In the new LEED v5 standard system, lighting environment has become a core area of concern. In addition to setting up special clauses such as reducing glare and enhancing natural lighting, a "lighting environment" score has also been added. Projects can obtain corresponding points by reducing solar glare, reducing the glare of artificial light sources, and maximizing the use of natural light. At the same time, the once independent "connection with nature" score has been reintegrated into the indoor environmental quality (EQ) category. The specific breakdown is as follows:
Glare control
LEED v5 provides a dual solution for glare control, suppressing solar glare and artificial lighting glare.
Natural lighting optimization
This rating mechanism strongly advocates that projects fully tap the potential of natural light, which can be achieved by reasonably arranging areas close to windows or using professional daylight simulation analysis.
New positioning of "connection with nature"
Although this score has been integrated into the broader occupant experience section, it still focuses on establishing a bond between people and nature, which is of great significance to improving the physical and mental health of residents.
Strengthening Energy Efficiency Standards
LEED v5 imposes stricter requirements on energy performance, specifying that projects registered before the deadline must comply with new standards such as ASHRAE 90.1-2019, and projects registered after that must comply with updated specifications such as ASHRAE 90.1-2022. These adjustments reduce the energy use intensity (EUI) baseline, prompting lighting design to move towards higher energy efficiency with cutting-edge technology.
Smart lighting linked to the grid
The new version introduces a grid interaction points mechanism to actively encourage the use of smart lighting systems to participate in demand response programs. Such systems can not only optimize energy performance, but also interact with public grid signals to enhance grid stability and risk resistance.
Light pollution control upgrade
LEED v5 focuses on improving the outdoor lighting design scoring rules and further strengthening light pollution control. The updated requirements are designed to minimize ecological impacts, improve nighttime visibility, and protect the bright night sky, which is in line with LEED's core goals of ecological protection and improving quality of life.
Digital supervision empowers
LEED v5 innovatively introduces advanced digital tools that can monitor and predict energy usage such as lighting systems in real time. These tools significantly reduce the management burden by automating the document processing process, and also support project teams to accurately model energy consumption in the next 25 years to ensure that lighting systems continue to contribute to the achievement of long-term sustainable development goals.
Lighting design protects health
The new framework attaches great importance to protecting the health of occupants by optimizing the quality of indoor lighting. Now, those design solutions that make full use of natural lighting, effectively reduce glare, and improve visual comfort will be rewarded with LEED points, which is highly consistent with LEED's purpose of improving the quality of life.
Promoting the application of all-electric and renewable energy
LEED v5 actively promotes the electrification of buildings, gives policy preferences to all-electric systems to impact platinum certification, and encourages projects to integrate on-site renewable energy such as solar panels to power lighting systems, reducing operational carbon emissions from the source. To obtain platinum certification, projects must meet new requirements such as energy efficiency, carbon emission control, and renewable energy utilization.
New Challenges for Project Teams
These changes in standards have forced project teams to innovate their lighting design thinking:
Use cutting-edge modeling tools to ensure that stringent performance indicators are met.
Introduce smart technologies to achieve flexible interaction with the power grid.
Prioritize the use of low-embodied carbon materials and design solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of lighting equipment throughout its life cycle.
LEED v5 sets a higher standard for sustainable lighting by integrating multiple dimensions such as energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and occupant health care.