I have a very large project that will not start construction until 2022 or 2023 and it will be under construction for several years. I therefore want to be careful about sunset dates. I'm thinking to register it under v4.0 and "cherry pick" v4.1 credits.
Q1: Has anyone seen or heard of USGBC implementing Sunset Dates for v4.0? If so, please direct me to where they are outlined.
Q2: If you register a project under v4.0, is there a limit to how many v4.1 credits can be "cherry picked"?
Robert Shipp
October 16, 2020 - 3:43 pm
I second question Q1...anyone?
Paula Melton
Editorial DirectorBuildingGreen, Inc.
LEEDuser Expert
184 thumbs up
October 19, 2020 - 11:15 am
There is no posted sunset date for v4 yet, since v4.1 is still in beta. I imagine they will release it once the new standard has been balloted, assuming it is approved.
There is no limit to substitutions of v4.1 credits.
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
487 thumbs up
January 4, 2021 - 4:02 pm
Still no v4 deadlines, but this is the link USGBC has provided to centrally list this info: https://www.usgbc.org/tools/leed-certification/deadlines
Mary Christel Eugenio
August 15, 2023 - 7:50 am
Hi, Is there any update regarding this?
We will be registering this coming quarter at the ealiest but unsure if we should go with v4 or v4.1
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
547 thumbs up
August 15, 2023 - 3:40 pm
It is my understanding that with v5 just around the corner that v4.1 will not be sent out to ballot.
We have always advised to register as v4 and substitute the v4.1 credits. (can't sub v4 credits into projects registered as v4.1)
From looking at past sunset dates my guess is that v4/v4.1 registration will sunset 3 years after v5 becomes available. Then certification of v4/v4.1 would sunset 6 years after the registration sunset date.
Anurag Ghosh
Assistant Sustainability ManagerL&T Construction
2 thumbs up
March 25, 2025 - 10:10 pm
At present, can we say the sunset date of V4 was March 1 2024.
Also, sunset dates for V4 amendment and V4.1 are still active?
Can anyone provide a clarification on above.
Emily Purcell
Sustainable Design LeadCannonDesign
LEEDuser Expert
379 thumbs up
March 26, 2025 - 10:54 am
No sunset dates have been set for v4, and won't be until v5 is fully balloted and launched (final date of the ballot process is 3/28/25 I believe, nothing announced yet as far as a launch date).
The March 1 2024 deadline was the update to the v4 energy prereq/credit, it is not a sunset date for the rating system in general. Projects regstered before 3/1/24 will use the older version of the EA prereq and credit for energy efficiency, projects registered on or after 3/1/24 will use the newer version of the EA prereq and credit for energy efficiency, but both registrations are considered to be under v4.
v4.1 will, I'm assuming, sunset on the same timeline as v4. I don't know that for sure, but genreally USGBC has treated v4.1 as an update to v4 rather than a full version like v5 will be.
For now, I would still recommend as Dave said above, registering under v4 and substituting v4.1 credits where it makes sense. That is the option that gives projects the most flexibility.
Gregory Mason
1 thumbs up
May 7, 2025 - 11:33 pm
I might as well keep this post going. I noticed that LEEDv5 was released today; but couldn't locate a sunset date on LEEDv4/v4.1. Does anyone have some insight into when LEEDv4 registrations will close?
Would they would keep LEEDv4 registrations until at least the end of the year, or cut off v4 registrations earlier than that?
Emily Purcell
Sustainable Design LeadCannonDesign
LEEDuser Expert
379 thumbs up
May 8, 2025 - 10:07 am
https://support.usgbc.org/hc/en-us/articles/25316160948755-LEED-v5#closed
When will LEED v4 and v4.1 be closed to new registrations and sunset?
LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 registrations for BD+C, ID+C, and O+M are targeted to close at the end of Q1 2026. Project teams will continue to be able to register for LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 until this time. Please note that any specific LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 rating systems that focus on commercial building projects will be closing. Those rating systems focused on residential projects will follow a different timeline. More details will be published on our LEED v5 page and within our Help Center.
Once LEED v4 and v4.1 is closed to new registrations, already-registered LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 projects will be able to complete their certification process until the sunset date which will be six years after the close of registration.
Notice will be provided before registration and/or certification closes for any LEED rating system version.