by Wiley Gross
Sustainability Associate at Green Badger

It’s hard to believe Q2 of 2026 is nearly over! The Green Badger pack is ready to rumble with LEED v5 preparation for our project teams, especially now that USGBC has set a firm expiration date on LEED v4 registration. Don’t be scared; be prepared with Green Badger. 

Since our initial July 2025 blog post on the mandatory LEED v5: MRp2 Quantify & Assess Embodied Carbon Prerequisite, the compliance landscape has evolved. USGBC has since released official LEED v5 MRp2 calculators to streamline the documentation process, and Green Badger has launched a completely redesigned UI to tackle these new demands alongside AIA requirements.

Read on for a breakdown of the new LEED v5 calculator tracking requirements and a sneak peek at how Green Badger 2.0 automates the process. (Check out a sneak peek of LEED v5 functionality and AIA Materials Pledge reporting.) 

LEED v4/4.1 Baby Bye, Bye, Bye

USGBC just released a major update tagging on an additional year for LEED v4/4.1 projects. Project teams, owners, and representatives have until June 30, 2027, to register for the last batch of LEED v4/4.1 projects. Starting in July of 2027, projects must begin LEED v5 registration. 

MRp2 Calculator Breakdown

Step 1: Bill of Materials (BoM) 

Per the credit requirements, a Bill of Materials (BoM) that includes quantities and designations of major structure, enclosure, and hardscape materials must be submitted to meet this prerequisite. The LEED calculator includes this BoM as step one for tracking purposes. The rating system does account for certain multipurpose materials to be captured as Structure and Enclosure, Structure and Hardscape, or Enclosure and Hardscape. This is useful information as certain materials have cross functionality. For example, a curtain wall system serves as a key enclosure material and provides load-bearing structural elements for a building. Here is what teams need to account for in step one:

1. Material Category: Categories include Cement and Concrete, Ready-Mixed Concrete (U.S. National Baselines), Masonry, Metals, Aluminum, Structural Wood and Panels, Board Insulation, Blanket Insulation, Spray Insulation, Openings, Roofing, Other Material.
2. Material Description: This can be populated with whatever information the project team prefers. Green Badger recommends adding the material name and manufacturer to the description box for simplicity. 
3. Building System (Structure, Enclosure, Hardscape): Select one or multiple depending on the material type/purpose.
4. Quantity: This is self-explanatory. Teams need to account for the total amount of material used on the project.
5. Units: The calculator allows teams to populate this as desired and select any unit. There is no dropdown for unit selection. 
6. GWP Intensity (kgCO2e): The GWP intensity is the GWP noted in the data source (typically Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)). Green Badger 2.0 will automatically identify this information for teams. 
7. Data Source: Multiple data sources are listed, with product-specific EPDs being the most commonly used for identifying GWP. The data sources include product-specific EPD, Industry-Wide (IW) EPD, Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF), U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), or Other   

Not to toot our own horn, but Green Badger 2.0 has done an exceptional job at predefining nearly all of the information needed to meet the BoM requirements. We still need the help of project teams and trade partners to obtain quantities. Otherwise, Green Badger will have 99% of the information required to complete step one. 

To better assist our project teams, we created a Green Badger LEED v5 Cover Sheet to track down the required information. We recommend teams include the cover sheet at the top of product data and/or LEED specific submittals so subcontractors can provide the quantities upfront in a unified process. 

Option 1: Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA)

The LEED v5 calculator captures various inputs required for a WBLCA. Teams pursuing Option 1 will have the opportunity to upload and store the WBLCA data in Green Badger 2.0. If Option 1 is the desired pathway, the design team will likely outsource the WBLCA requirement by onboarding a third party (e.g., OneClick LCA or Tally) to complete it. 

Option 2. EPD Analysis – Path 1. Project Average Approach

The LEED v5 calculator will auto-populate the Option 2 – Path 1 general information from the BoM in step one regarding Material, Quantity, and Units. Project teams not using Green Badger 2.0 will have to populate the calculator by hand, including the Baseline Embodied Carbon Intensity (per that material type), the Baseline Data Source (CLF, IW EPD, GSA, or other), the Actual Embodied Carbon Intensity, and the Actual Data Source (product-specific EPD, IW EPD, CLF, GSA, or Other). The calculator will use this data to determine the total baseline GWP, total actual GWP, and project average reduction percentage. 

Option 2. EPD Analysis – Path 2. Materials Type Approach

The LEED v5 calculator will auto-populate the Option 2 – Path 2 general information from the BoM in step one regarding Material Description and Category. Quantity is irrelevant for Path 2. Project teams not using Green Badger 2.0 will have to populate the calculator with the Baseline Embodied Carbon Intensity (per that material type), the Baseline Data Source (CLF, IW EPD, GSA, or other), the Actual Embodied Carbon Intensity, and the Actual Data Source (product-specific EPD, IW EPD, CLF, GSA, or Other). The calculator will show the total numerical difference in embodied carbon intensity (kg/CO2e) and the percentage difference to meet the prerequisite requirements. 

Green Badger 2.0 & MRp2 Option 2 – Path 1 & Path 2

Let’s take a moment to sit and imagine populating the LEED v5 MRp2 calculator by hand, assuming you have little to no experience with embodied carbon, GWPs, EPDs, baselines, etc. Project teams are already tasked with so many additional objectives that take priority, such as subcontractor coordination, RFIs, permitting, and project scheduling. 

At Green Badger, we understand the logistical stress project teams face on a daily basis, let alone the additional changes and challenges associated with the new version of LEED v5 requirements. Green Badger 2.0 is here to be your saving grace for LEED v5 construction credit documentation. We have developed a UI that streamlines documentation by reducing the need for multiple spreadsheets across subcontractors and saving hundreds of hours that would otherwise be spent on administrative tasks. 

Our database has thousands of EPDs, preidentifies GWPs and material baselines, automatically calculates reductions, and is generally easier on the eyes than an Excel spreadsheet with a ton of information to take in. All in all, project teams just need to track the quantities of their materials, identify the building system(s), and then search for and save that information in the Green Badger software. Use Green Badger’s LEED v5 cover sheet, noted below, to simplify tracking of this information. 

The Green Badger UI will automatically export the LEED v5 MRp2 calculator and populate all the data seamlessly, so you don’t have to. 

Finally Option 3. Construction Emissions

Carbon Emissions from Construction Activities

Last but not least, we have MRp2 Option 3. Construction Emissions. The LEED v5 MRp2 calculator provides a general log to track construction emissions.  This log includes the following:

The calculator will provide the total kgCO2e associated with the project and the total contractor and subcontractor emissions in kgCO2e. Green Badger 2.0 will have a landing page dedicated to supporting this option, including automated calculations and exports to support LEED v5 documentation.

Carbon Emissions from Material Transport to or From the Jobsite

The LEED v5 MRp2 calculator provides a general log to track construction emissions. This log includes the following:

The calculator will provide the total kgCO2e associated with total transport emissions. 

The v5 calculator also includes an optional sheet for tracking construction emissions resources. Green Badger has created a similar spreadsheet for teams to log this information. 

With Green Badger 2.0, you can seamlessly track all emissions information associated with your project. This includes formatting into a ready review LEED v5 MRp2 calculator. 

The Bottom Line on MRp2

LEED v5 MRp2 is not optional; it is a prerequisite. Every project team pursuing LEED v5 certification must document embodied carbon. No exceptions.

The calculator is structured, the requirements are clear, and the clock is ticking. LEED v4/4.1 registration closes June 30, 2027. After that, LEED v5 is the standard.

Here is what MRp2 offers as pathways for your team:

• Option 1 WBLCA: Commission a third-party Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment.
• Option 2 EPD Analysis: Leverage product-specific EPDs to compare actual embodied carbon against established baselines via the Project Average Approach (Path 1) or the Material Type Approach (Path 2).
• Option 3 Construction Emissions: Log on-site fuel consumption and material transport emissions from start to finish.

The documentation load is real. The complexity is real. But the solution is straightforward. Green Badger 2.0 handles the heavy lifting. Our platform pre-populates GWPs, identifies material baselines, auto-calculates reductions, and exports a LEED-ready MRp2 calculator. Project teams simply need to supply quantities.

Don’t let embodied carbon documentation slow your project down. Book a demo with our team and see Green Badger 2.0 in action.