As a passionate practitioner helping eliminate emissions from materials used in our buildings, I was thrilled to learn about the new version of LEED (LEED v5), which makes decarbonization one of its three focus areas.
At Mead & Hunt, we believe that low-carbon construction is possible with current technologies and materials, and the future of carbon-neutral construction is fast approaching. Let me share the foundational information about decarbonization and what design teams and building owners should consider when pursuing a LEED v5 certification.
What Is Decarbonization?
Decarbonization means reducing the carbon emissions associated with buildings. Most people have always associated decarbonization with ending dependence on fossil fuels and instead utilizing renewable sources. Further research through the years has shown that the materials used in our buildings are also responsible for a significant number of emissions. The chemicals used to cool refrigerators and air conditioners release greenhouse gases that harm the environment a thousand times worse than carbon dioxide.
Decarbonization in LEED v5
As discussed in our previous blog post, decarbonization is one of LEED v5’s three impact areas, accounting for around 50% of the total points for a project. This new LEED version has introduced the following prerequisites and credits that project teams must consider as part of their sustainable design strategy.
Carbon Assessment Prerequisite
With the carbon assessment prerequisite, project teams need to assess and quantify a building’s operational, embodied, and refrigerant carbon emissions. By understanding the sources of project emissions, teams can plan for decarbonization more effectively.
When performing early energy modeling, conducting a whole building life cycle assessment, and calculating the impact of refrigerant annual leakages, refills, and replacement and disposal, design teams have a holistic and qualifiable picture of the various emission sources and can discuss decarbonization opportunities for a project.
Embodied Carbon and Low-Carbon Materials Prerequisite and Credit
Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with building materials production, transportation to the site, installation, maintenance and repair, and end of life. LEED v5 introduces new prerequisites and credits aimed at assessing and reducing embodied carbon.
The goal of the prerequisite is to understand the overall impact of all materials in the enclosure, structure, and hardscape, and which materials have the highest embodied carbon impact. Mead & Hunt has been utilizing the whole building life-cycle assessment (WBLCA), an option that meets the requirements of both prerequisite and credit, to evaluate the environmental impact of the materials used in projects and assist project teams select low-carbon alternatives. The credit rewards projects for using materials with lower embodied carbon or adopting other low-carbon reduction strategies, such as building or material reuse.
Electrification Credit
Electrification is another important aspect of LEED v5. For those who might not be familiar with it, electrification involves replacing systems that use fossil fuels with electric alternatives and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using electricity from renewable sources.
We are working with clients from various industries, such as aviation and higher education, who are opting to use heat pumps instead of natural gas furnaces or adopting electric vehicle fleets instead of gasoline-powered ones to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Going for LEED Platinum? Consider Electrification
LEED v5 brings yet another change, pushing for a higher sustainability standard for projects aiming for LEED Platinum certification. To achieve the highest level of certification in LEED v5, these projects must demonstrate they are highly efficient with zero emissions from on-site combustion, using 100% renewable energy from on-site or off-site sources, and reducing embodied carbon.
By focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-carbon materials, we can create a more sustainable future.
Stay tuned for our next blog post on this LEED v5 series addressing another significant focus area: Quality of Life.
