USGBC has extended the deadline to register for certification under LEED v4 and v4.1. LEED projects now have until June 30, 2027 to register under v4 and v4.1, giving them an extra year to navigate the best decision for their certification.
How does this timeline extension impact the certification process? Any projects that weren’t ready to make the jump to v5 now have the runway to do it. Simultaneously, projects that were rushing to register this month under v4 or v4.1 now have a little more breathing room to get started.
Fundamental Shifts in LEED v5 Energy and Atmosphere Credits That Every Project Team Should Know
LEED v5 represents the most significant update to green building certification in over a decade. VCA Green recently published a complete, in-depth breakdown of the changes to LEED and how to make the best decision for your certification project.
Under LEED v5, there are six credits and prerequisites that reflect a shift toward decarbonization, long-term performance accountability, and closer coordination between engineers, energy modelers, and building owners. These include:
- EAp1: Operational carbon projection and decarbonization plan pre-requisite (v5 BD+C)
- EAp1: Estimated Energy Use and Operational Carbon Projection (v5 ID+C)
- EAp4: Energy Metering and Reporting Pre-Requisite (v5 BD+C, ID+C, and O+M)
- EAc1: Electrification Credit (v5 BD+C and ID+C)
- EAc2: Reduce Peak Thermal Loads (v5 BD+C)
- EAc5: Enhanced Commissioning Credit (v5 BD+C)
Understanding the evolutions of these credits is key to deciding between LEED v4 and v5. Especially with an extra year to register under LEED v4, these are key decisions that can greatly impact the project and its outcome. While there isn’t necessarily a “best” version, there is often a best version for you.
