LEED v4, the latest version of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s) LEED green-building certification program, launched today at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Philadelphia.
“LEED v4 is a quantum leap for LEED,” Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer, and founding chair, USGBC, said. Highlights include:
• New market sectors, including data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, hospitality, existing schools, existing retail, and mid-rise residential.
• Time-saving support tools and resources: simplified credit-submittal requirements, a descriptive step-by-step reference guide with videos and tutorials, and a more intuitive technology platform.
• A focus on outcomes so that building owners have a better understanding of how to manage their facilities.
• New impact categories: climate change, human health, water resources, biodiversity, green economy, community, and natural resources.
“LEED v4, at its core, provides insight into the synergies within the building system, providing solutions for optimizing performance and ultimately achieving better environmental, economic, and social outcomes in our buildings,” Scot Horst, senior vice president of LEED, USGBC, said. “LEED v4 is the LEED of the future, where we challenge the marketplace to go further, to make the next great leap toward better, cleaner, healthier buildings where people live and work.”
LEED v4 is being used in 122 beta projects around the world.