LEED v5 at Greenbuild CAGBC attended Greenbuild in Washington DC, meeting with counterparts at USGBC and members of the global green building community. One of the most exciting topics of discussion was LEED v5, and the insights, updates and advancements being made to bring it to market.
The most recent version of the LEED green building certification program, LEED v5 is an important milestone in the effort to align the built environment with the Paris Climate Accord’s 2030 and 2050 targets and to addresses crucial issues such as equity, health, ecosystems, and resilience. This version of LEED is the result of deep and meaningful conversations with the LEED community – including with CAGBC and its members. LEED v5 is scheduled to complete ballot and be fully available for use in 2025. USGBC is targeting 2030 for the release of v6. LEED V5 FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE: EXISTING BUILDINGS DRAFT The rating system for existing buildings, LEED v5 for Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings, was released in draft form at the conference. In addition, USGBC is offering a LEED v5 O+M beta. Participants will have the opportunity to work alongside USGBC as they implement the rating system, identifying opportunities for refinement and providing critical feedback. For more information, visit USGBC.org. MORE ON LEED V5 LEED v5 is built around a restructured LEED rating system framework, which focused on system goals including climate action, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration. These areas of focus will guide the next several versions of LEED and help prioritize how project teams are rewarded for pursuing various strategies. The Future of LEED principles identify a list of what LEED v5 and future versions can and must achieve, including: • Decarbonize swiftly to reflect the urgency of the climate crisis (decarbonization) • Inspire and recognize adaptive and resilient built environments (resilience) • Invest in human health and well-being (health) • Create environments where diversity, equity and inclusivity thrive (equitable outcomes) • Support flourishing ecosystems through regenerative development practices (ecosystems) LEED credit categories that have defined the rating system will continue to serve as the structure for credits and prerequisites in LEED v5.
6
FALL 2023 Ontario FOCUS
At the Greenbuild reception hosted by the Embassy of Canada, Washington DC. (l ti r): Brent Gilmour, Chief Commercial Officer, CAGBC, Robin Carnahan, Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Nina M. Albert Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service (PBS) at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and Kate Salimi, Second Secretary (Commercial) and Trade Commissioner (Clean technologies, Infrastructure), Government of Canada.
LEED V5 ON CARBON EMISSIONS LEED v5 also sees the USGBC prioritizing reductions in carbon emissions, in line with the Future of LEED principles. This includes strategies to reduce emissions from operations, materials, construction, refrigerants and transportation, with a focus on performance accountability. Those goals are reflected in the draft of LEED v5 for existing buildings and the concepts shared for design and construction, including: • Communicates simple, clear steps for delivering ultra-lowcarbon buildings. • Addresses significant sources of carbon emissions in buildings including operational, embodied, etc. • Enables design teams to use the rating system to meet organizational net zero goals • Continues rewarding efficient, low-carbon buildings and rewards new buildings for getting it right the first time. LEED v5 also strives to increase the carbon literacy of the industry. All buildings in LEED v5 will get an operational GHG emissions projection for business-as-usual operational emissions through 2050, helping teams understand the future carbon impacts of their decisions. Design teams can focus on meeting organizational goals and building performance standards for no or lowered GHG emissions as well as embodied carbon to meet the carbon caps for materials. Similar to the Zero Carbon Building standards, all buildings will have to report on their refrigerants and leaks. LEED v5 will also reward existing buildings for getting on the road to ultra-low carbon. The new standard recognizes that reducing the carbon emissions of current buildings to near zero is a longterm, complex process, and learning how to succeed is an emerging discipline. LEED v5 will reward buildings for creating long-term decarbonization pathways and 5-year capital plans. CAGBC will continue to be active in supporting the development of LEED v5 and ensuring its applicability to the Canadian market.