Skip to main content

Applying the LEED v4 energy update to your project

  • Updated

An update to LEED v4 was proposed on November 22, 2022, and went into effect on March 1, 2024.

Any LEED v4 projects registered after March 1, 2024 are held to the updated requirements, which can be found in the LEED credit library. For general information about the LEED v4 energy update, please also see LEED v4 energy update basics.

What options/pathways are available for Minimum Energy Performance and Optimize Energy Performance when using the updated requirements?

Projects subject to the update have significant flexibility in the option they use to demonstrate energy performance. Select the document below that aligns with your project’s LEED version to see compliance paths available to your project:

Am I still able to do credit substitution even though the LEED v4.1 Rating System will remain unballoted?

Yes! The LEED v4 update was designed to accommodate full credit substitution of any prerequisites and credits identified in the "What you need to know," Credit Substitution section of each LEED v4.1 Guide (BD+C, ID+C, Residential: Multifamily).

Can LEED v4 projects use a prescriptive compliance path?

Yes. Prescriptive compliance options are available to all projects applying the LEED v4 update. (See "What options/pathways are available for Minimum Energy Performance and Optimize Energy Performance when using the updated requirements?" for available paths).

A high percentage of Optimize Energy Performance points are available for the following prescriptive paths:

  • BD+C (most adaptations) and BD+C: Multifamily Midrise: Pilot Credit EApc160 Electrification ACP: Prescriptive Path introduces a simple, intuitive path to document achievement of decarbonization goals without requiring detailed energy modeling for most adaptations and Multifamily.
  • ID+C: LEED 4.1 credit substitution.

Is an updated Minimum Energy Performance Calculator available?

The calculator is still in development. In the meantime, project teams may refer to the calculation guidance in the web-based Reference Guide for the updated prerequisite:

Will projects with limited scope be able to demonstrate compliance with the proposed requirements?

(i.e., Core and Shell cold dark shell projects or Interior Design and Construction projects with limited MEP scope)

Yes, projects with limited scope can apply LEED v4.1 credit substitution to document achievement of EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance and some points under EAc Optimize Energy Performance for the elements that are within the project scope of work.

For ID+C projects applying LEED v4.1, Option 2. Prescriptive Compliance, up to twelve EAc Optimize Energy Performance points are available for tenant improvements, with additional points available for efficient base building systems.

Core and shell projects that have a structure in place for implementing Green Leases can also achieve additional points (beyond those achieved using any published pathway for EAc Optimize Energy Performance) by applying Pilot Credit EApc159 Green Leases ACP.

My project has high unregulated and/or process loads leading to difficulty demonstrating compliance with the modified thresholds. Are there alternatives that may be more appropriate?

Yes. Projects with a high percentage of unregulated or process loads are encouraged to consider LEED v4.1 credit substitution. Prerequisite compliance under LEED v4.1 is determined based on meeting ASHRAE 90.1-2016 requirements for regulated load. (See "What options/pathways are available for Minimum Energy Performance and Optimize Energy Performance when using the updated requirements?" for the list of alternatives). Note that under both the LEED v4 update and LEED v4.1, projects with unregulated energy exceeding 50% of the total proposed building energy for the referenced metric (cost, source energy, or GHG emissions), or projects with more than 40% restaurant area may use the less stringent Core and Shell point threshold in lieu of the New Construction point threshold.

How can we avoid duplication of effort to document LEED Energy performance and local energy code compliance?

Projects in jurisdictions with energy codes matching or exceeding the stringency of ASHRAE 90.1-2016 can often leverage LEED documentation to demonstrate local code compliance or vice versa.

  • LEED 4.1 credit substitution:

For projects in jurisdictions with codes that are less stringent than ASHRAE 90.1-2016, duplication of effort can be avoided by either selecting the local code compliance path that is most simple to document or by selecting the local code and LEED compliance paths that are most similar (e.g. Energy Cost Budget path for local code with some additional updates to document Appendix G Performance Rating Method. (See "What options/pathways are available for Minimum Energy Performance and Optimize Energy Performance when using the updated requirements?")

My project outside the U.S. is having a challenging time reaching the increased thresholds in the updated requirements that far exceed the stringency required for regulatory code compliance. Are there alternatives that may be more appropriate in my region?

Yes. For many project applications, LEED v4.1 credit substitution or other Alternative Compliance Paths may be more practical than the LEED v4 published path. (See "What options/pathways are available for Minimum Energy Performance and Optimize Energy Performance when using the updated requirements?" for a list of alternatives). For example, the ASHRAE 90.1-2016 prescriptive path available in LEED v4.1 and Pilot EApc160: Electrification ACP: Prescriptive Path is often more appropriate for the following BD+C applications:

  • Buildings with mass wall assemblies
  • Core and Shell with minimal scope
  • Projects that reduce emissions from on-site combustion

For the Global South region and similar regions where implementation of certain ASHRAE 90.1-2016 mandatory measures is impractical due to limited availability and/or substantially burdensome incremental capital costs for compliant options, regional ACP proposals to resolve these concerns may be submitted.

What approach can be used to ensure certification targets are met with the higher energy performance requirements?

Projects are encouraged to apply an Integrative Design process that evaluates energy efficiency and decarbonization options very early in the design process. Consider leveraging the guidance from ASHRAE Standard 209-2018 to quantify the impact of design decisions on building performance and greenhouse gas emissions at the point in time decisions are made.

For projects registered in 2016, just after LEED 2009 registration closed, the LEED v4 referenced performance improvement thresholds for EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance and EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance represented a significant departure from standard practice. Projects today can achieve the original LEED v4 prerequisite plus several Optimize Energy Performance points using measures that have become standard practice for new construction and tenant fit-outs. Through the integrative design process, design and construction teams can move beyond standard practice, and design projects that achieve meaningful greenhouse gas emissions and energy savings, ensuring LEED certification targets are met.

Are there ways to further incentivize electrification beyond what is in the proposed LEED v4 credit language?

Yes, two pilot alternative compliance paths have been published to incentivize buildings that apply electrification in conjunction with peak load reduction, energy efficiency, and/or renewable energy to achieve decarbonization goals:

  • EApc160: Electrification ACP: Prescriptive Path A simple, intuitive path, for new buildings to document the achievement of decarbonization goals without requiring detailed energy modeling:
    • Part A: Reduce emissions from on-site combustion (4 to 7 points available dependent on climate zone)
    • Part B: Reduce heating and cooling peaks (6 points available)
    • Part C: Reduce Energy Use (5 to 8 points available dependent on climate zone)
  • EApc161: Electrification ACP: Energy Simulation Performance Path Alternative metrics further incentivize electrification for projects modeled using LEED v4 or LEED v4.1 Option 1. Whole-building energy simulation.
    • Replacing the cost metric, the Demand Adjusted Energy metric incentivizes electrification paired with energy efficiency and peak electric load reductions and adds an hourly electric demand adjustment to the site energy consumption when electric demand is high.
    • The greenhouse gas emissions metric references future emissions (using hourly long run marginal emissions profiles where available), encouraging a project design that accounts for anticipated rapid decarbonization of the electric grid.
    • The LEED v4 Table 1 and Table 2 percentage improvement thresholds referenced in EApc161 have been updated to align with the thresholds referenced in the LEED v4 update.

How will the source energy metric be defined?

Source energy is defined as the total amount of raw fuel that is required to operate the building, incorporating all transmission, delivery, and production losses. Consistent with EB:O+M, the LEED BD+C and ID+C Reference Guides reference the most recent published national average source-to-site conversion factors for each building source. The Energy Star Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Source Energy provides background on why national source-site ratios provide the most equitable approach for comparisons of building energy efficiency relative to a national peer group. By contrast, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions metric is specifically intended to differentiate between more regional differences in electrical emissions. 

On-site renewable energy generation will be treated in the same manner for the cost and source energy metric. Per ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Section G2.4, “On-site renewable energy sources or site-recovered energy shall not be considered to be purchased energy and shall not be included in the proposed building performance.” Therefore, the source-to-site factor will be counted as “zero” for on-site renewable energy generated on-site and used on-site (or net-metered on an annual basis) with renewable attributes retained by the project.

How can renewable energy be modeled for credit in the 90.1-2010 Appendix G model?

Under the update, a project may either use documentation from LEED v4 EAc Renewable Energy Production OR from credit substitution of LEED v4.1 EAc Renewable Energy Tier 1 On-site renewable energy or Tier 2 New Off-site renewable energy to claim credit within the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 energy model.

On-site renewable energy: For both EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance and EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance, on-site renewable energy may be subtracted from the proposed building performance in accordance with ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Section G2.4 (where on-site renewable energy is defined as energy generated from renewable sources produced at the building site or contiguous campus, with renewable attributes retained by the building owner).

Projects may claim credit for all on-site generation of electricity on an annual basis, up to 100% of the electricity documented in the energy model (including electricity associated with District Energy Systems serving the project documented using Full DES Performance Accounting). For the cost metric, the equivalent cost of the on-site renewable energy system shall be calculated using a virtual rate or the actual utility tariff. The greenhouse gas emissions metric shall be calculated in the same manner as the proposed design (either using annual average greenhouse gas emission factors for each energy source or using hourly electric grid emissions).

Off-site renewable energy: Greenhouse gas emissions offset by community renewable systems documented under LEED v4 EAc Renewable Energy Production, or for Tier 2 New off-site renewable electricity systems documented under LEED v4.1 EAc Renewable Energy may be included in the model for achievement of points using the greenhouse gas emissions calculation under EA credit Optimize Energy Performance, but may not be included in the model for prerequisite compliance, or for the cost or source energy metrics. 

See the reference guide in the LEED Credit Library for further details.

Can I model the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Baseline heating as “Electric” when the project has a natural gas DOAS?

No, the ASHRAE published guidance and LEED Interpretation 10285 remain unchanged in the update. However refer to "What options/pathways are available for Minimum Energy Performance and Optimize Energy Performance when using the updated requirements?", EApc161 Energy Simulation Performance Path regarding a Pilot ACP with alternative metrics that further incentivize electrification. 

Why do you not require time of use (TOU) carbon accounting?

Time-of-use calculations remain too complex to require for all LEED projects due to the availability of data and further refinements required to the datasets that show time-of-use emissions factors. However, it is an option for all projects.

How will LEED v4 BD+C: Multifamily projects be able to leverage LEED v4.1 credit substitution, given the difference in points for LEED v4 and LEED v4.1?

For LEED v4 BD+C: Multifamily projects subject to the update, a new version of Pilot ACP 111: Alternative Performance Rating Method has been published to enable the use of the methodology from ASHRAE 90.1-2016 Appendix G (or later) in lieu of ASHRAE 90.1-2010. 

Other prescriptive or streamlined paths such as ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction ERI Path or Prescriptive Path, Passive House, Pilot EApc160 Electrification ACP: Prescriptive Path have also been updated for alignment with the new requirements, and to extend the Home Size Adjustment to these options.

Can Multifamily projects document credit for new off-site renewable energy?

Yes, when applying the update, projects may document compliance with the LEED v4.1 BD+C EAc Renewable energy credit criteria for Tier 2 renewable energy to claim greenhouse gas emissions savings for New Off-site renewable energy generation in EAc Annual Energy Use. See the reference guide in the LEED Credit Library for further details.

 

Related articles