The Green Leases credit in LEED v5 for Core and Shell encourages landlords and tenants to align their environmental and financial goals by incorporating sustainability provisions directly into lease agreements. This session will explore how the new credit supports decarbonization, tenant energy use disclosure, and high-performance outcomes across leased spaces. As buildings increasingly rely on strong landlord-tenant collaboration to achieve climate goals, green leases offer a powerful tool to drive transparency, accountability, and shared responsibility. Participants will first hear from representatives of LEED Committees and of the USGBC LEED team, who will explain how green leasing fits into the LEED v5 Core and Shell rating system. One speaker will provide the tenant perspective and another will provide the owner perspective. The presentation will highlight how the credit was designed to support operational performance outcomes in spaces that are not under the direct control of the building owner. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the specific credit requirements and how they can be met through leasing structures. Next, an expert from the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) will discuss the foundations of the Green Lease Leaders program, which helped shape the credit language under Option 3. They will outline proven strategies for including energy-aligned clauses in leases, along with common pitfalls and key success factors. Attendees will also learn how green leasing supports broader portfolio-wide sustainability goals. Finally, LEED practitioners will share case studies of projects that successfully implemented green leasing strategies to meet both LEED and Green Lease Leaders recognition. Real-world examples will provide insight into the process of aligning stakeholders, overcoming challenges, and leveraging green leases as a catalyst for sustainable operations. Attendees will leave this session with practical guidance and examples to help implement green leasing strategies that enhance sustainability, tenant engagement, and building performance across projects.
