LEED v5 Standards
The U.S. Green Building Council’s (UGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is regarded as one of the most esteemed sustainable certifications worldwide. Their newest version of the program, LEED v5 is the largest overhaul of requirements in 10 years.
With stricter requirements and earlier coordination the program pushes sustainable building to be even better. New pillars of the program include decarbonization, requiring projects to prepare a 25-year projection of carbon impacts and outline a plan to reduce them. LEED v5 also strengthens the importance of Indoor Air Quality and impact on local ecosystems.
“As regulations evolve and investors expect clear ESG reporting, buildings that show progress in carbon reduction, health, equity and resilience will be the ones that keep their value and draw interest from tenants and partners,” said Tolga Tutar, Senior Sustainability Director at Skanska USA Building. “Sustainability is no longer a side effort — it’s become a central part of project strategy. And LEED v5 helps point the way forward.”
