USGBC LEED-AP-BD+C - LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C)

The Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Interior Lighting, requires the project team to provide individual occupant lighting control for at least 90% of the individual occupant spaces, or at least 50% of the shared multi-occupant spaces. The lighting control must enable occupants to adjust the lighting to suit their individual tasks and preferences, and must have at least three lighting levels, excluding off1. Therefore, a three level (on, 25%, off) lighting control meets the requirements of this credit, while a two level (on, off) lighting control does not. A three level (on, 50%, off) or a three level (on, 75%, off) lighting control may also meet the requirements, depending on the lighting power density and the daylight availability in the space2.

Detailed Explanation:

To gain formal pre-approval for a strategy previously awarded as an Innovation credit, the project team must submit a Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) to the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). This allows GBCI to evaluate whether the strategy meets the intent of LEED Innovation credits for the specific project context.

Low-emitting materials are selected to reduce concentrations of volatile organic compounds and other chemical contaminants released into indoor air. Relevant products may include paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, flooring, composite wood, ceilings, walls, insulation, and furniture. Limiting emissions protects installers during construction and occupants after the building is occupied, reducing exposure to substances that may cause odours, irritation, headaches, respiratory symptoms, or other health effects. Low-emitting certification does not establish that a product provides better thermal insulation or has a longer service life; those characteristics require separate technical evaluation. The principal goal is source control—preventing harmful pollutants from entering the indoor environment in the first place. This supports LEED v5’s quality-of-life emphasis on occupant health and well-being.

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The Materials and Resources Credit, Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, rewards projects that reuse existing building structures and envelopes, or salvage materials from off-site or on-site sources. According to the LEED V5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the project team must calculate the percentage of building being reused by dividing the area of the existing building structure and envelope that is reused by the total area of the completed building structure and envelope1. However, the project team must exclude from the calculation any hazardous materials that are remediated as a part of the project, such as asbestos, lead, mold, or PCBs1. Therefore, the asbestos containing materials found on the perimeter walls will be excluded from the calculation, regardless of the volume.

The Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies aims to establish better quality indoor air for the building occupants that promotes their comfort and well-being 1 .  This credit requires the project team to implement several strategies to reduce the exposure of occupants and HVAC systems to environmental tobacco smoke, airborne contaminants, and chemicals 1 .  One of the strategies is to design and construct all interior partitions to full height (deck-to-deck) or provide a hard-lid ceiling for spaces where hazardous gases or chemicals may be present or used 2 .  This strategy helps prevent the migration of contaminants from one space to another through the plenum 3 .  A copy room is an example of such a space, as it may contain printers, copiers, toners, and solvents that can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) into the air 4 . Therefore, the project team can achieve Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies by providing a hard-lid ceiling for the copy room.

The Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Demand Response rewards projects that participate in demand response programs that aim to reduce peak electricity demand and shift the load to off-peak periods.  The LEED V5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction states that "the intent of this credit is to increase participation in demand response technologies and programs that make energy generation and distribution systems more efficient, increase grid reliability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions" 1 . The project team must either implement a permanent demand response program or develop a plan to implement a program within a year of occupancy. The project team must also demonstrate that the building has the capability to reduce its peak electricity demand by at least 10% in response to demand response signals.

Corrugated cardboard is a commonly generated and broadly recyclable operational waste stream that must be addressed in the project’s storage and collection planning. The project must provide appropriately sized, accessible, and clearly designated collection areas that support occupants, facility personnel, and waste haulers. Corrugated cardboard is generated through product packaging, deliveries, tenant operations, retail activities, and routine building management, making it a predictable material stream across many building types. Textiles and ceramics may be recyclable through specialised regional programs, but they are not universally available or treated as standard mandatory collection streams. LEED v5’s zero-waste planning approach requires practical infrastructure for major recyclable materials while encouraging projects to evaluate additional waste streams according to building operations and local recovery markets.

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An Environmental Product Declaration is a standardized document that reports quantified environmental impacts derived from a life-cycle assessment. Depending on its type and program requirements, it may be independently verified and can disclose indicators such as Global Warming Potential, resource use, energy demand, waste generation, and other life-cycle effects. An EPD does not guarantee that a product contains no hazardous substances or that it is environmentally preferable to every alternative. It provides transparent data that allows comparable products to be evaluated using consistent rules. A basic manufacturer statement about recycled content is not equivalent to an EPD because it does not present the required standardized life-cycle impact information. EPDs therefore support evidence-based procurement and embodied-carbon reduction under LEED v5’s decarbonization framework.

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The intent of the Sustainable Sites Prerequisite. Construction Activity Pollution Prevention is to reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust generation. The LEED V5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction states that "construction activities can have significant negative impacts on the environment, both at the project site and beyond. Erosion and sedimentation can degrade water quality, damage aquatic habitats, and increase flooding risks. Airborne dust can affect air quality, human health, and visibility.  Construction vehicles and equipment can generate noise, traffic, and greenhouse gas emissions" 1 . The project team must implement an erosion and sedimentation control (ESC) plan that conforms to the 2012 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Construction General Permit or local equivalent, whichever is more stringent. The ESC plan must cover all construction activity on the project site, including clearing, grading, excavating, and demolition.