benchmarking and maintains a measured, data-driven approach to certification while also guiding projects toward optimized performance through clearly identified strategies. This will assist LEED users in anticipating and preparing for several years of building operations, encompassing legislative mandates, impending climate risks and expected industry trends.
For more information on your next LEED project, please contact our team at info@sixcontracting.com
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