Join us for an educational course that will examine major updates introduced in LEED v5 and how these changes influence design strategies compared to LEED v4. While many design professionals are familiar with LEED v4 certification requirements, LEED v5 introduces new priorities related to decarbonization, material transparency, resilience, and building performance that affect early design decisions and project coordination. 

In this session you’ll have the opportunity to review key LEED v5 updates relevant to designers, including expanded requirements for low-emitting materials, increased emphasis on environmental product disclosures, and new performance-based approaches related to energy, carbon, and occupant well-being. The program will explore how these changes influence building systems selection, interior material specifications, and coordination with engineering and construction teams. 

Through practical examples and comparisons between LEED v4 and LEED v5 project strategies, you will examine how design teams can adapt specifications, documentation workflows, and design coordination to support LEED v5 certification goals. The course concludes with practical approaches designers can apply during early design phases to align projects with LEED v5 requirements and improve long-term building performance. 

Learning Objectives  

• Compare key differences between LEED v4 and LEED v5 that influence design decisions related to building performance, carbon reduction, and occupant well-being. 
• Evaluate how LEED v5 credit updates affect material specifications, environmental product disclosures, and low-emitting material strategies in design documentation. 
• Analyze how LEED v5 performance priorities influence coordination between design disciplines, including building systems selection, envelope design, and indoor environmental quality strategies. 
• Apply design-phase strategies to incorporate LEED v5 requirements into project planning, specifications, and interdisciplinary coordination to support successful certification outcomes. 

Presenters: 
Lacey Hess, LEED AP, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, BREEAM IN-USE ASSESSOR, Baumann Consulting

John D. Wagner, AIA, BECxP, CxA+B, Baumann Consulting