Green Buildings Evolved: LEED v5 Goes Beyond Carbon Reduction to Include Bird-Friendly Ecological Design

Beyond Carbon Reduction: How Can Buildings Also Protect Biodiversity?

The latest version of the LEED green building standard (LEED v5), launched in April this year, focuses on carbon reduction, quality of life, and ecological considerations. BranchPattern, a building consulting firm in Nebraska, USA, became the first in the country to achieve LEED v5 O+M Platinum certification. In addition to installing photovoltaic modules, the building also incorporated bird-safe design measures to prevent collisions with windows. What factors are driving this evolution in green building standards?

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is currently the most widely adopted green building certification system in the world.Taiwan is home to many LEED-certified buildings, including Taipei 101, Delta Electronics, TSMC’s Fab 14 in the Southern Taiwan Science Park, and numerous financial headquarters.

Since its launch in 1998, LEED has undergone multiple upgrades. The latest version, LEED v5, was officially released in April this year after extensive public consultations. This update brings three major shifts that reshape the scoring approach:

• Decarbonization now accounts for half of the total score.

• Human-centered strategies aimed at improving quality of life make up 25%.

• Ecological protection and restoration account for the remaining 25%, with “bird-collision prevention” elevated from an optional credit in LEED v4 (2013) to a core scoring item. This change reflects the growing importance of biodiversity protection in green building design.

Unlike past versions that mainly focused on minimizing environmental damage, LEED v5 redefines its scoring system to encourage buildings to actively participate in climate action, create greater social impact, and promote coexistence with nature—even delivering additional ecological benefits.

Decarbonization: A Whole-Life-Cycle Perspective

In terms of decarbonization, LEED v5 expands its focus beyond operational energy use to address whole-life-cycle carbon emissions. Projects are expected to calculate the carbon footprint associated with material manufacturing, transportation during construction, and actively reduce both operational carbon and embodied carbon.The standard encourages the adoption of 100% renewable energy, improvements in building energy efficiency, and better integration between building management and occupant behavior to achieve carbon benefits.

Enhancing Quality of Life

The new version also introduces Social Equity Assessment and Climate Resilience Assessment as credits, placing user needs at the center of design. Projects must evaluate local climate risks during the design phase and seek solutions proactively. LEED v5 promotes integration between building design and ecosystems, advocating for natural elements to be woven into architecture to strengthen the human–nature connection and support harmonious coexistence.

Retrofitting for Biodiversity Protection

“Earning a LEED certification doesn’t automatically mean a building is bird-friendly,” says a retired architect.

In the past, bird–building collisions were rarely considered in development and were absent from green building rating systems. After years of advocacy by environmental groups, LEED v5 now addresses this issue directly.According to research by the American Bird Conservancy, up to one billion birds die from window collisions each year in the U.S. alone. In South Korea, the annual number is around 8 million. This makes building strikes the second-leading cause of unnatural bird deaths in the U.S., after predation by free-roaming cats—an indication that the global toll is staggering.

Most collisions occur during migration seasons, particularly in dense urban areas with tall buildings. The reflective or transparent qualities of glass curtain walls can mislead birds into perceiving open space or seeing forested areas reflected in glass, resulting in fatal impacts.

With urbanization driving denser, taller developments, birds face shrinking habitats. Habitat fragmentation and artificial lighting at night further compound the risks, making bird safety an increasingly urgent consideration in architectural design.

What Are Bird-Safe Design Strategies?

LEED assigns different rating systems based on building type. For example:

• Building Design + Construction (BD+C) applies to new construction or major renovations.

• Operations + Maintenance (O+M) is often chosen for existing buildings, focusing on whether day-to-day operations meet sustainable and green standards.

In LEED v5, both BD+C and O+M now include a new credit for Bird Collision Deterrence. The scoring criteria incorporate Light Pollution and Bird Collision Reduction, which encourages buildings to reduce nighttime light pollution and adopt bird-friendly materials and designs—such as using opaque, non-reflective surfaces—to lower collision risks. Another related credit, Biodiverse Habitat, encourages the protection and restoration of natural habitats on building sites, including the use of native plants to maintain the health of local ecosystems.

To prevent fatal bird strikes, several measures are commonly used:

• Installing bird-friendly glass that reduces reflections, making obstacles more visible to birds.

• Adding window films or decals spaced approximately 5 cm apart.

• Incorporating external shading devices such as awnings, louvers, or blinds.

In late 2024, Washington, D.C. passed legislation requiring all new or renovated buildings under 31 meters in height to incorporate bird-friendly markings or materials. The city also urged other municipalities to follow suit. Meanwhile, over 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada have adopted Lights Out programs, switching off unnecessary night lighting to help protect migratory birds and restore avian biodiversity.

Reducing nighttime lighting is another effective strategy—especially during bird migration seasons—as it can significantly lower the likelihood of birds being attracted to artificial light and colliding with buildings. It is also advisable to prioritize mitigation in high-risk collision zones, such as glass surfaces near landscaping. In addition, avoiding the placement of vegetation directly adjacent to glass curtain walls can help reduce the risk of bird strikes.

Buildings should not focus solely on human comfort and efficiency. As part of the urban ecological network, they also have a responsibility to safeguard the survival of other species.

Beyond relying on government regulations, urban bird conservation can also be advanced through the efforts of businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders. For example, engaging experts to review existing buildings for hazards—such as reflective glass or nighttime lighting that may harm birds—and taking the initiative to make improvements can be a meaningful first step in contributing to climate action.

Source：yahoo!新聞