“Since its public launch 25 years ago, LEED has profoundly impacted millions of people in cities and communities around the world,” said Peter Templeton, President and CEO of USGBC. “LEED v5 raises the bar, further defining and evolving best practices, and giving stakeholders across the building industry clear pathways to address today’s challenges to our health, climate, and communities.”
The newest version of the LEED standard was developed with input from thousands of green building professionals to address today’s most pressing challenges and unlock significant opportunities at the intersection of sustainability and the built environment. LEED v5 emphasizes impact areas such as decarbonization, human and ecological health, and resilience. It redefines what it means to be a high-performance building today, offering greater potential for long-term investment.
Decarbonization accounts for half of all points in LEED v5 certification, addressing urgent climate needs. The new rating system outlines clear, actionable steps to achieve ultra-low-carbon buildings by targeting emissions reductions throughout the entire building lifecycle—including operations, embodied carbon, refrigerants, and transportation. All LEED v5 projects are required to complete an operational carbon projection and are provided with tools to develop a comprehensive, long-term decarbonization strategy—creating strong pathways for sustainable transformation.
Quality of life credits emphasize human-centric strategies that promote the health and well-being of both building occupants and surrounding communities. Global demand for healthier, more sustainable spaces has grown significantly, with increased expectations for transparency and accountability in the built environment.
Resilience is another major focus of LEED v5, addressing both human and natural systems to strengthen communities. All projects must complete climate resilience assessments, which raise awareness of climate hazards, increase risk transparency, reduce vulnerabilities, and ensure long-term safety and sustainability. These assessments help conserve and restore ecosystems, mitigate risk, and reduce business disruptions while protecting asset value—thereby contributing to economic stability and community safety. LEED v5 offers strategies at every stage of the building lifecycle to minimize risk and enhance resilience.
“Investors, owners, occupants, and policymakers are asking for high-performing buildings that reduce emissions, mitigate climate risk, provide healthy, productive spaces, positively impact communities, and protect natural systems,” said Sarah Zaleski, Chief Products Officer at USGBC. “LEED v5 provides the best practices and accountability needed to drive performance across all these dimensions, delivering tangible benefits to building owners and their stakeholders.”
A Sound Investment
LEED-certified buildings have a proven track record of delivering strong returns on investment and long-term value. LEED buildings command a 21.4% higher average market sales price per square foot compared to non-LEED buildings, average 11% higher rent rates, attract more favorable and stable financing options, and achieve over 20% reductions in water, energy, and waste consumption. These high-performance environments also foster healthier and more productive occupants.“For more than two decades, LEED has played a critical role in transforming the real estate sector globally by bridging the gap between sustainability and commercial value,” said Anica Landreneau, Senior Principal and Director of Sustainability at HOK. “It has empowered organizations to develop high-performance buildings that significantly reduce environmental impacts and provide healthier, more resilient spaces for occupants—all while helping achieve business goals.”
A Sustainability Story for Every Project
LEED remains the most widely used and globally recognized leadership certification, helping building owners clearly communicate their sustainability achievements through rigorous third-party verification. All projects certified under LEED v5 will receive impact reports to transparently convey their strategies and performance to internal and external stakeholders. Additionally, the new project priorities category allows customization of LEED criteria to align with the unique challenges and opportunities in different global regions and market sectors.LEED’s built-in transparency and integrity ensure that project teams deliver on their design intentions and performance goals. It strengthens accountability by aligning certification with project-specific objectives, giving owners verified proof points to showcase and celebrate their outcomes.
“LEED v5 represents a bold step forward in transforming the built environment,” said Grace Kwok, Chief Sustainability Strategist at AEC Capital Limited. “It emphasizes climate resilience and recognizes the need to adapt our buildings to a changing climate. We are proud to have completed the first LEED v5 project in Asia, with ICC (International Commerce Centre) setting a new benchmark and leading the charge for innovation and excellence in green buildings.”
LEED v5 was developed through the support of USGBC’s global network of knowledgeable members and volunteers. In 2024, USGBC conducted two public comment periods, receiving more than 7,000 responses from LEED users worldwide, which shaped the final version. The system was officially ratified by USGBC members earlier this year, marking a significant milestone for the future of sustainable building.
