USGBC is introducing a mid-cycle update to the LEED v4 Energy Credits. Since LEED v4 was initially released in 2014, codes and standards worldwide have evolved and adapted moving towards higher efficiency across the board. Before the release of LEED v5 in 2025, USGBC wants to raise the bar for energy performance and introduce additional mechanisms for evaluating and incentivizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. Recognizing the urgency of meeting climate imperatives, LEED is striving to continue driving the industry forward in climate, energy, and decarbonization. Let’s go over some of the main changes.
The update will affect the following Energy and Atmosphere (EA) prerequisites and credits for all new projects registered on or after March 1, 2024:
EA prerequisite: Minimum Energy Performance (BD+C, ID+C, BD+C: Multifamily Midrise)
EA credit: Optimize Energy Performance (BD+C, ID+C)
EA credit: Annual Energy Use (BD+C: Homes/Multifamily Midrise)
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) prerequisite: Minimum Energy Performance
For the prerequisite: Minimum Energy Performance, the thresholds for improvement of proposed building performance rating compared with the baseline building performance rating will increase to 10% for most BD+C rating systems, versus the current 5% threshold. BD+C Core + Shell, Data Center, and High Process projects will require 8%; and Healthcare 5%. ID+C projects will require 6% for projects with new construction envelope and 8% for existing envelope. Projects with high process loads exceeding 50% of total building energy or projects with more than 40% restaurant area can use the threshold for Core + Shell. These improvements can now be documented using either a cost metric, a source energy metric, or a GHG emissions metric. Also, onsite renewable energy can now count toward the prerequisite thresholds with this update, a change from the previous requirements.
EA credit: Optimize Energy Performance
The Optimize Energy Performance credit for LEED BD+C and ID+C is introducing a dual metric structure, awarding points for both high energy performance and greenhouse gas emissions savings. Like the prerequisite, energy improvements can be documented with a source energy metric or a cost metric. Previously points were based solely on energy performance using a cost metric. See tables 1 and 2 below for a breakdown of how points will be awarded for each.
Source: LEED v4 BD+C Energy Ballot clean 07-10-23
Overall, you can see the comparison between existing v4 thresholds and the updated v4 thresholds in the graph below for BD+C projects. While the values may seem high, they are now more achievable due to the new metrics, especially for projects emphasizing electrification and reducing GHG emissions. These new thresholds were determined based on 2030 climate goals.
This chart assumes an equal savings for the cost and greenhouse gas emissions metrics.
Source: LEED v4 Energy Update FAQ
EA credit: Annual Energy Use
For LEED BD+C Homes and Multifamily Midrise projects, the Minimum Energy Performance prerequisite and Annual Energy Use credit will also use new thresholds for energy performance. Additionally, the impact of the Home Size Adjustment credit will be limited to focus effort on reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions.
Alternative Compliance Pathways
In addition to the new energy credit structure, pilot Alternative Compliance Pathways (ACPs) with an emphasis on electrification are available for the Optimize Energy Performance credit. Electrification ACP: Prescriptive Path (EApc160) provides a prescriptive pathway for new buildings to document goals of running without onsite combustion, having low peak heating and cooling loads, reducing other energy loads, and investing in renewable power without requiring an energy model. This option could be appealing for projects under the California 2022 Energy Code. Electrification ACP: Energy Simulation Performance Path (EApc161) provides metrics to meet those same goals using building energy simulation.
This covers the main LEED v4 energy updates. For more information and a deeper dive into additional resources, check out USGBC’s Rating System Documents and LEED v4 Energy Update FAQ.