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Extracted Content

• Decarbonization . Strategies include reducing operational and embodied carbon emissions. Teams can replace fossil fuel systems with renewable or electric solutions, upgrade to energy-efficient equipment, and specify low-carbon materials such as highperformance glazing and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs ) in concrete.

  • Quality of life . A human-centered approach incorporates health, well-being, resilience, and equity into the design. Strategies such as inclusive design and biophilic design, connect occupants to nature, reduce stress, improve air quality, and enhance cognitive performance. Selecting nontoxic and hazard-resilient materials promotes healthier indoor environments, benefiting occupants’ physical and mental health as well as longterm sustainability.

  • Ecosystem conservation and restoration . Sustainable practices such as minimizing soil erosion, planting native vegetation, and integrating green infrastructure (e.g., permeable pavement, green roofs) reduce environmental impact and restore ecological functions.

Teams must utilize this thorough research and analysis during the pre-design phase to inform LEED documentation requirements, including the OPR, Basis of Design (BOD), and construction documents. These documents are expected to clearly articulate how project goals align with integrative design principles.

Narratives should comprehensively outline strategies and analyses, such as site assessments, energy and water modeling, and LCAs, to demonstrate how the project meets sustainability objectives. Teams should include robust justifications for their design decisions to ensure clarity and accountability throughout the project life cycle.

AND/OR

LEED-certified Building

Interior design teams are to consider how base building certifications in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor air quality can inform and enhance their sustainable design strategies. Early coordination with base building managers is essential to align shared sustainability goals and ensure a smooth process. It is crucial for the base building and interior design teams to collaborate continuously, using regular check-ins or shared documentation systems to ensure both teams work toward common LEED goals.

Certification under any LEED rating system shows that building owners have taken steps to protect ecosystems, conserve resources, and create healthy indoor environments. The real estate industry recognizes that LEED-certified buildings offer economic co-benefits such as reduced operating costs and improved occupant productivity.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Interior Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 38