What is a key change in the LEED v4 update compared to previous versions?

The key change in the LEED v4 update compared to previous versions is the strengthened performance-based requirements and expanded categories. This shift emphasizes measurable performance in terms of sustainability, rather than solely prescriptive measures. LEED v4 places a greater focus on actual results, encouraging projects to demonstrate how they effectively reduce environmental impacts through a variety of metrics.

By expanding categories, LEED v4 allows for a more comprehensive approach to building performance, which includes new focus areas such as energy, water, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design. This versatility helps to address a broader spectrum of sustainability challenges and promotes continued progress in green building practices. The performance-based criteria ensure that projects must not only meet specific design benchmarks but also show that they are performing effectively over time.

The other options do not accurately reflect the updates made in LEED v4. For instance, the focus on energy consumption remains crucial, as does the importance of water efficiency credits, which have not been eliminated; rather, their implementation has been enhanced. Additionally, LEED v4 continues to apply to a range of project types, not solely residential projects.