An Expert’s Take: LEED v5 O+M: EB
What to Expect from new changes to the ratings system
By Jade Strauss, LEED GA
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is run by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), and is one of the foremost rating systems for certifying buildings to a high caliber of sustainable infrastructure and use. With the release of a new iteration of the standard, version 5 or “v5”, venue owners and operators can expect to see forthcoming changes in the application process and requirements for LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings (O+M: EB). We’ve compiled a quick fact sheet on what we know so far, what to expect, and how to prepare for how changes may affect you.
LEED v5 EB: O+M Overview
LEED v5 O+M: EB emphasizes decarbonization, occupant well-being, social equity, and ecological stewardship in building operations. It requires actual performance data over time, focusing on continuous improvement in sustainable and equitable building management. The v5 rating system weighs criteria between three key themes:
Decarbonization (50% of points)
Quality of Life (25% of points)
Ecological Conservation and Restoration (25% of points)
With half of the points now dependent on practices and infrastructure for decarbonization, USGBC has taken a demonstrable step towards stricter, but perhaps more effective, sustainable criteria. “LEED v5 will drive the built environment toward a low-carbon future that is equitable and resilient and promotes the wise, safe utilization of all resources,” says the USGBC, reinforcing that while decarbonization comprises a large section of points value for v5 certification, it also functions as an overall theme that affects the entire ratings system.
What is the timeline for LEED v5?
LEED v5 officially launched on April 28th, 2025, and registration under this standard is now available in Arc for EB: O+M. However, projects can continue to register and certify under LEED v4 and v4.1 until the end of Q1 2026.
After March 31st, 2026: LEED v4 and v4.1 new registrations close, and all projects must certify under v5. At that time, projects already registered (but not yet certified) under LEED v4 or v4.1 have six years (2032) from the date of their registration to complete their certification.
What are the changes to certification requirements in LEED v5 O+M: EB?
Under v5, buildings will need to meet a total of 11 prerequisites to certify and have a total of 27 credits to choose from for additional points. V5 also introduces two new performance categories:
Integrative Process, Planning and Assessments (IP) – A set of assessments evaluating operational infrastructure and stakeholder engagement.
Project Priorities (PR) – A credit worth up to 10 points that encourages innovative thinking, expertise, and creative solutions to building and site environmental challenges.
Under the IP category, projects must complete four new prerequisites, with 2 additional points available. One of those prerequisites is a site survey and human impact assessment that collects information on demographics in and around the site, local infrastructure and land use, human use and health impacts, occupant experience, and working conditions. These human-focused metrics in some ways resemble another valuable certification, WELL, administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). This new set of requirements systematically integrates community engagement into the certification process, a tentpole of sustainability that increases outcomes for all stakeholders. After a process of adaptation, this process should have great advantages for informing sustainable strategy at building sites.
Under existing performance categories, users can also expect some changes. For example, under the existing category of Energy and Atmosphere (EA) the USGBC’s focus on decarbonization surfaces. Projects must provide a high-level estimated energy end-use breakdown for space heating, water heating, cooking, space cooling, lighting, plug, process, and other loads. USGBC will use that data to generate a 25-year projection of the project’s carbon emissions. This will enable project teams to understand which end-uses are responsible for the long-term emissions from onsite combustion and create a plan for carbon emissions reduction over the next 25 years.
Under Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) a new credit exists called Resilient Spaces. To achieve this point, projects must create indoor environments with enhanced ventilation to reduce airborne illness exposure and protection from outdoor smoke.
These are not all the changes to the v5 EB: O+M standard but are some of the vital ones that illustrate the shift towards responsible carbon emissions and healthy, balanced systems for human use.
How do the changes affect Recertification?
Although LEED v5 was released, the recertification process has not yet fully been defined and is still underway. For now, projects should continue recertifying under LEED v4.1. The timeline for re-certification will occur every three years (unchanged since LEED v4.1).
Should I use V4, V4.1 or V5?
There are a number of factors that would determine which standard you should pursue at this time, including if you are certifying for the first time or re-certifying, cost, time, organizational priorities, and more. We would be delighted to work with your team on identifying a strategy for certification; our belief is these decisions should be unique to your organization.
More Resources
Need more info? Check out these links for more on LEED v5:
· LEED v5 O+M: EB Reference Guide
Or, email us for follow up questions, or to set up a quick meeting with our experts at hello@hcsustainability.com.