LEED v5 is Here: What to Know About the Business of Building Better 

By Tolga Tutar, Senior Sustainability Director at Skanska USA Building

For the first time in over a decade, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released a completely new version of its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification program—the world’s most widely used green building certification system. LEED v5 is the new version released by USGBC earlier this year. This strategic shift in the LEED program will have a profound impact on building owners, operators and capital project leaders. 

As the built environment faces mounting pressure to decarbonize, reduce risks and deliver long-term value, LEED v5 offers a roadmap that aligns environmental performance with business outcomes. This new version raises the bar on carbon accountability, supply chain transparency and human centered and ecological design, making sustainability not just a compliance issue, but a competitive advantage. 

Here’s what you need to know and why it matters now.

The process behind the change 

LEED v5 is more than just an update. It represents a fundamental shift in how sustainable buildings must be approached. The changes are designed to drive deeper, more meaningful results across the industry.

• Heightened rigor: The new version places greater emphasis on verifiable performance, especially regarding carbon accounting and supply chain transparency. Project teams will be required to provide better documentation, including embodied carbon assessments and product disclosures. This moves the focus from simple compliance to demonstrable impact.

• A shift in procurement practices. LEED v5 requires owners and operators to collaborate more closely with contractors and suppliers. This strategic alignment is crucial for sourcing materials that meet new criteria, which focuses on a material’s full lifecycle impact. This shift will require early engagement with the supply chain and may influence vendor selection.

• Flexibility with a focus on outcomes. While the standards are tougher, there is more room for project teams to choose how they meet these performance goals. The program moves beyond simple checklists to award more points for measurable results in climate action and human health. This provides owners and operators with the freedom to innovate and choose strategies that deliver the best long-term value and align with their specific business objectives.

LEED v5 is a leap forward 

LEED v5 marks a significant leap forward in sustainable building, redefining what it means to be a “green building.” This new iteration is built on core pillars that address the most pressing challenges of our time:

1. Decarbonization 

LEED v5 represents a major shift toward decarbonization by making carbon emissions across the entire lifecycle of a building the central focus of the certification process. More than half the credits, including those in the Materials & Resources category, have been revised with carbon reduction in mind. This includes aggressive performance thresholds, electrification, renewables and embodied carbon strategies. 

LEED v5 encourages whole-life carbon analysis, rewarding projects that reduce both operational and embodied carbon. Projects are now required to implement a 25-year projected carbon assessment, operational carbon projection and decarbonization plans. This effectively makes carbon the new “currency” of green building, driving design, material selection and operational strategies.

2. Quality of Life 

LEED v5 places greater emphasis on comfort, air quality, daylight access and overall wellness to uplift and energize building occupants. The focus on quality of life ensures that human experience is central to sustainability, recognizing that buildings can directly influence health and well-being. This includes considering elements like acoustics and mental health benefits through biophilic design. 

The intensified focus on “Quality of Life” and introduction of a Human Impact Assessment (HIA) prerequisite show a shift toward green building beyond just environmental metrics. It transitions LEED from an asset-centric certification process to a people-centric one. Focusing on “Quality of Life” shows that a building’s true value lies in its impact on human productivity, health and satisfaction.

3. Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration

The new version of LEED focuses on preserving ecosystems during construction, minimizing site disruption and restoring damaged landscapes. LEED v5 encourages the use of native vegetation, efficient water management and strategies to enhance biodiversity. The shift to conservation and restoration is significant. LEED v5 is moving beyond minimizing environmental harm, to actively contributing to improved ecological health. 

Future green buildings will be expected to have a net positive impact on their surrounding ecosystems, rather than just a reduced negative one. Building owners will need to consider their projects within a broader ecological context, leading to innovative landscape design, water management and biodiversity initiatives that enhance community value and resiliency.

4. Equity 

Perhaps the most distinct pillar established by USGBC, LEED v5 includes a commitment to equity and inclusion, ensuring sustainable buildings serve everyone, regardless of income, ability or background. This means that building owners will now have to undertake considerable community engagement, accessible design, and social programming that meets the needs of every user. The inclusion of equity as a core pillar and the requirement for an HIA that considers demographics, infrastructure, and environmental justice signifies that social impact is now a core metric for sustainable buildings that are targeted by the building owner to achieve LEED certification. 

Building owners will need to engage more deeply with local communities, ensure accessible design, and consider the broader social implications of their projects. This proactive approach to social equity can attract socially conscious tenants and investors and mitigate potential community opposition, ultimately benefiting owners and its surrounding communities alike.  

Getting LEED v5 ready 

The bottom line? LEED v5 is not just about earning a plaque. It’s about preparing for the future. 

As regulations evolve and investors demand greater ESG transparency, the buildings that lead on carbon, health, equity and resilience will be the ones that retain value and attract tenants. LEED v5 gives owners a framework to meet these expectations. 

Whether you’re launching a new capital project or rethinking your sustainability strategy, now is the time to engage. Sustainability is no longer a side goal. It’s a business imperative. Let’s build like it.

About the author

Tolga Tutar, Senior Sustainability Director at Skanska USA Building, brings two decades of multidisciplinary experience in sustainable design and construction, resource efficiency and decarbonization. In his role at Skanska, he oversees sustainable construction practices, supports Skanska’s climate neutrality efforts and collaborates with AEC partners to advance sustainability initiatives. Tolga also contributes his expertise to the USGBC’s LEED Materials and Resources Technical Advisory Group (TAG), where he is involved in the development of LEED v5.