The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has opened public comments for the first major update to its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building ratings system in over 10 years.
Special kudos to former BE+ Board Members Neil Angus and Chris Schaffner, current BE+ Board Members Kristen Fritsch and Sarah Michelman, and BE+ members Adam Jennings and Emma Van Lieshout who were all involved in the USGBC LEED committees making this possible.
BE+ is here to help you get your head around the proposed standard and be ready to offer comments.
Follow these steps:
1. Explore LEED v5 on-demand courses in the USGBC course catalog to learn more about the next iteration of LEED.
2. Consult these resources:
LEED v5 website
Preparing for the opening of LEED v5’s first Public Comment period
Article announcing the opening of LEED v5’s first Public Comment period
Exploring LEED v5: Guide to the first public comment period
BuildingGreen’s overview article on LEED v5
FAQs on LEED v5
Rating Systems
• LEED v5 BD+C: New Construction (pdf | credit library)
• LEED v5 BD+C: Core and Shell (pdf | credit library)
• LEED v5 ID+C: Commercial Interiors (pdf | credit library)
• LEED v5 O+M: Existing Buildings (pdf | credit library)
3. Participate in a special BE+ Community LEED v5 roundtable
Register now (April 30th, 12pm ET)
Be ready to weigh in with some of what you like, and some of what you’d like to change.
4. Submit your comments by May 20th (extended to May 24th, 9pm PT)
Via the LEED credit library or
Via the LEEDuser / Building Green LEEDv5 public comment forums
5. Join BE+ and USGBC at an in-person LEED v5 event
We are coordinating a local launch event for LEED v5 with USGBC for some time after the first public comment period. Stay tuned for more information.
6. Earn your LEED AP credential
Now is a great time to earn your LEED AP credential (before the exam content changes to LEED v5). We are currently scheduling two trainings: LEED GA Deep Dive & Exam Prep and LEED BD+C Deep Dive & Exam Prep. Fill out the Training Interest Form to be notified when those are scheduled.
PE | Associate, LeMessurier
Vice President, AEW’s Architecture & Engineering group
Interior Designer, Jacobs, Boston
Senior Vice President, Market Transformation and Development U.S. Green Building Council
AIA LEED AP BD+C | Senior Associate, Gensler Boston 
LEED Fellow, WELL AP | Founder and Principal, Ecoworks Studio
LEED AP BD+C | Environmental Sustainability Manager, Armstrong World Industries
Sustainability Director, Steven Winter Associates
Assistant Professor of Exposure Science | Director of the Healthy Buildings program
Managing Director, Harvard University Office for Sustainability
Principal & Director of Certifications and Consulting, Epsten Group, Inc.
Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Jamestown
Founder and Principal, Linnean Solutions | LEED AP, O+M; EcoDistrict AP
Associate Principal, BuroHappold Engineering
Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corporation
Co-Founder, Facilitator at The Laurentia Project | LEED AP BD+C, LFA
Founder and President, Board of the Healthy Building Network
Building Technology Director, Kingspan North America
LEED® AP ID+C, BD+C, USGBC Faculty, WELL® AP, WELL Faculty and Fitwel Ambassador
Workplace Strategy Expert and Researcher, EYP
Principal, Integrated Ecostrategy
Senior Vice President, International WELL Building Institute
AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Principal, Bruner/Cott
Architect, Associate, and Sustainability Design Leader, Stantec Architecture and Engineering
FAIA, LEED Fellow, Long Green Specs
Products & Materials Specialist, BuildingGreen
Director of Acquisitions and Development
Director of Restorative Enterprise, Interface
Vice President of Sustainable Development, Shaw
Sustainability Manager, Consigli Construction Company
Global Head of Sustainability, Superior Essex