New alternatives, credits in July 2026 LEED Addenda
Green Building Team on August 20, 2026
- Rating System/Standard
- LEED
- LEED v5
- Theme
- Certification updates
The July LEED addenda offered new alternative compliance paths (ACPs) and pilot credits for LEED v5. Over 50 corrections for LEED v5 Building Design + Construction (BD+C), Interior Design + Construction (ID+C), and Operations and Maintenance (O+M) were issued.
Find corrections in the Addenda Database and the addenda tables in the Resource Library.
Updated Rating Systems and Reference Guides can be found on the USGBC LEED v5 page. One Canadian resource is offered in this addenda update: #100002822, directing users to NRC Canada’s “National Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment Practitioner’s Guide”, for wbLCA methodology.
The new LEED v5 ACPs and pilot credits are in the LEED Credit Library, with changes listed in USGBC’s July Addenda. Of particular interest to Canadian project teams:
- LTpc188: EV Carshare pilot credit allows an extra point under Project Priorities for a carshare with EV vehicles.
- LTpc190: LEED for Neighborhood Development Certified Location ACP. Achieve points under Location and Transportation for a LEED ND certified neighbourhood, similar to LEED v4.
- SSpc195: Light Pollution Reduction ACP. Use calculations in place of B-U-G requirements.
- EApc196: Electrification for District Energy Systems ACP for O+M projects, similar to the version provided earlier this year for BD+C projects.
- MRpc197: Tribally Sourced Wood pilot credit can earn two points for sourcing wood from First Nations lands.
- Three new project-type variation credits specific to school projects:
The July addenda also included four new Interpretations for LEED Homes and Multifamily Midrise projects, along with three updated Interpretations. An update to the Large-Scale District Energy System Calculator is also available for LEED v4 BD+C projects. See the July Addenda listing for more details.
The LEED Credit Library has also been updated to allow project teams to access regional specific guidance quickly. All new regional ACPs and any specific guidance for a region, can be accessed through the “Select a Region” drop down menu.