855773667-LEED-v5-O-M-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition-1 - Page 111
Extracted Content
EAp1: Carbon Projection from Energy Use is a new prerequisite in LEED v5 that aims to increase the carbon literacy of all owners and project teams. This prerequisite will provide a visual prediction of the future carbon emissions of every project in their business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, where the building’s operations don’t change. This illustration is important because, unlike energy use, which is constant in the no-change scenario, annual carbon emissions will be reduced over time due to the decarbonization of most electric grids. In addition, time does not impact all sources equally: the annual emissions from electricity use will nearly vanish with a fully decarbonized grid while those from onsite combustion will remain unchanged, an essential distinction for approaching neutrality by 2050.
LEED v5 rewards projects that achieve energy and carbon benchmarks. Starting from a baseline of energy efficiency, EA credits pair efficient building systems and management practices ( EAp3: Minimum Energy Performance, EAc2: Optimized Energy Performance, EAp2: Energy Monitoring and Reporting ). EAc1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Performance incentivizes renewables and carbon emission reductions, specifically rewarding lowered carbon emissions from onsite combustion.
As buildings, vehicles, and industries transition from on-site combustion to electricity, grid demand will rise. By reducing peak thermal loads, project teams can increase the building’s resilience to extreme temperatures and reduce demand on the electrical grid. LEED v5 includes two credits for lowering these loads: EAc4: Peak Load Reduction Performance rewarding measured improvements and EAc6: Peak Load Management rewarding demand side management and improved envelopes.
Planning for decarbonization is necessary to achieve it. New to LEED v5, EAc5: Decarbonization and Efficiency Plans outlines how existing buildings can plan and commit to strategic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from building energy and refrigerants. Achieving deep reductions cost-effectively requires long-term planning to take advantage of strategic events, such as end-of-life major equipment retirements or refinancing. With this credit, project teams can map out and visualize actionable improvements over time.
LEED incentivizes further industry-leading best practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through commissioning, phasing out refrigerants with high global warming potential and reducing leakage ( EAp4: Fundamental Refrigerant Management and related EAc3: Enhanced Refrigerant Management Performance ). LEED v5 Platinum projects will demonstrate a high level of energy efficiency, low on-site operational emissions, procure renewable energy, and create a decarbonization plan for further operational emissions reductions.
U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Operations and Maintenance, April 2025 Launch Edition 101