LEED v5: Notable changes in the 2nd public comment drafts

The first public comment period for LEED v5 garnered nearly 6,000 comments across three rating systems: Building Design and Construction (BD+C), which includes New Construction and Core and Shell Development), Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) and Operations and Maintenance (O+M). Since the close of that period in May 2024, the community of LEED volunteers, as well as USGBC and GBCI staff, have diligently reviewed each comment, responded and made revisions. The results of that work are found in the newest rating system drafts available as part of LEED v5’s second public comment period.

The second public comment period for LEED v5 is open from September 27 through October 28 at 5 p.m. ET.

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So what changed?

The changes made range from language clarifications to more substantive rating system structure and credit requirement changes.

Global: The USGBC understands that LEED customers are looking for information on how LEED intersects with global taxonomies and the assurance of global applicability and support. Their plan is to create international compliance paths for all global regions, as they did in the past, and to provide guidance for relevant taxonomies for the regions as part of that compliance path development.

Design + Construction

• New concepts in LEED and market readiness – The first public comment draft featured many concepts that are new to the rating system, including a series of prerequisite assessments. While the comments applauded the progress in these areas, they also called for adjustments in language and scope to address potential barriers to achievement and provide clarity. In response, the new drafts hone the approach to each assessment with the intention of laying a foundation that can be built on over time.
• Repackaging of requirements – In some cases, it was determined that requirements of credits and/or prerequisites worked better in a packaged format. For example, Sustainable Sites (SS) prerequisite Resilient Site Design was folded into SS credit Enhanced Resilient Site Design. Other credits were merged together.
• Technical tweaks – Many credits had adjustments, and we encourage our members to read the new drafts in full.

Operations + Maintenance

• Streamlined options – The rating system was streamlined, with a reduction in the total number of individual strategies from over 65 to 24, focusing on what is most impactful and repackaging content to be easier to understand.
• Performance data-driven approach – Many comments referenced that users appreciated the performance-based approach from LEED v4.1. The second public comment draft has been rebalanced, with 80% of points connected to performance and 20% of points connected to strategies.
• Optimize credits for significant impact – Strategies and outcomes have been prioritized that 1) can make the biggest positive impact on projects, 2) the operations and maintenance team can influence, 3) can be implemented in less than a year, 4) are less complex or resource-intensive, and 5) can apply to many types of projects.

The USGBC offers a more detailed dive into notable changes.