Master LEED v5 in 6 Hours

In this session, I’ll introduce you to the Integrative Process category — the foundation of LEED v5 and sustainable design thinking. It’s all about starting early, asking the right questions, and getting the whole team on board from the beginning.

By the end of this lecture, you’ll be able to:

• Understand how the Integrative Process credit encourages collaboration across disciplines before final design decisions

• Identify early-stage analyses for energy, water, site, and materials that inform better building outcomes

• Recognize the value of pre-design modeling and systems thinking in achieving LEED goals

• Apply this approach to guide sustainability goals, budget alignment, and stakeholder engagement

• Prepare documentation that shows how your team coordinated and applied early-phase findings to design decisions

This session gives you a head start on LEED v5 project planning and reinforces the importance of integrated design in green buildings.

In this lecture, I’ll take you through the Location and Transportation category which focuses on how the building’s site influences environmental impact, mobility, and community connection.

By the end of this session, you’ll be able to:

• Evaluate sites based on proximity to transit, walkability, existing infrastructure, and surrounding density

• Understand how LEED v5 supports car-free access, public transport, bike networks, and reduced emissions

• Promote equity through access to community services and affordable transportation

• Document site selection strategies that align with regional growth and environmental goals

• Earn points for supporting smart, low-impact development that benefits both people and the planet

This is ideal if you're selecting a project site or working on urban infill, brownfield redevelopment, or transit-oriented design

In this part of the course, we’ll look at Sustainable Sites, a category focused on how your project interacts with the natural environment.

By the end of this lecture, you’ll be able to:

• Implement strategies to protect and restore natural habitat and soil health

• Integrate green infrastructure solutions like rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavements

• Plan for stormwater management, erosion control, and site resilience to extreme weather

• Understand how to reduce the urban heat island effect through high-albedo materials and vegetative cover

• Prepare and document site maps, planting plans, and calculations for compliance

If your project is in an environmentally sensitive area or exposed to heat/flood risk, this session will help you design with nature, not against it.

This session dives into Water Efficiency, one of the most impactful and increasingly urgent areas in green building.

By the end of the session, you’ll be able to:

• Identify and apply strategies for reducing indoor and outdoor water use

• Incorporate rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, or advanced metering to track and optimize performance

• Choose high-efficiency fixtures, fittings, and irrigation systems

• Understand how LEED v5 encourages resilient water design in drought-prone or flood-prone areas

• Prepare required water balance calculations, fixture specs, and monitoring plans

Whether you're designing for net-zero water, LEED points, or code compliance, this session gives you a strong technical and practical foundation

By the end of this lecture, you’ll be able to:

• Understand how LEED v5 places a stronger focus on carbon emissions, not just energy cost savings

• Use whole-building energy modeling to guide design decisions and demonstrate compliance

• Compare different compliance paths, including modeled performance, prescriptive requirements, and verified outcomes

• Plan for and document on-site renewable energy, battery storage, and grid-interactive buildings

• Apply best practices in building electrification, HVAC system selection, and grid readiness

• Understand how to meet commissioning requirements and ensure long-term energy performance

• Collect and submit required documentation like energy models, utility data, commissioning reports, and renewable system specs

Whether you're aiming for zero energy, carbon-neutrality, or high LEED scores, this session gives you the tools to lead your project toward climate-aligned energy performance.

In this session, I’ll guide you through the Materials and Resources category, which looks beyond energy use to the life-cycle impact of materials and construction practices.

By the end of the lecture, you’ll be able to:

• Measure and reduce embodied carbon using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools and EPDs

• Select materials that are low-impact, reused, recyclable, or responsibly sourced

• Design for material reuse and future disassembly

• Implement construction waste management and quantify diversion rates

• Submit LCA reports, material declarations, and waste tracking documentation to support compliance

This session is especially useful for project teams working on carbon reduction, circular design, and responsible sourcing in construction.

In this lecture, we dive into the Indoor Environmental Quality category; the part of LEED that focuses on how your building feels to live and work in. It’s all about protecting people’s health and creating a comfortable, high-performance environment.

By the end of this module, you’ll be able to:

• Understand how LEED v5 prioritizes indoor air quality, daylight, acoustics, and thermal comfort

• Comply with all EQ prerequisites, including:

  • Construction Air Quality Management

  • Fundamental Air Quality

  • No Smoking or Vehicle Idling

• Apply credit strategies like:

  • Enhanced Air Filtration

  • Occupant Experience (daylight, biophilic design, acoustics, etc.)

  • Accessibility and Inclusion

  • Resilient Spaces for shelter-in-place conditions

  • Continuous Air Quality Monitoring or Testing

• Distinguish the key changes from LEED v4.1 to v5, especially in how occupant health and real-time performance are addressed

• Prepare all required documentation, including mechanical drawings, photos, occupant surveys, and IAQ testing results

Whether you’re a sustainability consultant, design team member, or LEED AP in training, this session will help you deliver healthier, human-centered buildings that meet both performance goals and certification requirements.

In this session, I’ll walk you through the Project Priorities category of LEED v5, the part of the rating system that gives you the freedom to shape your certification path based on what matters most to your project.

By the end of this lecture, you’ll be able to:

• Understand how the Project Priorities credit helps you tailor your LEED v5 strategy to your building type, location, or sustainability goals

• Identify and use the five available options:

  • Regional Priority

  • Project-Type Priority

  • Exemplary Performance

  • Innovation Strategies

  • Pilot Credits

• Submit proper documentation for each path, including innovation narratives, pilot surveys, and exemplary performance details

• Recognize how the LEED AP credit supports smoother team integration and earns your project an easy point

• Confidently use this category to highlight innovation, address regional challenges, or explore emerging green building strategies

If you’re aiming for LEED v5 certification, working on unique or complex projects, or preparing for the LEED AP exam, this session gives you a solid, practical foundation.