LEED GA Exam
The Integrative Process is used to identify synergies, which result in short and long term cost savings. What is also true about the IP? (2 Things)
1. It reduces change orders during construction 2. Decreases chance of additional delays/costs resulting from design
Which of the following options is not addressed in the minimum program requirement (MPR) in LEED?
A project's energy efficiency
Leading-Green just signed a contract with the City of Toronto that allows the company to work out of an historic building. How can the city achieve carbon neutrality for the building?
Purchase carbon offsets
A project is located in northern Ontario and wants to take advantage of the area's environmental assets. Which credit category addresses the needs of this unique location?
Regional Priority credits
A major focus in LEED is to ensure that a building is located on a site that is near diverse uses, in a dense area and has developmental constraints. Which credit category specifically encourages that?
Location and Transportation
An integrated project team is reliant on:
Commitment to the sustainability goals
Transportation is the second largest contributor of global greenhouse gases at what percentage?
25%
The greatest threat to global warming potential is presented by which group of refrigerants?
HFCs (HydroFluoroCarbons)
Looking at the economic side of the triple bottom line, which of the following factors impact the cost of LEED certification?
The square footage of the building
A team is not sure how to set its baseline for outdoor water consumption. Which of the following techniques would not help earn the outdoor water use reduction credit? (2 things)
Use turf grass for groundcover; Install a vegetative roof
Which type of water is permitted as an alternative water source for indoor water use?
Used process water
An extermination company is going out of business because building owners are reducing the need for pesticides by:
Developing a coordinated program of nonchemical strategies
Value engineering can result in reduced level of sustainability or just a more cost-effective approach. Which of the following would be an example of one?
Replacing an asphalt parking lot with a cheaper, cool-colored gravel
During the integrative process, a team is trying to find the best strategy to protect and/or restore the habitat on a previously developed site. What is one common strategy that helps lead to this credit?
Restore soils and revegetate the site
Employee health is addressed in two categories, EQ and LT. Which of the following would earn LEED point(s)?
Select a site within walking distance of a bicycle network
Smart growth is a commonly used term to describe a best practice. Which of the following does not comply with this best management practice?
Selecting a site that is far from existing communities
A project team has decided to take an integrative approach for the design and construction of their new office project. The success of an integrated project team is reliant on:
Commitment to the sustainability goals
A developer has selected to construct their headquarters beside a protected wetland. The goals of the project are to reduce energy consumption, mitigate the Heat Island Effect, ensure the buildings occupants will be healthy, and protect the wetland's habitat. How can the developer accomplish this?
Complete a site assessment in the integrative process
Passive and mechanical methods of lowering the building's energy load
Configuring the building to minimize solar gain in summer and maximize it in winter
A development team bought a brownstone house. What would be the best way to select windows?
Consider the embodied energy of windows when purchasing replacements
What does not affect a project's certification fees?
The amount of LEED credits pursued
In November 2016, LEED v4 was released after being delayed a year and was renamed from LEED 2012 after an open consensus process. Which of the following ensures this process stays intact?
The balloting process with USGBC membership
What is TRUE about credit forms submitted via LEED Online?
The forms can be changed until they are submitted for review to the GBCI (Green Building Certification Inc.)
According to LEED, who defines the site's open space requirements?
The local zoning authority
The LEED rating systems are updated on a regular development cycle. What are the basic types of improvements that keep the rating systems current? (3 things)
Development of Addendas to supplement the rating systems; Major updates to provide the next versions of the rating systems; Maintenance of the current versions of the rating systems
Northeastern University is attempting to create a LEED Platinum® laboratory for its engineering department. What task must the integrative project team complete?
Identify opportunities for synergy
The integrative process is a crucial part of every credit category and results in environmental protection and money saved. How can the architect work with the contractors to ensure that the contractors purchase the correct materials?
Include the specifications in the purchasing policy
A project is under construction in Manhattan and has a near zero lot line, which makes it difficult to manage rainwater. What can this project do?
Install a vegetative roof
Innovert Real Estate Investment Trust is reviewing its current portfolio and notices an immense amount of water being consumed in its older building stock, which is costing a lot due to increasing water prices. It is cost-prohibitive to replace all the plumbing, so the project team suggested alternative approaches to reduce potable water. Which are the most efficient ways to reduce potable water?
Installing new low-flow aerators
Which LEED rating system has precertification?
LEED BD+C: Core and Shell
Which LEED Rating system has performance periods?
LEED O+M: Existing Buildings
The date is January 1 2022. LEED® v4 is outdated and will be replaced by LEED 2022. What is the committee that is responsible for overseeing a consensus based approach in accordance with LEED protocols?
LEED Steering Committee
A LEED consultant is reviewing project site plans and documentation prior to submitting the project for review. What has the lowest priority in building design?
LEED rating system
Evaluation of the economic performance of a product over its life-cycle is useful in determining using which procedure?
Life-cycle costing
How does open space help promote sustainability? (2 things)
Links habitat corridors in urban areas; Fosters social interaction
A project is attempting to meet the EQ credit for enhanced air quality. Which of the following would be well suited for an entryway system?
Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) rubber mat
The facility manager has installed permanent submeters for a few systems. What will this not help with?
Measuring the quality of reused stormwater
While minimum program requirements are essential to LEED in order to ensure compliance, prerequisites are also mandatory. What do all buildings pursing LEED BD+C: New Construction have to meet?
Must be a permanent structure, use a reasonable site boundary, and have a minimum floor area
Where would it be appropriate to use the USGBC member logo for LeadingGreen, a member company of the USGBC?
On company letterhead
A facility manager is looking for information on how to improve IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) throughout the life of the building. Which of the following strategies will support this goal?
Outlining green cleaning procedures and goals for custodians
What does every credit category begin within the LEED reference guides?
Overview
LEED projects cover a wide range of building types and occupants. How does LEED define visitors (transients)? (2 Things)
Peak outpatients; Retail Customers
What type of energy is used by products that are powered by means of an ordinary AC plug?
Plug load
A LEED consultant is reviewing calculations required to manage rainwater and reduce irrigation needs on the site. What information is required?
Precipitation data
Quadrel Development Inc. is beginning their first LEED project and has contacted LeadingGreen for some consulting services. What obstacles will Quadrel face?
The additional time for the integrative process
What aspect of the Environmental Product Declarations credit is required to know if it leads to LEED points or not?
The number of different permanently installed products used from different manufacturers
The Water Efficiency prerequisite requires an indoor water usage reduction of 20% from a baseline calculated from what?
The number of occupants , and their usage
Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Categories; Triple P's
People, Planet, Profit
What is an example of greywater?
Water that has not come in contact with toilet waste or kitchen sinks
hard costs
Costs related to the construction phase like concrete, roofing, site work, etc.
What is the overarching goal of the Materials and Resources credit category?
Minimize the embodied life-cycle impacts of the building materials
Which of the following decreases as a project's timeline progresses?
Ability to control cost
The Location and Transportation credit category awards points for selecting a site within a walkable proximity to a number of "diverse uses". Which is not a "diverse use"?
An automated teller machine
What two standards are found in many building codes?
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC); International Plumbing Code (IPC)
Leading-Green wants to establish green building goals across the entire design while using stakeholders' expertise. What workshop helps achieve this?
Charrette
Who is the stakeholder on a project team responsible for verifying the performance and testing of building systems?
Commissioning Authority
Renewable energy purchased as a carbon offset must meet which of the following criteria?
Green-e Climate Certified
How can satisfying the credit for High Priority Site benefit the community?
Help to revitalize the neighborhood
In the site selection credit, which 2 governing bodies discourage developing on sensitive habitats?
The NatureServe Natural Heritage Program; State/local fish and wildlife agencies
Energy use intensity is metric of how much energy (kWh) a building uses per area (SF). Green buildings generally have how much of a lower energy use intensity than typical buildings?
24%
If a manufacturing company recycles used orange juice cartons for flooring, what would this result in? (2 things)
1. Carpet that contains post-consumer recycled content 2. A reduced need for virgin materials
8 Categories of LEED
1. Location & Transportation 2. Sustainable Sites 3. Water Efficiency 4. Energy & Atmosphere 5. Materials and Resources 6. Indoor Environmental Quality 7. Innovation in Design 8. Regional Priorities
Commercial Construction in the US Accounts for:
14% potable water consumption 30% waste output 38% CO2 emissions 40% raw material use 24-50% energy use 72% electricity consumption
The EPACT of 1992 states that the baseline water use of an apartment's bathroom faucet is:
2.2 gpm
Production of CFCs are banned under the Montreal protocol and HCFCs will be phased out by when?
2030
Adaptive reuse, selecting to build infill, and regenerative design are all items encouraged in LEED and green building in general. What is an example of regenerative design?
A building that generates electricity and sends the excess to the grid
Open space can contribute to many credits in multiple credit categories. Select the example of quality open space:
A jogging trail around a natural wetland
Parking footprints are large contributors to the Heat Island Effect. What is an example of a local ordinance?
A law usually found in a municipal code
There are many new alternative compliant paths (ACPs) in LEED v4. Which of the following is an ACP for the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) for an entire building?
ASHRAE 189.1
There is a prerequisite for LEED BD+C projects in Sustainable Sites that ensures the environment is protected by: (3 things)
Airborne Dust; Soil Erosion; Waterway Sedimentation
A new building is being constructed in the hot climate of Mexico City. The green building design includes a vegetative roof and an air-tight envelope to reduce air changes per hour and increase building efficiency. What will need to be considered due to this design?
Bringing in additional fresh air for indoor air quality
Which of the following LEED Impact Categories aims at supporting local economies and strengthening the green building industry through supply chain support?
Build a Greener Economy
Which strategy can the project team suggest if the building owner wants to maintain ongoing energy efficiency and performance?
Building Automation Systems
In LEED v4, credits have been streamlined and numerous standards have been introduced in the Materials and Resources Category. Which group of credits is Environmental Product Declarations under?
Building Product Disclosure and Optimization
How can an infill site positively affect the economic side of the triple bottom line?
By reducing infrastructure costs
A project has reduced its water consumptions by 65% from EPA's baseline. The owner can now ensure a healthy work environment by monitoring 2 of the following: (2 things)
Carbon dioxide levels; Outdoor Airflow
The USGBC requires reporting different building parameters at least every 5 years to increase transparency, as well as to:
Contribute to knowledge that will advance research in the future
soft costs
Costs outside the construction site like architectural fees, engineering fees, permits and legal fees
Cork ceiling tiles have the ability to be recycled and completely reused for flooring at the end of their life. Which term describes this approach?
Cradle to cradle
LEED is developed through a consensus-based approach and evolves every few years. What is each LEED rating system composed of?
Credit categories
A project is located in northern Ontario where no mass transit infrastructure exists. How can this project still earn LEED points? (2 things)
Enforce compressed work week scheduling; Encourage carpooling
The Integrative Process was previously just a principle of sustainability, but with LEED V4, it is now actually worth a point. Which of the following demonstrates a team using the Integrative Process concept of the Systems Thinking approach?
Establishing water saving metrics for measuring success
How does the USGBC define quality views?
Flora, fauna, or sky
LeadingGreen's enormous parking lot utilizes constructed shading towers equipped with PV panels to generate electricity for vehicle recharging stations. Which credits would be impacted by this? (2 things)
Green Vehicles; Heat Island Reduction
For the Building Disclosure and Optimization credit that looks at the ingredients of materials, which standards would help earn points? (2 things)
GreenScreen; Cradle to Cradle Certified
The USGBC is a not for profit organization that promotes the triple bottom line through its:
Guiding Principles
Conventionally which of the following has been primary used to replace CFC-11?
HCFC-123
Which one of the following does not need to be considered when setting aside a location for the storage and collection of recyclables?
Having a separate dumpster for each material
Looking at the economic side of the triple bottom line, what is the most significant savings that results from water efficiency?
Reduced maintenance costs
A manufacturing company is trying to determine if its roofing shingles comply with LEED requirements. Which factors help in this? (2 things)
Reflectivity, Emissivity
A project development team just purchased an entire city on the coast of Oregon. Which of the following is one way that the project developer could successfully complete 'adaptive reuse'?
Renovating an old steel mill into an apartment complex
When does commissioning take place?
Substantial completion phase
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding occupant surveys?
Surveys identify areas that need improvement
The most significant difference between a conventional linear design process and an Integrative Process is?
The Integrative Process is iterative
LEED v4 has seven Impact Categories to accomplish the goals of the LEED rating system and ensure sustainability. How do the Impact Categories work towards a more sustainable building?
They determine which credits are worth more points.
What provides legal protection of the ozone layer in the U.S.?
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The LEED rating systems must continue to push the envelope and to ensure that it keeps improving over time. Who develops the ongoing improvements?
USGBC member-based volunteer committees
How can a civil engineering team properly grade the site and determine the baseline measurement for outdoor water use on a project?
Use the EPA WaterSense Water Budget Tool
Off-gassing of contaminants is a major degrader of the indoor air quality of a building. What products need to be analyzed to determine their VOC content?
Wall paint
Apple Inc. promotes an open-office concept, but also wants to use daylighting for entire floors, which has a number of trade-offs. How can they ensure that everyone receives adequate light?
Zoned daylighting controls
