LEED v5: Highlights of the Project Priorities and Innovation Category

Have you checked out the updated category of Project Priorities and Innovation under LEED v5? This category represents the evolution of the previous Innovation in Design/Operations (IN) category.

Now worth 9-10 points (out of 110), the category serves as a mechanism for ongoing development and inclusion of unique credits, addressing different project priorities.

Under the changes for the second public comment period of LEED v5, users will now find that there is no limitation for achievement between the provided options (some of which were previously limited to seven points). This will allow greater flexibility for project teams. Project teams can select between:

• Regional Priority 
• Project-Type Credits
• Exemplary Performance
• Pilot Credits
• Innovative Strategies

The USGBC recently posted updated information on this updated category:

Enhanced flexibility to address contextual needs. 

Projects will each be able to tailor their own approach to addressing different project-specific priorities, such as

• Regional priorities (e.g., water conservation in dry climates, flood protection against sea level rise in coastal zones);
• Priorities specific to unique building typologies (e.g., enhanced acoustics for Healthcare and Schools, quality views for healthcare workers);
• Exemplary performance credits that recognize projects exceeding requirements of core LEED credits; and/or
• New strategies explored through Innovation and pilot credits.

Project teams can choose credits they deem best for addressing their project’s goals and targets. Some projects may concentrate most of their effort toward a single priority area, like regional priority or exemplary performance, while others might choose to address different priority areas more uniformly. Each project can chart its own path forward based on its own goals.

Ongoing engagement with the global LEED community. 

USGBC plans to engage with the global LEED community (including CAGBC members) for development of Project Priority credits that address different priorities unique to various regions, as well as international alternative compliance paths for core rating credits. This will be an ongoing, participatory process in collaboration with all LEED stakeholders.

Increased adaptivity and agility.

The library will support testing new ideas in an ongoing manner, without having to wait for the next version of LEED. The USGBC plans to release the first batch of Project Priority and Innovation credits with the launch of LEED v5 in 2025.

Examples of possible credits have been drafted to showcase potential approaches that will be included in the library; check them out in the draft Project Priority and Innovation example.

USGBC plans to operationalize a collaborative process for development of Project Priority and pilot credits on an ongoing basis.

Be sure to voice your opinion during the second public comment period.