The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) officially released LEED v5 on April 28th of this year, representing the most ambitious update yet to the LEED rating system. This new version drives decarbonization, climate resilience, and human health through measurable outcomes, where previous versions focused on design intent. With a heightened emphasis on operational carbon, real-time data, and measurable outcomes, building owners are now being asked to go beyond design efficiency and prove operational performance over time.
At Epsten Group, a Salas O’Brien company, we help clients navigate the new LEED v5 requirements with integrated engineering, commissioning, and sustainability services backed by cutting-edge tools, deep expertise, and a commitment to delivering high performing, future-ready buildings.
Key Changes in LEED v5
LEED v5 introduces some of the most significant updates in the history of the rating system, raising the bar for how buildings address energy, carbon, water, materials, and commissioning. From stricter requirements on refrigerants and whole building water use to new baselines for energy modeling and innovative approaches to ventilation and indoor air quality, the standard pushes project teams to design for measurable performance. These changes are designed to accelerate decarbonization, promote climate resilience, and ensure healthier spaces for occupants, making it essential for building owners and project teams to understand what’s new and how to adapt.
Energy and Carbon
- Holistic project planning is emphasized through required climate resilience, human impact (local communities, workforce, supply chain), and carbon impact assessments (25-year projections).
- Decarbonization Planning is now mandatory. Projects must design for electrification or provide a detailed roadmap to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
- Operational Carbon Projections are part of the standard, requiring owners to account for site energy use, peak load reduction, and decarbonization measures early in design.
- Refrigerants face stricter scrutiny. HVAC systems must use either zero refrigerants or meet a 700 GWP or less total refrigerant load. To further incentivize using zero refrigerants, projects where refrigerants are used must complete an inventory of the refrigerant-containing equipment and conduct leak, vacuum, and pressure checks for all field-assembled joints.
- ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 and 2022 are now the baseline standards for energy models, which will mean a larger focus on how envelope performance and plug load management affect the overall energy demand.
- Outdoor Air Ventilation (ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022) introduces a performance method that allows the application of return air filtration, reducing the need for outdoor air while also offering the opportunity to further improve indoor air quality.
- Air quality takes a larger role in LEED v5 by asking that projects assess outdoor air quality, apply at least MERV 13 filtration media to outdoor air intakes, and include outdoor air measurement devices where intakes are greater than 1,000 cfm. References to ASHRAE Standard 241-2023 are also included for non-healthcare systems, a likely shift in response to airborne pathogens.
Water
- Water use is evaluated more holistically with performance across indoor, outdoor, and process water systems being considered. Efficiency requirements are more stringent and include more appliances and process water uses.
- Additional metering is required for potable and alternative sources, separate from municipal supply.
- Once-through potable water use is no longer permitted for equipment rejecting heat; opting instead for closed-loop systems, thermal recovery, and condensate return.
- Water Quality is gaining prominence, with whole-building water filtration recommended, especially for projects concurrently pursuing WELL or Fitwel.
Materials
- Projects must assess and quantify embodied carbon from cradle to gate (A1-A3) for structure, enclosure, and hardscape.
- A new concept for non-Operations and Maintenance projects in LEED is assessing how a location could achieve zero waste operations.
- Material Transparency requirements expand in scope. Manufacturers must disclose across at least one of five categories: climate health, human health, ecosystem health, social equity, and circular economy.
- Salvaged Materials receive a 200 percent valuation credit to encourage reuse.
Commissioning, Monitoring, and Retro-Commissioning
While the overall commissioning scope remains unchanged, LEED v5 raises the stakes for projects pursuing decarbonization and emissions tracking.
- Monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx) ensures ongoing optimization of energy-intensive systems and provides real-time data to reduce a building’s carbon footprint.
- Retro-commissioning (RCx) is employed as a powerful tool for existing buildings. For projects where greenhouse gas emissions tracking or portfolio-wide decarbonization is a goal, RCx offers a viable pathway to finding opportunities for carbon reduction. However, it is important to note that retro-commissioning is only included in LEED v5 O+M: Existing Buildings.
Together, these updates make LEED v5 the most comprehensive evolution of the LEED rating system to date. Project teams are driven to address carbon, energy, water, materials, and long-term performance with greater rigor than ever before. As Lauren Wallace, our Director of Sustainability, explains: “LEED v5 is a transformational shift, demanding measurable performance and giving owners clear pathways to decarbonize, build resilience, and improve health.”
Epsten Group: A Legacy of Leadership in LEED
For more than two decades, Epsten Group has been a trusted partner in green building and sustainability consulting. Since 2006, we have served as the largest third-party LEED review firm for Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), having evaluated over 18,500 LEED projects across 55 countries.
We’ve contributed to industry firsts, including the world’s first Double Platinum LEED certification, and continue to guide high-profile projects across corporate, civic, and institutional markets. Our in-house energy modeling, commissioning, and consulting teams bring unmatched expertise in both the technical and strategic aspects of LEED.
Now, as part of Salas O’Brien, we provide the full power of a one-stop shop: MEP engineering, commissioning, energy modeling, sustainability consulting, and building performance services all under one roof.
LEED v5 is here. Epsten Group is ready to help building owners meet the challenge and seize the opportunity.
Explore our LEED Consulting Services or get in touch to learn more.
