by Lauren Wallace and Carmen Evans
LEED v5, launched in April, is the most significant update to the system in more than a decade. Early adopters stand to benefit from aligning with rising investor and tenant expectations around carbon reduction, resilience, and occupant well-being.
LEED v5 tightens standards across the board. Many practices that were optional in previous versions are now required, with half of all available points tied to carbon-related strategies. Because buildings contribute 30–40% of global carbon emissions, this emphasis reshapes design, material selection, and long-term operations, while aligning with ESG reporting frameworks.
Three assessments shape a project’s approach from the start. The carbon assessment requires evaluation of embodied and operational carbon, electrification plans, and renewable integration on the path to net zero. The climate resilience assessment asks teams to identify risks such as extreme weather, grid disruptions, and long-term climate impacts, then incorporate redundancy and durability. The human impact assessment expands the focus to indoor environmental quality, mobility patterns, and overall human experience.
To reach Platinum, projects must be fully electrified, powered by renewables, and achieve maximum energy efficiency and embodied carbon reduction while earning at least 80 points. When these additional requirements are part of the project design, projects are rewarded with maximum points, making it no longer a significant challenge to reach 80 points. Resilience planning also becomes more robust, reflecting increased frequency of events like pandemics and extreme weather. LEED v5 pushes teams toward integrated design, connecting embodied carbon metrics, zero-waste planning, net-zero strategies, and resilience.
The update significantly expands options for HVAC and indoor air quality. The standard takes a more aggressive approach to refrigerants. LEED v5 drives HVAC systems away from refrigerants entirely, or toward refrigerants with 700 GWP (Global Warming Potential) or less.
Indoor air quality monitoring takes on a greater role. Continuous monitoring provides a more accurate picture of air quality than one-time tests, especially since flush-outs—while recommended—often do not occur due to tight schedules. A new alternate ventilation compliance path allows facilities to design systems that meet ventilation requirements while dramatically reducing energy loads. Some approaches can cut outdoor air needs by up to 75% while improving IAQ and supporting net-zero goals.
LEED v5 also shifts toward real performance for water use. Water calculations now include the entire facility, integrating fixture usage with cooling tower and outdoor water demands. Beyond the additional metering emphasized in v4, v5 offers leak detection sensors as an optional strategy.
Commissioning sees major hands-on updates. LEED v5 places stronger focus on monitoring-based commissioning, using data analytics and fault detection to optimize performance far beyond occupancy. Commissioning agents for projects under 20,000sf or data centers can no longer come from the design or construction team. Enhanced commissioning requires naming the CxA in predesign and involving them in design reviews at key milestones. Fundamental commissioning now includes building envelope scope and sample testing. Standards are updated across MEP and enclosure commissioning, and monitoring-based commissioning must continue for a minimum of three years. Enhanced enclosure commissioning requires field testing for air leakage, water penetration, and infrared imaging.
Materials are evaluated based on their carbon impact, waste reduction, and responsible procurement. Environmental Product Declarations become central, offering clear comparisons across life-cycle impacts. Projects must measure embodied carbon for structural, enclosure, and hardscape elements. Materials recovered from construction sites now receive a 200% valuation, encouraging circular economy practices.
Beyond certification points, LEED v5 offers competitive advantages. High-performance characteristics elevate user experience and portfolio performance. Operational carbon projections create clear paths toward 2050 net-zero goals, while aligning carbon reporting with greenhouse gas protocols strengthens ESG compliance. Buildings that prioritize occupant well-being and biophilic design have shown improvements in productivity, wellness, and rental rates, reinforcing the value of designing to LEED v5 standards.
Lauren Wallace, LEED Fellow, is the principal, director of sustainability at Salas O’Brien in Atlanta, and Carmen Evans, AIA, LEED AP, is associate vice president and design studio manager for Salas O’Brien in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga.
