LEED v4 Update
Starting March 1, 2024, all new LEED certification projects will meet higher energy performance thresholds. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), these updated LEED v4 requirements aim to swiftly decarbonize building operations and reflect the urgency of the climate crisis. This update aims to improve energy performance beyond the prerequisite standard to reduce the environmental and economic harms of excessive energy use.
This update – recently balloted and approved by the USGBC membership – raises the thresholds for energy performance and emissions reductions, along with the addition of a new greenhouse gas emissions metric. You can still earn up to 20 LEED points in the energy & atmosphere category, but the updated reduction thresholds have increased for each LEED point, reaching the highest exemplary performance at 100% improvement. See the updated thresholds on USGBC’s website.
The updated thresholds were determined based on 2030 climate goals. Minimum improvement thresholds for the prerequisite were linked to ASHRAE 90.1-2016 average improvements beyond ASHRAE 90.1-2010. Award Optimize Energy Performance points based on incremental improvements to energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To achieve the maximum number of points, projects must reach near-zero GHG emissions.
Achieving 92-98% Energy Efficiency
GreenGirt CMHᵀᴹ continuous insulation and SMARTci® building enclosure systems from Advanced Architectural Products achieve 92-99% energy efficiency. These systems significantly contribute to meeting new LEED energy efficiency thresholds and earning LEED certification. Advanced Architectural Products has also developed an easy-to-use calculator to quantify energy savings by using GreenGirt CMH and SMARTci systems – use the energy savings calculator on greengirt.com.
Additional Information
For details on how GreenGirt CMH and SMARTci systems combine structural integrity with thermal efficiency, visit greengirt.com. Alternatively, contact us today.
For additional detail on the LEED v4 energy update, read USGBC’s LEED v4 Energy Update FAQ document on usgbc.org.
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