LEED v4, the newest version of the LEED green building program, recently launched at the annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Philadelphia.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED
has revolutionized the marketplace since 1998 as the world’s
premier benchmark for the design, construction and operation
of high-performance green buildings. LEED v4 builds on the
fundamentals of previous versions while offering a new system
that prepares all LEED projects in a portfolio to perform at a
higher level.
“LEED v4 is a quantum leap for LEED,” said Rick
Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Over
the past 15 years, LEED has fundamentally revolutionized
how we design, construct, operate and maintain our build-
ings and communities. LEED has created a completely new
industry of business enterprise committed to energy sav-
ings and efficiency. LEED v4 is as much a testament to the
achievements of LEED project teams around the world as it
is to the green building community’s ambition to create sig-
nificant global and local change through resource-efficient,
cost-effective green buildings.”
LEED v4 encourages and accelerates global adoption of
sustainable green building and development practices through
the creation and implementation of universally understood and
accepted tools and performance criteria. Already, 122 beta proj-
ects from around the world are using LEED v4.
Highlights of LEED v4 include:
• New market sectors: New market sector adaptations for
LEED include data centers, warehouses and distribution
centers, hospitality, existing schools, existing retail and
mid-rise residential projects.
• Time saving support tools and resources: Simplified LEED
credit submittal requirements, descriptive step-by-step
reference guide materials with videos and tutorials, and a
more intuitive technology platform.
• Building performance management: LEED v4 is focused
on outcomes so that building owners have a better understanding of how to manage their buildings to meet full performance potential.
• 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 optimiz-
ing performance, and ultimately achieving better environmen-
tal, economic and social outcomes in our buildings,” said Scot
Horst, senior vice president of LEED, USGBC. “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.”
The first LEED v4 project certifications were recognized at
Greenbuild: the Haworth Beijing Organic Showroom achieved
LEED v4 Gold. Located in Beijing, China, this project certi-
fied its commercial interior space. The project is owned by
Haworth, and the LEED process was administered by Bisagni
Environmental Enterprise (BEE) Inc. 1800 K St. in Washington,
D.C., was awarded LEED v4 Silver. This project was certified as
an existing building and is owned by Deutsche Asset & Wealth
Management and administered by Transwestern. Additionally,
three core and shell projects earned LEED precertification:
University Place in Philadelphia, 10 Emery St. in Bethlehem, PA,
and Capitol Tower Complex. CW
122 projects worldwide are already using the new LEED system.
LEED v4 Launches
at USGBC’s Annual
Greenbuild Conference
