On January 22, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that was opening registration for its newest version of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building program, v4.1. The call for registration covers the LEED platforms for both new construction projects (BD+C) and interior spaces (ID+C).
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According to the USGBC, the goal of LEED v4.1 is to make the rating system accessible to more projects based on lessons learned from project teams that incorporated the LEED v4 standards. This new version updates performance thresholds and referenced standards to ensure the relevance of the LEED in the future, and to expand the marketplace for green building standards. Currently, there are more than 96,200 commercial projects participating in LEED in 167 countries and territories.
Another goal of the USGBC in updating the standards is to advocate facility managers to focus on improving performance throughout the life of their buildings and to reward facility leaders based on their performance. LEED v4.1 also incorporates performance reporting to enable building owners to track progress towards environmental, social and governance goals.
The impact of buildings, cities and communities on people continues to be a priority for USGBC and across industries. Through LEED v4.1 USGBC is expanding its green building efforts to ensure LEED is not only the de facto leadership standard, but also the pre-eminent living standard.
“The hallmark of LEED is ‘continuous improvement’ – and that is exactly where we are going with LEED v4.1,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president & CEO, USGBC. “LEED v4.1…is the most comprehensive, collaborative, accessible, and effective LEED system to date. From improving energy performance to emphasizing human health and integrative building design, LEED is encouraging project teams to operate beyond the status quo.”
As LEED v4.1 is focused on implementation, it should prove to be an accessible, user-friendly, and agile tool. “LEED v4.1 is aimed at addressing the challenges projects face as they pursue their sustainability goals,” said Melissa Baker, senior vice president, USGBC. BD+C updates referenced standards to encourage leadership and responds to market feedback. ID+C updates mirror BD+C while also focusing on the realities projects experience as they interact with their base building.”
If you’re looking to participate, you can register your facility project online using LEED Online, review the LEED v4.1 Beta Guide and download the LEED v4.1 rating system. The USGBC also provides educational videos and live webinars featuring subject matter experts. If you’re planning on attending any of the 2019 Greenbuild or regional events, USGBC staff will be on hand to meet in person.