Update: LEED v5 was ratified by members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) on March 28, 2025.
What is LEED v5: The Evolution of LEED
LEED v5, as the name suggests, is the fifth update to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building standard released by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Since the first LEED certifications were awarded in 1998, LEED has evolved to become more comprehensive, taking into account new environmental challenges.
Over the years, LEED has incorporated requirements touching on energy efficiency, carbon reporting, water use, materials transparency, human health, and more. With each new LEED version, the bar is raised to encourage more resilient buildings that are not only more efficient and cheaper to operate, but also offer environmental, social and governance (ESG) benefits.
Anica Landreneau, chair of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Steering Committee, describes the LEED certification system as a process and explains that the committee is committed to updating LEED on a five-year cycle. “No single version of LEED is going to get us to the Paris (Agreement) target; it is about a trajectory,” she notes.
In short, LEED is designed to produce better buildings. And each LEED update leads to even better, more sustainable buildings with resilient designs. Today, LEED is the leading green building ratings system in the world, with over 197,000 LEED projects worldwide in 186 countries and territories.
What Does LEED v5 Mean for Your Current Projects?
If you are working towards LEED certification for your building(s) or planning to recertify, you can continue to register for versions of LEED v4 until the registration close date (towards the end of Q1 2026). Notices will go out before registration and/or certification closes for any LEED rating system version.
If your project is registered under LEED v4, you can opt to move it to LEED v5 if you fulfill requirements for the updated version and resubmit documentation.
Registration is currently open for LEED v5 for the following:
- LEED v5 O+M: Existing Buildings
- LEED v5 BD+C: New Construction
- LEED v5 BD+C: Core and Shell
- LEED v5 ID+C: Commercial Interiors
What’s New in LEED v5?
This latest update to the green building rating system emphasizes decarbonization along with points that support the natural world and human health. It introduces a bold new focus on waste reduction that is particularly relevant for businesses interested in cutting waste and increasing efficiency.
We have identified the top three ways LEED v5 will impact waste management. Read on to get actionable tips to help you align your waste strategy with LEED standards. If you have questions about these updates, our waste experts are here to help.
Top 3 Ways LEED v5 Will Impact Waste Management, With Actionable Tips
1) Lower Barrier to Entry for Waste
LEED v5 Building Operations + Maintenance significantly lowers the waste diversion threshold from 40 percent to just 6 percent, while also increasing the number of points available for higher diversion rates. This is to encourage more projects to pursue waste diversion and reduction initiatives. Even buildings in the early stages of waste reduction can qualify for LEED credits while working toward long-term zero waste goals.
Align your waste strategy with LEED: Conduct a waste audit to understand your diversion and the number of points available to your project. This audit will provide critical insights into your waste streams and recycling contamination, and help you you optimize your waste management strategy. Great Forest provides a full range of waste audits tailored to meet your specific needs and waste-related goals, including specialized LEED waste audits (for certification support).
2) Zero Waste Planning is Now Required
LEED v5 calls on projects to develop comprehensive zero waste plans that integrate waste prevention, reduction, and ongoing waste management strategies. The emphasis is on long-term planning for zero waste to minimize waste generation throughout a project’s lifecycle.
For new construction, projects must incorporate zero waste building operations. Teams must provide detailed plans, maintenance manuals, and resources to ensure that their buildings are designed with waste in mind. In addition, organizations must now plan for organics and food waste diversion.
Align your waste strategy with LEED: Think long term, and set long-term waste reduction goals. Start by tracking and measuring your waste metrics to improve waste practices. If you are planning a new building or renovation, work with your architects to include waste system design in the planning. This will help your building reduce waste and increase efficiency from day one.
3) Works Well With TRUE
With LEED v5 Building Operations + Maintenance, you can earn a credit point for waste diversion strategies such as performing a zero waste audit, reviewing waste infrastructure, providing education, or starting a new organics program.
These credit options are some of the building blocks of TRUE Zero Waste certification. By pursuing LEED Materials and Resources credits, project teams can gain credits toward TRUE certification as well.
Align your waste strategy with LEED: Review your waste infrastructure and provide sustainable materials training to staff and building occupants. Engaging stakeholders is an especially effective way to help you reach your zero waste goals.
Learn More: Links to LEED Reference Guides
LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction (BD+C)
April 2025 Launch Edition
LEED v5 Reference Guide for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C)
April 2025 Launch Edition
LEED v5 Reference Guide for Operations and Maintenance (O+M)
April 2025 Launch Edition
Photo: Unsplashed, Alesia Kazantcev