855773644-LEED-v5-BD-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition - Page 209

Extracted Content

ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE (EA)

OVERVIEW

As of 2025, buildings are responsible for one-third of global energy emissions, accounting for over 34% of energy demand and approximately 37% of energy and process-related carbon emissions. [88] Stabilizing the climate requires the world to decarbonize its new and existing building by 2050.

Many regions have identified zero energy and zero carbon goals, targeting 2030 for new construction and by 2050 for existing buildings. [89] Thankfully, there are now time-tested and costeffective strategies to reach these goals. The market now knows how to design and construct the low-carbon buildings of the future.

Well-designed, constructed, and operated buildings use less energy, produce fewer emissions, and increase their resilience to disruptions like power outages or extreme weather events. LEED v5’s Energy and Atmosphere (EA) credit category aims to make low-carbon buildings easy to achieve by increasing carbon literacy and providing a clear framework for all buildings to significantly reduce or eliminate emissions, achieve greater energy independence and security, and lower operational energy costs.

As businesses and regulatory agencies prioritize resilience and sustainability in their financial and social continuity planning, decarbonization is becoming an integral priority for leaders worldwide.

Decarbonization LEED v5 drives decarbonization. Over half of the LEED v5 credits supporting decarbonization are in the EA category. By capitalizing on technological advances and industry expertise, project teams can use EA prerequisites and credits to create more value for owners, occupants, and communities.

First, LEED v5 helps increase the carbon literacy of design teams. In EAp1: Operational Carbon Projection and Decarbonization Plan, project teams develop a visual prediction of future carbon emissions showing annual carbon emissions will reduce over time due to the decarbonization of

88 “2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction.” UN Environment Programme, November 2022, https://www.unep.org/resources/publication/2022-global-status-report-buildings-and-construction. 89 Taryn Holowka, “Support the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment”, U.S. Green Building Council, August 2022, https://www.usgbc.org/articles/support-net-zero-carbon-buildings-commitment.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 199