Last chance to comment: LEED v4 Energy & Carbon 

An update to LEED v4 was proposed in November 2022 to directly address operational carbon emissions and to reflect a focus on increased energy efficiency. While work is underway for the next version of LEED (v5), it is critically important that the version currently in use by projects continues to move the market forward and reflects future LEED goals. The proposed changes are anticipated to bring the energy performance rigour of LEED v4 into rough alignment with LEED v4.1 and match the beta rating system’s credit structure: half the points available are determined by the reduction in energy using a metric of cost or source energy, and the other half are determined by the reductions in operational carbon (GHG) emissions. 

The first public comment period closed in January and the USGBC has now proposed a few changes for a second comment period. Note that the changes will only be required after the ballot for newly registered projects. 

On behalf of the Canadian market, CAGBC and its Technical Advisory Group submitted feedback during the first public comment period in support of the proposed targets and recommended specific resource material to assist the market with this update. Both of our recommendations have been incorporated into new material that will be useful for project teams and in client discussions.

• LEED v4 Energy Update FAQ – The detailed FAQ provides answers on a broad range of market questions as well as graphs to visually outline threshold adjustments. 

• Energy pathway options for  BD+C  (commercial) | ID+C – The tables articulate the energy pathways available to project teams following the updates, outlining the most suitable paths for various project types. 

The changes for the second public comment period are highlighted below:  

• BD+C (NC, WDC, Hospitality, Retail, Schools) – EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance: The improvement beyond ASHRAE 90.1-2010 was changed from the originally proposed 15% to 10%, to ensure inclusion of more project types worldwide in LEED. However, the point scale under the associated credit remains untouched from the original proposal. 

• LEED v4 BD+C: Multifamily Midrise – EA Credit Annual Energy Use: The Home Size Adjustment was revised to one point per 7% change, rather than the 10% originally proposed. Additionally, the thresholds for GHG emissions were slightly revised. 

• LEED v4 BD+C: Homes – EA Credit Annual Energy Use: Home Size Adjustment was revised to one point per 7% change to align with Multifamily Midrise (originally no change was proposed). 

Timeline:

• April 18 – May 19: Second public comment period  
• May 1: Voter registration opens 
• Summer 2023: Ballot 

Feedback can be provided until May 19^th within the LEED Credit Library under the Comment tab for those credits open for a second public comment.