Exploring strategic shifts in LEED certification: Version 4.1 versus 5 comparative analysis using academic retrofit case study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1758593Keywords:
LEED, sustainable building, retrofit strategies, carbon reduction, green buildingAbstract
Green building certification systems have been devised to assess and benchmark sustainable construction practices. Their core objectives include reducing environmental impact, improving occupant health and well-being, and promoting resource efficiency throughout a building’s life cycle. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is globally considered as the leading green building certification standard. It has undergone a major revision with the release of LEED v5, redistributing its 110-point scale to better align with evolving sustainability imperatives. This paper presents a side-by-side comparison of LEED v4.1 and LEED v5, highlighting key point reallocations across all the categories. Although total possible points remain unchanged, LEED v5’s rebalanced structure reflects a strategic shift towards carbon reduction, resilience, and social equity. This analysis provides practitioners and policymakers with a clear roadmap for navigating version transitions, prioritizing retrofit strategies, and maximizing certification outcomes under the updated LEED framework. Field inspections, stakeholder interviews, and documentation reviews informed point allocations under both LEED versions for the physical change in both versions. Results indicate a score of 39 points under v4.1 and 36 points under v5. Although the points earned in indoor environmental quality increased significantly, the academic building of Uttara University is found to be less competitive in LEED v5, or to gain the same points as LEED v4.1. Notable strengths include comprehensive integrative process documentation, low-emitting interior finishes, and active waste diversion programs. Areas requiring improvement under v5’s recalibrated framework include embodied carbon accounting, optimized energy efficiency measures, and life cycle impact reduction. These findings highlight the necessity of version-specific retrofit strategies to maximize certification outcomes while aligning with emerging sustainable green practices.
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