LEED v5 makes decarbonization a more visible part of building design. One of the clearest examples is the new Electrification credit in the Energy and Atmosphere category.

For project teams, electrification is not simply a question of replacing a gas boiler with an electric heat pump. It affects HVAC strategy, domestic hot water, cooking and process loads, electrical infrastructure, thermal loads, energy modelling and the project's overall decarbonization strategy.

What is LEED v5 Electrification?

LEED v5 introduces EAc1: Electrification as a dedicated credit. Its purpose is to encourage building designs that reduce or eliminate dependence on fuel combustion on site.

The credit is closely connected to the wider LEED v5 emphasis on decarbonization, energy efficiency and long-term building performance. As electrical grids become cleaner, reducing combustion at the building level can become an increasingly important part of a low-carbon strategy.

The credit is particularly relevant to systems that traditionally use combustion, including space heating, service hot water, cooking and certain process loads.

How many points can electrification earn?

The number of available points depends on the LEED v5 BD+C rating system and project type.

This distinction is important because electrification is not an all-or-nothing concept under every LEED v5 pathway. Projects can earn points through different levels of electrification depending on the applicable option.

What does "no on-site combustion" mean?

The strongest electrification pathway is designed around eliminating on-site combustion, subject to the specific exclusions and requirements in the rating system.

For New Construction, the full electrification pathway can provide 5 points. Under this option, the project does not use on-site combustion except for permitted emergency-support systems.

The New Construction pathway also includes an efficiency requirement: the combined weighted average equipment efficiency for space heating and service hot water must reach at least 1.8 COP, subject to the exclusions specified by LEED.

Think beyond the boiler room

Project teams should not interpret electrification as an HVAC-only exercise. A building can have electric space heating while still using combustion elsewhere.

• Space heating: evaluate heat pumps and other electric heating technologies.
• Service hot water: evaluate heat-pump water heating and system temperature requirements.
• Cooking: assess commercial kitchen equipment and electrical capacity.
• Process loads: identify equipment that may traditionally depend on combustion.

What if a project cannot fully electrify?

LEED v5 recognises that not every project can immediately achieve the strongest electrification pathway.

For New Construction, the alternative pathway addresses situations where combustion remains at low temperatures or in limited applications. Points can be earned through separate pathways covering space heating, service hot water, and cooking or other process loads.

The important project-management lesson is that the design team should identify which loads can realistically be electrified before the mechanical and electrical design becomes difficult to change.

Why peak thermal loads matter

Electrification changes the relationship between the building's thermal loads and its electrical infrastructure.

A project that replaces combustion equipment with electric equipment needs to consider not only annual energy consumption but also peak demand.

This is why LEED v5's Electrification credit should be considered alongside EAc2: Reduce Peak Thermal Loads.

• Improve the building envelope before sizing HVAC systems.
• Reduce unnecessary heating and cooling loads.
• Evaluate heat recovery opportunities.
• Coordinate electrical capacity with the proposed heating strategy.
• Review equipment operation during the building's worst-case conditions.

In other words, electrification and load reduction should be treated as complementary strategies. A smaller thermal load can make an electrified system easier and more economical to implement.

How electrification changes design decisions

One of the biggest changes for project teams is timing. Electrification can influence decisions that are normally made across several different disciplines.

What should project teams do early?

LEED v5's broader decarbonization requirements make early analysis particularly important. For BD+C projects, the required Operational Carbon Projection and Decarbonization Plan establishes an early framework for considering efficiency, peak-load reduction and decarbonization.

A practical project-team checklist is:

• Confirm the applicable LEED v5 rating system and project scope.
• Identify all building loads that currently rely on combustion.
• Test electrification options during concept and schematic design.
• Review heat-pump performance at the project's actual operating conditions.
• Coordinate electrical capacity and infrastructure requirements.
• Review peak thermal loads before final equipment sizing.
• Coordinate energy modelling with the electrification strategy.
• Document decisions early enough to avoid expensive redesign.

Frequently asked questions

Explore LEED training with 3FOLD

Understanding LEED v5 is increasingly important for professionals working across architecture, engineering, construction, sustainability, facilities and real estate. If you are preparing for a LEED credential, 3FOLD Training provides online preparation for both LEED Green Associate and LEED AP (BD+C).

The LEED AP (BD+C) programme is particularly relevant to professionals working with new construction and Core & Shell projects, where topics such as energy, electrification, decarbonization and building performance are increasingly important.