LEED GA

Credit weightings are based on ___? a.) Relative costs and benefits of each credit b.) Environmental impacts and human benefits c.) Carbon footprint and embodied energy d.) Expected environmental performance

b.) Environmental impacts and human benefits

Life-cycle assessment is used to determine the ___? a.) Balance of natural cycles such as the hydrologic cycle b.) Environmental aspects and potential impacts of a given product c.) Life span of a building and its components d.) Environmental systems affected over the life of a building

b.) Environmental aspects and potential impacts of a given product

According to the EPA, what percentage of solid waste is currently recycled in the United States? a.) 11% b.) 32% c.) 51% d.) 72%

b.) 32%

What is the primary standard used to establish the baseline case for indoor water use? a.) The Clean Water Act b.) Energy Policy Act of 1992 c.) ASHRAE Standard 90.1 d.) National Environmental Policy Act

b.) Energy Policy Act of 1992

Which environmentally preferable attributes of materials does LEED recognize (select three)? a.) Are harvested and manufactured regionally b.) Contain recycled content c.) Are sourced from developing countries d.) Are salvaged e.) Offer future customization options

a.) Are harvested and manufactured regionally b.) Contain recycled content

Projects can identify which credits have regional priority by ___? a.) Checking the USGBC website b.) Researching locally pertinent environmental issues c.) Submitting a Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) d.) Calculating the net environmental impact

a.) Checking the USGBC website

One of the most cost-effective ways to ensure optimal ongoing energy performance is to ___? a.) Commission building systems b.) Upgrade mechanical systems c.) Install renewable energy systems d.) Maintain trees and landscaping features

a.) Commission building systems

Prior to final selection of the project site, the owner and design team should confirm that the site is ___? a.) Compliant with the green design criteria b.) Compliant with the sustainable building codes c.) Previously undeveloped d.) Removed from other development

a.) Compliant with the green design criteria

What are the three dimensions of sustainability often described as the triple bottom line or the three-legged stool? a.) Economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility b.) Economic theory, cultural agendas, and global variety c.) Energy efficiency, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality d.) Government standards, building codes, and building practices

a.) Economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility

Refrigerants are necessary as part of the refrigeration cycle often used to cool buildings. However, the benefits of their use should be considered against their potential for adverse environmental impacts. These direct impacts are quantified by which metrics (select two)? a.) Global warming potential b.) Energy use potential c.) Ozone depletion potential d.) Soil contamination potential e.) Air pollution potential

a.) Global warming potential c.) Ozone depletion potential

A project is in the pre-design phase and the site has already been selected. The team wants to increase the open space on the project site. Which strategies should it consider (select two)? a.) Increase the floor-to-area ratio of the building. b.) Implement a construction activity pollution plan. c.) Use pervious paving materials for the parking area. d.) Locate parking underground. e.) Select drought-tolerant plantings.

a.) Increase the floor-to-area ratio of the building. d.) Locate parking underground

How can potable water use for irrigation be reduced or eliminated (select two)? a.) Install submeters b.) Select locally adapted plants c.) Increase the coverage of turf grass d.) Use organic fertilizers e.) Select noninvasive plants

a.) Install submeters b.) Select locally adapted plants

Process water use can be reduced by ___? (select two) a.) Installing submeters b.) Installing low-flow showerheads c.) Using high-efficiency irrigation technologies d.) Using ENERGY STAR-certified clothes washers

a.) Installing submeters b.) Installing low-flow showerheads

A development company is designing a seven-story, 100,000-squarefoot condominium building. The developers will be responsible for completing the interior finishes, but will not be supplying furniture or appliances. What LEED rating system would be most relevant for this project type? a.) LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation b.) LEED for Homes c.) LEED for Commercial Interiors d.) LEED for Core & Shell

a.) LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation

What is reduced when a project uses reclaimed water in its cooling towers? a.) Potable water use b.) Process water use c.) Indoor plumbing water use d.) Nonpotable water use e.) Irrigation water use

a.) Potable water use

When is the best time to incorporate an integrative approach for a building project? a.) Predesign b.) Schematic design c.) Design development d.) Construction documents e.) Construction

a.) Predesign

An industrial facility is located in an area with no public transportation. In which ways can the project team reduce the project's transportation impact (select two)? a.) Provide a carpooling incentive to building occupants. b.) Upgrade the company cars to hybrids. c.) Install solar panels to power parking lot lighting. d.) Provide occupants a fuel subsidy

a.) Provide a carpooling incentive to building occupants. b.) Upgrade the company cars to hybrids

A project that specifies exterior surfaces with high solar reflectance index (SRI) values is contributing to which environmental benefit? a.) Reduced heat island effect b.) Support for renewable energy c.) Protection of the dark-sky initiative d.) Improved stormwater quality

a.) Reduced heat island effect

How many years can an agricultural product grow or be raised to be considered as rapidly renewable by LEED? a.) 5 b.) 10 c.) 15 d.) 20

b.) 10

What is the procedure required to achieve LEED certification? a.) Register a project with GBCI, pay applicable review fees, and submit documentation. b.) Retain a LEED professional, register the project, and pay applicable fees. c.) Submit documentation, obtain a preliminary rating, and pay applicable certification fees. d.) Register the project with GBCI, demonstrate environmental innovation, and pay applicable fees.

a.) Register a project with GBCI, pay applicable review fees, and submit documentation.

A project team is considering pursuing an Innovation in Design credit for a strategy that will require a large capital expense. The team decides that it will implement the strategy only if the strategy will be eligible for an Innovation in Design credit. What steps should the team take to determine whether its strategy will be eligible for the credit? a.) Research existing CIRs to see whether the strategy has been previously addressed. b.) Calculate the strategy's overall environmental impact and self-evaluate whether it is significant. c.) Draft a compelling narrative for the LEED submittal. d.) Check the LEED rating system.

a.) Research existing CIRs to see whether the strategy h

A team is unclear whether a proposed project strategy will achieve a specific LEED credit the team is pursuing. The team decides it should submit a Credit Interpretation Request (CIR). Prior to submitting the CIR for review, which strategies should the project team consider (select three)? a.) Review the credit intent and selfevaluate whether the strategy meets that intent. b.) Contact LEED customer service to determine whether the CIR is likely to be successful. c.) Review past CIRs to see whether this issue has been addressed in the past. d.) Consult the appropriate LEED reference guide for a more detailed explanation. e.) Contact its local chapter to receive a preliminary ruling. f.) Identify other issues to address within the CIR.

a.) Review the credit intent and selfevaluate whether the strategy meets that intent. c.) Review past CIRs to see whether this issue has been addressed in the past. d.) Consult the appropriate LEED reference guide for a more detailed explanation.

Thermal comfort is typically attributed to what environmental factors? a.) Temperature, humidity, and air speed b.) Ventilation, temperature, and daylight c.) Humidity, ventilation, and controllability d.) Density, temperature, and solar heat gain

a.) Temperature, humidity, and air speed

The carbon overlay in LEED is used for what purpose? a.) To prioritize the relative impact of credits on greenhouse gas emissions b.) To identify the major contributors to environmental degradation c.) To quantify the relative impact of different energy efficiency measures d.) To rank the feasibility of various green building strategies

a.) To prioritize the relative impact of credits on greenhouse gas emissions

The abbreviation VOC refers to ___? a.) Volatile organic compounds b.) Variable operating conditions c.) Variable ozone contaminants d.) Versatile organized composites

a.) Volatile organic compounds

A project team is selecting the HVAC system for the tenant space. Which primary factors should be considered to minimize the environmental impact of the system (select two)? a.) First cost b.) Expected life c.) Energy performance d.) Lead time

b.) Expected life c.) Energy performance

A school project in predesign would like to incorporate building strategies to maximize student learning. Which strategies should be considered to achieve this goal (select two)? a.) Install individual thermal comfort controls in offices. b.) Incorporate daylight into classrooms. c.) Reduce the energy use of the building below the baseline standard. d.) Consider acoustical issues in core learning spaces.

b.) Incorporate daylight into classrooms d.) Consider acoustical issues in core learning spaces.

In addition to prohibiting smoking within the building, where is it also important to prohibit smoking to reduce occupant exposure to harmful airborne chemicals (select two)? a.) In covered parking spaces b.) Near building entrances c.) Adjacent to building air intakes d.) In wooded areas

b.) Near building entrances c.) Adjacent to building air intakes

Municipally supplied reclaimed water is considered ___? a.) Free water b.) Nonpotable water c.) Process water d.) Blackwater

b.) Nonpotable water

To what do renewable energy certificates (RECs) refer? a.) On-site photovoltaic systems b.) Off-site renewable energy purchases c.) Market-generated wind power d.) Stock in utility providers

b.) Off-site renewable energy purchases

A building material that is made from recycled soda bottles contains ___? a.) Post-industrial recycled content b.) Post-consumer recycled content c.) Pre-consumer recycled content d.) Pre-fabricated recycled content

b.) Post-consumer recycled content

What is the first step a project team should consider when trying to save energy? a.) Use on-site renewable energy. b.) Reduce energy demand. c.) Adopt energy efficiency measures. d.) Install submetering equipment.

b.) Reduce energy demand.

The installation of low-flow faucet aerators at hand washing stations will result in which of the following (select two)? a.) Reduced hours of occupancy b.) Reduced energy use c.) Reduced water use d.) Increased occupant productivity e.) Reduced stormwater runoff

b.) Reduced energy use c.) Reduced water use

An Innovation in Design credit for exemplary performance would be available for ___? a.) Implementing a comprehensive green building education program b.) Significantly diverting construction waste beyond the requirement of 75% c.) Achieving carbon neutrality d.) Providing 75% more spaces with daylighting e.) Developing a green housekeeping policy

b.) Significantly diverting construction waste beyond the requirement of 75%

Which are considered renewable energy sources (select two)? a.) Nuclear b.) Solar c.) Wave d.) Natural gas

b.) Solar c.) Wave

What constitutes the largest use of energy in buildings in the United States? a.) Space cooling b.) Space heating c.) Electric lighting d.) Water heating

b.) Space Heating

An operable window is considered what type of control? a.) Lighting control b.) Thermal comfort control c.) Acoustical control d.) Environmental tobacco smoke control

b.) Thermal comfort control

What is the baseline water use for water closets? a.) 0.8 gallons per flush b.) 1.0 gallons per flush c.) 1.6 gallons per flush d.) 3.2 gallons per flush

c.) 1.6 gallons per flush

LEED defines regional materials as originating within ___? a.) 50 miles of the project site b.) 250 miles of the project site c.) 500 miles of the project site d.) 750 miles of the project site

c.) 500 miles of the project site

A project generates 100 tons of waste throughout construction. 50 tons are collected on-site and sent to a sorting facility with a facilitywide diversion rate of 60%. 40 tons are separated on-site and sent directly to recyclers. The final 10 tons are incinerated off-site. What percentage of waste does LEED consider to have been recycled? a.) 40% b.) 50% c.) 70% d.) 80%

c.) 70%

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, what percentage of time do Americans spend indoors? a.) 75% b.) 65% c.) 90% d.) 50%

c.) 90%

Wastewater from toilets and urinals is known as ___? a.) Brownwater b.) Potable water c.) Blackwater d.) Graywater e.) Drinking water

c.) Blackwater

The licensed-professional exemption is used by a project team to do what? a.) Achieve continuing education credit for primary team members. b.) Capture federally available tax credits for the project. c.) Bypass otherwise required submittals. d.) Streamline the permitting process in many jurisdictions.

c.) Bypass otherwise required submittals.

Demand-controlled ventilation is typically adjusted in response to ___? a.) A time schedule b.) Occupant requests to the building operator c.) Carbon dioxide concentrations d.) VOC concentrations

c.) Carbon dioxide concentrations

An Innovation in Design credit for innovative strategies is likely available for projects that ___? a.) Issue a press release to announce their LEED project registration. b.) Include two LEED Accredited Professionals on the project team. c.) Develop an educational outreach program. d.) Plan to enroll the project in LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance

c.) Develop an educational outreach program

Green building emphasizes using what type of design process? a.) Linear b.) Multistage c.) Integrative d.) Tiered

c.) Integrative

Ongoing consumables are consumed during which of the following? a.) Design only b.) Construction only c.) Occupancy only d.) Both construction and operation e.) Construction and at the building's end of life

c.) Occupancy only

Energy use associated with office equipment, kitchen cooking, and escalators is known as ___? a.) Regulated energy b.) Exempt energy c.) Process energy d.) Secondary energy

c.) Process energy

Decreasing impervious surfaces on a project site will ___? a.) Decrease percolation rates b.) Reduce potable water usage c.) Reduce stormwater runoff d.) Eliminate sewage piping

c.) Reduce stormwater runoff

What is the first step in a successful waste management policy? a.) Recycle all possible construction materials. b.) Reuse existing materials. c.) Reduce the total quantity of waste. d.) Specify recyclable materials. e.) Determine the embodied energy of the product.

c.) Reduce the total quantity of waste

Implementation of green building strategies such as daylighting, passive cooling, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and stack ventilation contributes to what type of cost savings? a.) Reduced first costs b.) Reduced maintenance costs c.) Reduced life-cycle costs d.) Reduced end-of-life costs e.) Reduced imminent costs

c.) Reduced life-cycle costs

What metric is the best indicator of transportation impacts associated with a building project? a.) Street grid density b.) Availability of public transportation c.) Vehicle miles traveled d.) Parking capacity

c.) Vehicle miles traveled

How many levels of LEED Professional Accreditation are available? a.) 6 b.) 4 c.) 1 d.) 3

d.) 3

What is the earliest point at which a LEED for Schools project can be certified? a.) After one year of occupancy and after all commissioning activities are complete. b.) After the project team has registered and submitted all project specifications. c.) After final punch-list items are complete and all review fees are paid. d.) After building completion and once all submittals and clarifications are reviewed.

d.) After building completion and once all submittals and clarifications are reviewed.

A project adjacent to protected forestland that is home to a variety of plant and animal life wants to reduce the impact of its site lighting. To achieve this, the project team installs exterior lighting that ___? a.) Provides for tasteful, decorative appearance. b.) Reduces the need for night-time security. c.) Adequately illuminates the night sky. d.) Does not trespass onto adjacent properties.

d.) Does not trespass onto adjacent properties.

What is acknowledged as one of the greatest threats to surface-water quality? a.) Draining of local aquifers b.) Recreational boating c.) Rainwater harvesting d.) Nonpoint-source pollution

d.) Nonpoint-source pollution

What strategy is being used for a project design that orients windows to allow the building to be warm in the winter, stay cool in the summer, and capture daylight? a.) High-performance mechanical systems b.) Efficiencies of scale c.) Energy simulation modeling d.) Passive design concepts

d.) Passive design concepts

Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the U.S. Green Building Council? a.) Developing the LEED Professional Accreditation exams b.) Administering LEED project reviews and certification processes c.) Establishing continuing education requirements for LEED Accredited Professionals d.) Providing and developing LEEDbased education and research programs

d.) Providing and developing LEEDbased education and research programs

Nonpotable water is typically suitable for which of the following uses (select two)? a.) Ice making b.) Drinking c.) Showers d.) Toilet flushing e.) Irrigation

d.) Toilet flushing e.) Irrigation

Which strategy supports improved indoor air quality? a.) Eliminate refrigerants with ozonedepleting potential. b.) Avoid the use of products with high carbon dioxide concentrations. c.) Use filters with a low minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating. d.) Use materials with recycled content. e.) Use advanced framing techniques. f.) Design systems to deliver ample outside air.

f.) Design systems to deliver ample outside air