New ACPs and Pilot Credits available with LEED February 2026 Addenda 

The first of new LEED v5 Regional Alternative Compliance Paths (RACPs) is now available for Canadian project teams.  

• RACP15 Bird-Friendly Design in Canada provides an alternative for project teams to utilize elements from CSA A460:19 (R2024) Bird-Friendly Building Design to achieve LEED v5 BD+C SSc1: Biodiverse Habitat – Option 2. Bird-Friendly Glass and LEED v5 O+M SSc2: Light Pollution and Bird Collision Reduction – Option 2. Bird Collision Reduction.  

CAGBC will be releasing more information on this ACP and others in upcoming news. This RACP joins RACP1 Prime Farmland, carried over from LEED v4, addressing LEED v5 BD+C LTc1 Sensitive Land Protection. 

The February 2026 Addenda package included many more updates that will interest Canadian project teams, including: 

• Addenda updates for LEED v4 BD+C and ID+C to align with review streamlining efforts. 

• Addenda updates for LEED v5 (BD+C, ID+C, O+M) – Canadian project teams should find some of these updates particularly helpful. For example, under EQc3: Accessibility and Inclusion, CAGBC committees requested that in Canada our local codes supersede the need to comply with US ADA design standards; a change to reflect this request for Canada and other countries has been included in the February addenda (ID# 100002734).  

• LEED Interpretation 10517 (LEED v4/4.1) – Provides an exception for cultural ceremonial practices (e.g., smudging) from the requirements of EQp Environmental Tobacco Smoke, again at the request of CAGBC Committees.  

New Pilot Credits and Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs) 

• MRpc185 – Multi-Attribute Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Products – This builds upon LEED v5 BD+C/ID+C MRc4: Building Product Selection and Procurement (BPSP) by including products not eligible in the credit. 

• WEpc186 – Water Systems Commissioning – This pilot credit expands commissioning for a possible point under LEED v5 BD+C PRc1 Project Priorities. 

• EApc187 – Electrification for District Energy Systems (DES) – This pilot ACP replaces LEED v5 BD+C EAc1: Electrification for those projects using DES.  

• MRpc182 – Procurement of Innovative Low-Embodied Carbon Concrete – This pilot credit released originally in November, was just updated; it offers 1 point under LEED v5 BD+C PRc1 Project Priorities. 

  Critical resources that are new or updated: 

• LEED v5 BPSP Criteria Areas and Achievement Levels (updated Feb 24) 

• DES Allocation Calculator – updated for applicability to LEED v4.1 O+M projects 

• Arc Water Meter Guide – New January 2026. 

Project teams should be aware that Addenda are anticipated to be released twice yearly. However, LEED resources can be updated at any time; for up-to-date versions, confirm through USGBC’s Resource Library or for simplicity, use CAGBC’s quick links of the most common LEED v5 Resources. Additionally LEED v5 pilot credits, innovation, ACPs, RACPs, and credits addressing project type variations, may be added or updated at any time, and can be found in the Project Priority directory.