LEED GA Fundamentals
What are the LEED impact categories?
Reverse Contribution to Global Climate Change Enhance Individual Human Health and Well-Being Protect and Restore Water Resources Protect, Enhance and Restore Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Promote Sustainable and Regenerative Material Resources Cycles Build a Greener Economy Enhance Social Equity, Environmental Justice, and Community Quality of Life
What is the mission of USGBC
"to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life". USGBC accomplishes this mission through several means: Advocacy: USGBC provides tools, strategies and resources for policy makers and leaders on local, state and national levels. Resources: USGBC provides tools and resources for project teams interested in executing green building plans. Education: USGBC educates the industry and public about best practices in green building and about green building in general. USGBC tries to teach fact from fiction in 37 regards to green building, so that people around the world have an accurate view of green building practices. Committees, chapters, and conferences: The many avenues USGBC provides for people to participate from the local level to the national level gives everyone an opportunity to become involved or just to listen and learn. Committees are made of volunteers whose job is to listen to what the industry is demanding and respond accordingly.
What is the Green Seal standard, and what type of material does it address?
-Green seal addresses : Aerosol adhesives Architectural paints and coatings Interior anti-corrosive and anti-rust paint -Green Seal is : Green Seal is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes the manufacture and sale of environmentally responsible consumer products. In LEED Green seal usually is used as the standard for low VOC materials and green cleaning.
What is the median payback period for the commissioning of existing buildings?
.7 years
What is the maximum number of administrators a project can have
1
When selecting a building material there are three things that should be considered
1. Performance - How will the material perform compared to other alternatives? Consider insulation - should the project use foam insulation, batt insulation, or something else for the best insulating properties? 2. Adaptability - Can the insulation be reused in the future when the building is at the end of its life or will it need to be disposed of? 3. Embodied energy - How much energy went into manufacturing each type of insulation being considered. Was the insulation sourced close by or was manufactured in an environmentally unfriendly plant and then shipped from overseas?
How can you reduce landscape irrigation needs ?
1. landscape design 2. appropriate plant selection 3. xeriscaping 4. mulching 5. reduce turf grass and monocultures 6. drip irrigation 7. scheduling 8. weather based controllers 9.. water audits
What are the project phases pf the LEED integrative process?
1. pre design or Discovery 2. design 3. construction plans 4. bidding process 5. construction 6. commissioning occupancy and recommissioning 8. end of life / demo
what is the flowrate of the avg shower head ?
2.5 gpm
What year does the Montreal Protocol phase out HCFCs?
2030
A study by the New Buildings Institute found that in green buildings, average energy use intensities (energy consumed per unit of floor space) are _____ than in typical buildings
24 %
Which percentage of the Earth's water is fresh water
3 percent
If a project owner wants to create a landscape with plants that require watering, which of the following is the minimum outdoor water reduction from a baseline required for a new office project?
30% reduction plan
In the United States buildings account for ____ carbon dioxide emissions.
38%
Which of the following is the median payback period for the commissioning of new buildings?
4.8 years
What is the minimum number of points a project must earn for certification?
40
Why is LEED Transparent?
A consensus process that has a balanced and transparent committee structure
What are local ordinances?
A law usually found in a municipal code This defines what local ordinance is. Projects should prepare and review a list of the appropriate and applicable laws, codes, local ordinances, statutes, and industry-related standards relevant to the project.
A project that reduces the amount of wastewater transported off site helps achieve which of the following?
A reduction in the demand for wastewater treatment infrastructure A reduction in energy required to treat wastewater
When should a site assessment occur?
A site assessment assesses site conditions before design to evaluate sustainable options and inform related decisions about site design.
What is the payback period for commissioning?
A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found the following: 'For existing buildings, we found median commissioning costs of $0.27/ft2, whole-building energy savings of 15 %, and payback times of 0.7 years. For new construction, median commissioning costs were $1.00/ft2 (0.6 % of total construction costs), yielding a median payback time of 4.8 years (excluding quantified non-energy impacts).
When evaluating materials that would help with heat-island reduction, which of the following is the MOST important material attribute?
A three-year aged SR value New in LEED v4 is the three-year aged SRI value as a performance measurement of roofing/hardscape materials. The three-year aged SR or SRI value is 'a solar reflectance or solar reflectance index rating that is measured after three years of weather exposure.' - USGBC What this indicates is how good the product is going to be performing after three years outside. Consider a highly reflective white roof. When it's installed, it's clean and bright white, but the sun beats down on it day after day, it gets rained on, dust in the air collects on it, etc. After a period of time, it's no longer as bright, and thus performs less optimally. The three-year aged rating takes this into account.
What does a carbon offset represent?
A unit of carbon dioxide equivalent that is reduced, avoided, or sequestered to compensate for emissions occurring elsewhere.
building in a warm climate will not have operable windows or natural ventilation due to a limited number of days each year that these strategies would be beneficial. Which of the following would help the project team give ventilation control to occupants?
Adjustable air diffusers Adjustable air diffusers help with ventilation control. Thermostats help with temperature control. Thermostats can be provided for zones to help refine the temperature for different areas.
What are the roles of GBCI?
Administration of the LEED exams Third-party technical reviews of registered LEED projects Overseeing LEED credential maintenance
What low / no cost structural incentive can a municipality make to a developer to encourage green building
Allowing increases in the floor area ratio
What options within LEED credits address different geographic and climactic regions while providing solutions to challenges faced by projects at a regional level?
Alternative Compliance Paths Alternative Compliance Paths, or ACPs, allow international projects to identify equivalent means of demonstrating compliance to the credit requirements. For example, where an equivalent country's reference standard exists, an ACP can allow for the use of that standard. These options address different geographic and climactic regions while providing solutions to challenges faced by projects at a regional level.
Which of the following is NOT a type of diverse use?
An ATM A diverse use is 'a distinct, officially recognize business, nonprofit, civic, religious, or governmental organization, or dwelling units (residential use) or offices (commercial office use). It has a stationary postal address and is publicly available. It does not include automated facilities such as ATMs, vending machines, and touchscreens.' - USGBC
Which of the following best describes systems thinking?
An understanding of the built environment as a series of relationships in which all parts influence many other parts. This type of exam question tests an ability to accurately know the exact (or best) definition of a term � as defined by USGBC. This is USGBC's definition of systems thinking
Projects may be able to use some of the same techniques for both ______________:
Both of these are intended to preserve and protect greenfields during the construction process. A project team may be able to share strategies between them and achieve synergy
A developer is building a medical park that will have ten buildings for doctors' offices. Which of the following is a strategy for achieving energy efficiency?
Building a district heating and cooling system A district energy system (DES) is 'a central energy conversion plant and transmission and distribution system that provides thermal energy to a group of buildings (e.g., a central cooling plant on a university campus). It does not include central energy systems that provide only electricity.' - USGBC Individual buildings served by a district energy system don't need their own boilers or furnaces, chillers or air conditioners. The district energy system does that work for them, providing valuable benefits including improved energy efficiency overall.
Which of the following is most important to the design and construction of a building for emissions reduction?
Building location
What is USGBC's vision?
Buildings and communities that will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation This is USGBC's vision
How would access to quality transit be documented?
By a map showing the project, project boundary, transit stop locations, walking routes, and distances to those stops
How would the distance from a building's entrance to the nearest bus stop be measured
By calculating the walking distance along infrastructure that is safe and comfortable for pedestrians When calculating the walking distance for credits such as Diverse Uses, a walkable route is used for the measurement. LEED 2009 used a radius to calculate the distance, but this did not accurately determine pedestrian access
A developer is considering pursuing LEED for an eight-story, multi-family residential project. How would the baseline building performance be determined?
By calculations made using ASHRAE 90.1 In LEED BD+C projects use ASHRAE 90.1 to determine the baseline building performance.
Which of the following is the appropriate way to document whether a bathroom sink qualifies for an indoor water use reduction?
By fixture cut sheets Part of the documentation process for water saving fixtures is to include the manufacturer's cut sheets that describe the water-saving aspects of the fixture.
How would a bicycle network be documented for a project
By including a vicinity map showing the bicycle network, route, and distance along the network to eligible destinations This is how the credit is documented.
If a building owner selected a project site in an existing community with proximity to existing utility lines and street networks, in which of the following ways would it save on project costs?
By reduced infrastructure costs If a building owner locates the project near existing utilities, they can usually save on having the utilities connected to the site because the distance and materials needed to do so would be reduced. Consider locating a rural house 500 ft. or 50 ft. from the nearest utility pole. The electric company frequently charges customers to install the new line (with the exception of participation in a utility co-op).
How can a project team learn about the environmental impacts of a manufacturer's extraction operations and the product's supply chain?
By reviewing the manufacturer's corporate sustainability report (CSR) A CSR report is a third-party verified report that includes information on how the manufacturer extracts or sources materials.
The Green Label Plus certification is used for what material?
Carpets Green Label Plus certified carpets have low VOC content.
Which of the following documents establishes the terms and conditions of the LEED Certification Program to which the building owner is bound?
Certification agreement The purpose of the Agreement is to establish the terms and conditions of the LEED Certification Program (the 'Program,') to which You (and Your Agent, if any) are bound. The Program consists of the process whereby GBCI reviews documentation submitted by participants to determine if a building, interior space, or neighborhood, as described to GBCI, complies with the requirements of the LEED Green Building Rating System and has accumulated the minimum number of points necessary to achieve pre-certification or a particular level of LEED Certification (i.e., LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold, or LEED Platinum). GBCI administers the Program and confers pre-certification and LEED Certification under license from the U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. ('USGBC').
Commissioning
Commissioning is the process of verifying that the building's energy related systems are installed, calibrated, and performing according to the project and owner's requirements.
Which of the following would require use of the EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager?
Comparing the ongoing operating performance of a building with its intended design performance EPA created ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, an online tool to measure and track energy and water consumption, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Use it to benchmark the performance of one building or a whole portfolio of buildings against other similar buildings. Use it also to benchmark the performance of one building against itself over a period of several years.
Which of the following building components contribute to the plug load?
Computers The plug load or receptacle load is 'the electrical current drawn by all equipment that is connected to the electrical system via a wall outlet.' - USGBC Plug loads are a part of the calculation for a building's energy use.
What does the LEED Volume Program help with?
Cost-effective LEED certification on a volume scale Among other things the LEED Volume Program provides a cost-effective path to achieving LEED certification on a volume scale.
Success in LEED and green building design is best accomplished through an integrative design process that prioritizes which of the following:
Cost-effectiveness over both the short and long term 'Success in LEED and green building design is best accomplished through an integrative design process that prioritizes cost-effectiveness over both the short and long terms and engages all project team members in discovering beneficial interrelationships and synergies between systems and components.' - USGBC
Which of the following actions can a project team take to increase the density of the project building?
Create a smaller footprint and maximize the floor-area ratio Density is a measure of the total building floor area or dwelling units on a parcel of land relative to the buildable land of that parcel.
How can we design for good acoustics?
Creating soft surfaces by using sound absorbing materials made fromrecycled products Using white noise to mask other sounds Paying attention to the geometry of a space. There are designs that improve acoustics (like a concert hall) and designs that make for pooracoustics (high ceilings in a classroom) Avoiding the use of small diameter ducts with high velocity airflow, asthese ducts tend to be noisier Designing rooms with privacy and concentration in mind, such as studyrooms in libraries Enclosing or separating spaces where privacy and concentration isimportant
LEED credit forms must be signed by which person?
Declarant A declarant is 'A LEED project team member who is technically qualified to verify the content of a LEED credit submittal template, and is authorized by the project administrator to sign the template and upload it to LEED Online. The Declarant must have had a significant degree of responsibility for the credit, i.e., participation with and/or oversight of either implementing the credit in the project building or of verifying its outcome.' (USGBC) The declarant is the person who will sign a submittal template. Each template can have a different declarant. Each rating system will have its own set of forms that must be completed and submitted for documentation and verification. These forms are called submittals or credit templates, and are accessed with LEED Online. The project administrator assigns credits/prerequisites to individuals (declarants) to complete.
DR
Demand Response (DR) is a set of time-dependent program activities and tariffs that seek to reduce electricity use or shift usage to another time period.
what projects locations are best for reducing impacts to the environment?
Dense areas
What building systems should be metered ?
Domestic hot and cold water use Heating bills Electricity usage
In LEED Homes and Multifamily Lowrise which standard is used to measure minimum energy performance
ENERGY STAR for Homes is the basis of the requirements for energy efficiency in a LEED Homes and Multifamily Lowrise project. ***ASHRAE 90.1 is used for commercial properties
An owner for a new three-story office space wants to know how the building compares to other buildings of similar function. Which of the following can be used to compare the performance of the building?
EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager can be used to compare buildings of similar size and function (office to office, for example).
To help with water use reduction in LEED, a lavatory faucet must use less water than the rates set by:
EPAct of 1992 EPAct 1992 is the standard used to calculate baseline water usage, not the design case. EPAct 1992 mandated the use of water conserving plumbing fixtures in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. The answer choice of 'Installing fixtures that meet the EPAct 1992 standard' only meets the baseline standard and does not contribute to reducing potable water use for the purposes of earning LEED credits. The fixture and flow rates of EPAct 1992 are used to set the water use baseline for a building. The design case must reduce water use 20% over the baseline. In order to do this, low flow fixtures must be used in the design, or replacing potable water with graywater/rainwater. Think of the fixtures and flow rates of EPAct 1992 as the worst case scenario.
How are credit points determined?
Each credit/prerequisite will have one or more requirements that must be met. By meeting these requirements for credits the project earns points.
Products that meet ISO 14000 standards are:
Environmentally preferable The ISO 14000 product oriented standards include Environmental Labels and Declaration, Life Cycle Assessment, and Design for Environment. These standards are intended to be applicable for assessing the environmental performance of products and services as well as providing guidance on improving their environmental performance. The ISO 14020 series standards, Environmental Labels and Declaration, are communication tools that convey information on environmental aspects of a product or service to the market. These standards are used for recycled materials to label their pre and/or post consumer content.
What is the role of the facility manager?
Facility managers Another key member is the facility manager. There are things that are done in the design process that the facility manager would have a real significant impact on how that design may be done. The facility manager is thinking about continuous monitoring in the building or maintaining a building, or how to improve the performance of the building. These people allow insight into these post-occupancy experiences; they typically provide critical data, whether it is programmatic data or operational parameters. Examples include hours of operation and working policies. All of these things can really inform the design and construction phases.
What standard is used for certified wood?
Forest stewardship council (FWC) that comes with a chain of custody certification (CoC)
What role does GBCI Perform?
GBCI contracts with Prometric to administer the exams
what is graywater?
Gray water is water that can be used twice. Graywater is untreated household waste water which has not come into contact with toilet waste.
Green Star
Green Star is Australia's trusted mark of quality for the design and construction of sustainable buildings, fit outs, and communities.
What is the most likely reason that a LEED project incurred higher development costs compared to conventional development?
Green building goals were not set in the pre-design phase The primary reason that a green or LEED building would be more expensive is that the green building goals were considered an add-on after the design was completed. This approach does not involve an integrative process and usually results in a more expensive building.
Who certifies green power?
Green‐e Energy is the nation's leading certification program
What statement is true regarding HydroChloroFluoroCarbons (HCFCs)?
HCFCs have a low ozone depletion potential compared to CFCs HCFCs have a low ozone depletion potential compared to CFCs.
Which of the following has the greatest direct impact on global warming?
HVAC Efficiency
The project owner of a LEED BD+C Retail project has decided NOT to provide financial support to a local land trust. Which of the following will this decision impact?
Habitat protection or restoration In LEED v4, one of the options available to on-site restoration is to provide financial support for off-site restoration (such as to a qualified land trust). By removing the financial support, this credit could be impacted.
Which of the following is one of the tasks that integrative project team members complete together?
Identifying opportunities for synergy Before any design takes place, every team member is gathered and every issue hashed out. Each team member will take their expertise and bring the relevant information and data they have. The team then analyzes the data and starts to compare notes in order to identify synergies between different strategies and systems. This is a repeating cyclical process of research, analysis, and meeting that continues to further refine solutions, with the goal of achieving the greatest cost effectiveness and environmental performance.
What should be included in a construction waste management plan?
If any construction waste materials to be recycled will be commingled or separated The construction waste management plan will describe where construction and demolition debris is going to go. The plan outlines diverting construction debris from landfills through reusing, salvaging, and recycling materials. Part of this decision is to use commingled or separate recycling. Only your actual construction and demolition debris are included - wood scraps, metal, drywall, cardboard boxes, etc. The plan should include a target diversion rate (a goal that can be measured) such as 'divert 75% of construction waste'. Construction waste is calculated by weight or volume.
What would be the DIRECT result of specifying more costly, high-performance windows during the Construction phase?
Increased building costs This type of last-minute effort to improve efficiency is what drives up the costs of green building. If this decision had occurred in the design the HVAC system could have been downsized and cost less.
infill development example and definition
Infill development occurs within established urban areas where the site or area either is a vacant place between other developments or has previously been used for another urban purpose. An office project on a previously developed site in a city center A store built between two existing urban buildings
What information does a LCA provide ?
Initial, acquisition, and construction costs • fuel • operation, maintenance, and repair • disposal • finance • intangible benefits or costs7 (such as community interaction, charity work)
A restaurant is located on the second floor of a building. How can the project team decrease indoor water use demand?
Install high efficiency toilets High efficiency toilets have a tremendous water savings over conventional flush fixtures (water closets, toilets, conventional urinals). They accomplish the same task but by using less water (efficiency).
A project owner is concerned about the safety of building occupants during the evening hours as they walk to the parking lot. What exterior lighting strategy would ensure occupant safety, prevent light pollution, and conserve energy?
Installing timers that switch to motion activation after the building is closed Timers that shut off the lights after the building is closed would achieve all three goals.
What does the LEED AP do?
LEED APs help streamline the application and certification process.
What rating system would be best for a 3 story residential building and why?
LEED BD+C Multifamily and lowrise because it would have to be between 4-8 stories to be considered midrise
What is LEED online used for?
LEED Online is a central repository for all project information. This tool allows team members to: Submit all documentation online, including documents and pictures. USGBC requires an overall project narrative along with drawings and photographs of the site plan, floor plan, building section, primary elevation, and rendering of the project, all of which can be uploaded using LEED Online. Update credit templates View and submit Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs) Contact customer service View and respond to reviewer comments
What LEED developments address specific space types and international requirements?
LEED Rating System adaptations The LEED Rating System adaptations can be considered extensions of existing rating system to address specific types of spaces or requirements for international projects. For example the LEED BD+C: New Construction rating system currently has the following adaptations: LEED BD+C: Core and Shell LEED BD+C: Schools LEED BD+C: Retail LEED BD+C: Data Centers LEED BD+C: Warehouses LEED BD+C: Hospitality LEED BD+C: Healthcare
Which of the following statements regarding LEED Interpretations is NOT true?
LEED interpretations are used to add new requirements to the LEED Rating System. LEED interpretations are not an avenue for making significant changes or new requirements to the LEED rating system. LEED interpretations are also not the intended path for fixing errors in the LEED rating systems and reference guides. USGBC publishes clarifications (also called addenda) to address those issues.
What is one difference between LEED Interpretations and project CIRs?
LEED is precedent setting
Regional priority credits are specific to
LEED project type
Who approves the LEED rating system?
LEED reviewer
Grammatically, what language is the appropriate usage to describe a project that has been certified at any level?
Leed-certified lowercase c
Who decides if water from showers can be used for irrigation?
Local authorities with jurisdiction in the area
What credit category rewards project teams for taking advantage of existing patterns of development and land density?
Location and Transportation LT focuses on the surrounding community of the project and what currently exists - is there public transportation, existing infrastructure, a previously developed site to build on, etc.?
A building with a vegetated roof is going to require additional costs for more materials to support the structure and for waterproofing, as well as plant materials. What are the life cycle costing benefits of a vegetated roof?
Longer product life According to some studies and some LEED documentation vegetated roofs have a longer product life than conventional roofs. Maybe that is due to the yearly maintenance and upkeep that should occur. C. Lower maintenance costs Life cycle costing (LCC) is the evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful life, including initial, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings. LCC evaluates economic performance.
A project administrator needs specific information on an interior paint used in a tenant space. The information on the VOCs in the paint need to be uploaded into LEED Online. Where would this information be found?
MSDS The project manufacturer will have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) that lists the VOC content of the paint.
Which of the following are the environmental benefits of reusing a building?
Makes landfills last longer Reuse - whether a building or material - prevents the building or material from ending up in the landfill, extending the landfill's life. Reduces demands on virgin resources Because less new materials are required, virgin resources are preserved.
What statement is true regarding HydroFluoroCarbons (HFCs)?
Many HFCs have a significant global warming potential HFCs typically have a low ozone depletion potential but a high global warming potential.
What are examples of construction hard costs for an office condominium project?
Masonry costs paid to a sub-contractor Masonry is a hard cost. Cost for installing a green roof Labor for installing materials is a hard cost. Hard costs: By far the largest portion of the expenses in a construction budget, the hard costs are mostly comprised of the actual construction costs incurred to build the project. Examples include masonry, wood, steel, carpet, tile, mechanical systems, roofing. A soft construction cost is one that is not directly related to building, construction, etc. These include building permit fees, architect fees, legal, financing, engineering fees, commissioning, and other costs incurred before and after construction.
Which of the following is one of the most toxic and common sources of indoor air pollution in an existing building?
Mercury Standard fluorescent lamps contain mercury.
What do the credits in the Materials and Resources (MR) category focus on?
Minimizing the embodied impacts associated with the entire life-cycle of building materials
What are minimum program requirements?
Must be in a permanent location on existing land Must use a reasonable LEED boundaries Must comply with project size requirements **Projects that do not comply with the MPRs may have their certification revoked.
A member company wants to display its USGBC member logo. What would be an appropriate use for the USGBC member logo?
On company letterhead
What does the LEED reviewer do?
Once USGBC has received the completed application and fee, the LEED reviewer will do a final review and will formally rule on the full application
A developer wants to reduce energy demand to lower the heating and cooling costs of a new building project. What strategy would help with this goal?
Optimize the building orientation The building orientation has the biggest impact on heating, cooling and the potential for daylighting.
A project owner wants to create a healthy work environment for employees. To help ensure indoor air quality, which of the following should be monitored?
Outdoor airflow Ventilation takes fresh outdoor air and pushes it inside. The monitors on the outside measure how much air the system is moving to make sure it is adequate. Carbon-dioxide levels Carbon-dioxide monitoring indicates the quality of the air in a space. If there is too much CO2, the system can increase airflow to improve quality.
Who should be invited to the LEED charrette ?
Participants in the Charrette usually include the owner, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, landscape architect, commissioning agent, etc. Basically anyone involved with the construction or use of the building is a candidate for participation
Who can be a LEED AP?
Persons with green building experience who are credentialed GAs
What best defines the project boundary?
Platted property line of the project defining land and water within it The project boundary is the platted property line of the project defining land and water within it
What additional steps are in the integrative process?
Pre- design stages/ Discovery occupancy and recommissioning building end of life reuse or demo/recycle
3 types of recycled materials :
Pre-consumer material is material from industry scraps that was diverted from the wastestream and used for other purposes. Examples include sawdust, wood shavings, wood chips, and print overruns. Excluded are materials that are re-incorporated into the same manufacturing process that generated it.10 An example of what would not qualify is scraps of metal saved from a cutting process that are melted down and returned to the same manufacturing process. When the material is incorporated into a new product it is called pre-consumer content - the percentage of recycled material in the new product. Anexample is a newspaper made with 25% pre-consumer content. Post-consumer material is a waste type produced by the end consumer of a material stream; that is, where the waste producing use did not involve the production of another product. Examples include construction and demolition debris, yard waste, and materialsfrom curbside recycling programs (aluminum cans, newspapers, plastic bottles, milk jugs).11 The percentage indicates the percentage of post-consumer material included inthe product. For example - a plastic bottle with 50% post-consumer content. Post-consumer fiber is fiberous waste from municipal waste streams. Examples wouldbe paper or paperboard. Another term that might be used about fiber is recovered fiber, which includes both pre and post consumer fiber.
What term refers to a mandatory project characteristic, measurement, quality, value or function as identified within the LEED rating system?
Prerequisite In addition to the Minimum Program Requirements, each version of LEED contains unique prerequisite requirements that must be satisfied in order to achieve certification. The term prerequisite refers to a mandatory project characteristic, measurement, quality, value or function as identified within the LEED rating system. Prerequisites represent the key criteria that define green building performance. Each project must satisfy all specified prerequisites outlined in the LEED rating system under which it is registered. Failure to meet any prerequisite will render a project ineligible for certification.
How many points do prerequisites earn?
Prerequisites do not earn your project any points because they are required for the project to be considered
At which point during the project schedule would a flush-out occur?
Prior to occupants moving in A flush-out runs the mechanical systems with 100% outside air to remove contaminants. Flush-outs are usually done after construction is complete and prior occupants moving in.
What documentation provides product transparency ?
Product disclosure
What would a site assessment reveal?
Project teams look at the site features and take those features into the design considerations and how the site conditions influence the project design. An assessment reviews the sites: Topography: contour mapping, unique topographic features, slope stability risks. Hydrology: flood hazard areas, delineated wetlands, lakes, streams, shorelines, rainwater collection and reuse opportunities. Climate: solar exposure, heat island effect potential, seasonal sun angles, prevailing winds, monthly precipitation and temperature ranges. Vegetation: primary vegetation types, greenfield area, significant tree mapping, threatened or endangered species, unique habitat, invasive plant species. Soils: prime farmland, healthy soils. Human use: views, adjacent transportation infrastructure, adjacent properties, construction materials with existing recycle or reuse potential. Human health effects: proximity of vulnerable populations, adjacent physical activity opportunities, proximity to major sources of air pollution.
What are the goals of the Minimum Program Requirements?
Protect the integrity of the LEED program Reduce certification process challenges Give clear guidance to customers
What is a strategy for construction activity pollution prevention that would prevent waterway sedimentation
Providing natural buffers around the property Waterway sedimentation occurs when exposed top soil is washed off a property during a rain event. Creating buffers between construction activity and the project boundary traps sediment on-site, thus preventing it from reaching waterways.
What is the most common way to meet the requirements of off-site renewable energy?
Purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) The most common way (according to LEED) of meeting the requirements of off-site renewable energy is by purchasing RECs. Many local utility companies currently are either closed markets or do not offer renewable alternatives. RECs represent the reduced emissions of renewable energy compared to conventional fossil fuels. RECs are sold separately allowing people to purchase the 'greenness' of the electricity. This allows anyone to purchase an REC even if the power to their building is not green power. RECs have no geographic constraints, because they are sold separately from electricity. A project in Maine can purchase RECs from any other state.
Which of the following is aided by the avoidance of building on sensitive land or previously undeveloped land?
Rainwater management If undeveloped site areas are left undisturbed, this may help with managing rainwater runoff.
What is the most impactful way that a project can help to reverse contribution to climate change?
Reducing fossil-fuel based energy consumption Reversing contribution to global climate change is one of the LEED impact categories. Because of the large quantities of energy buildings consume, reducing their energy use (and thus their fossil-fuel based energy consumption) has the most impact on climate change
With regards to refrigerants what is a natural conflict between the prevention of ozone depletion and global warming?
Refrigerants that are neutral to the ozone layer are less efficient If a cooling system achieves greater efficiency only at the environmental price of using a chlorine-containing refrigerant, an inevitable environmental conflict exists.
REC
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) represent the environmental attributes of electricity produced from renewable energy sources sold separately from commodity electricity.
What is an example of adaptive reuse?
Renovating an old steel mill into an apartment complex Adaptive reuse is the practice of redesigning and using a structure for a use that is significantly different from the building's original use.
In an integrated approach to rainwater management, which of the following actions should a project team take to reduce runoff volume and improve water quality?
Replicate the natural hydrology and water balance of the site This question asks about the intent and goals of rainwater management.
A project team for a school project is designing classrooms that will improve the learning experience. Which of the following building components meet this goal while maintaining preferable life-cycle impacts?
Reused acoustic tiles School projects have a prerequisite for acoustics. This choice is a reused product, which is preferable because it doesn't require any raw material extraction.
Which of the following is an example of a source control waste reduction strategy?
Source reduction is the first and best way to minimize waste. Source reduction starts at the source-such as pre-ordering materials cut to size and choosing modular construction, which generates less onsite waste.
Which of the following must occur to ensure energy-efficient design is carried through to efficient performance?
Staff training The staff must understand the systems and how to use them or else the design of the systems is irrelevant. For example, if a building has occupancy sensors to control lighting but someone turns on the manual override and never turns it back off, the automated lighting is no longer working as designed to save energy
What is ASHRAE 189.1?
Standard 189.1 provides total building sustainability guidance for designing, building, and operating high-performance green buildings. From site location to energy use to recycling, this standard sets the foundation for green buildings by addressing site sustainability, water use efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and the building's impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources.
A developer is planning a mixed-use project that will include 1,000 single family homes, office space, retail, and townhomes. Which of the following neighborhood design strategies help promote community connectivity?
Street-grid patterns A street pattern is how the streets are laid out. A street-grid pattern is one in which streets are laid out in squares/rectangles. Consider a city center that has blocks and how quickly individuals can get around compared to a suburban area in which the streets are not designed in a grid.
Which of the following does a facility operator need in order to optimize water consumption?
Submetering of water-using systems To optimize systems, the systems must be measured. Submetering helps monitor which systems are using more water than others, which are using too much water, and which may have leaks.
Which of the following is NOT a component of the impact category Enhance Social Equity, Environmental Justice, Community Health and Quality of Life?
Support Occupant Comfort and Well-Being Support Occupant Comfort and Well-Being is a component of the impact category Enhance Individual Human Health and Well-Being.
a project developer is creating an erosion and sedimentation control plan. The plan must conform to which of the following requirements?
The EPA Construction General Permit or the local equivalent An erosion and sedimentation control plan is required for the Construction Activity Pollution Prevention prerequisite. The plan must conform to the EPA Construction General Permit or local equivalent, whichever is more stringent.
What is International Green Construction Code?
The ICC(International construction code) introduced the International Green Construction Code (IgCC). The IgCC provides model code language to establish baseline regulations for new and existing buildings related to energy conservation, water efficiency, building owner responsibilities, site impacts, building waste, and materials and other considerations.
Who is responsible for ensuring the use of the consensus process to evolve LEED in accordance with the mission, guiding principles, and strategic plan of USGBC
The LEED Steering Committee (LSC) is an integrated group of volunteers and staff charged with developing and maintaining LEED as a leadership tool, preserving the integrity of the LEED rating systems, and ensuring the use of the consensus process to evolve LEED in accordance with the mission, guiding principles, and strategic plan of USGBC. A standing committee of USGBC Board of Directors, the LEED Steering Committee is the governing body of all LEED committees.
What happens in a LEED charrette ?
The LEED process begins with holding a Charrette. A Charrette is a type of workshop where participants combine brainstorming, discussion, and strategy development to create a shared vision, goals and understanding of the next steps for a project, organization or community. During the Charrette, LEED goals are communicated to all team members, and LEED credit feasibility is evaluated (brainstorm meeting)
What is a LEED scorecard?
The LEED score card is a critical component early on in the LEED integrative process. The score card (also called the LEED checklist) lists all of the credits for the specific rating system and helps the project team track which ones are ideal for the project to attempt and those that are 'maybes' and need to be further investigated.
Which of the following can project teams use to identify a sensitive habitat?
The Natural Heritage Program People from this agency can assist with determining sensitive habitats on land. State fish and wildlife agencies (or local equivalent) People from this agency can assist with determining sensitive habitats on land.
SMACNA ?
The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association (SMACNA) has a set of indoor air quality guidelines that are used to help manage air quality issues resulting from construction and renovation.
If a building owner enrolls in a demand response program, which of the following will happen?
The building may have to decrease electricity use during peak times. 'Demand response allows utilities to call on buildings to decrease their electricity use during peak times, reducing the strain on the grid and the need to operate more power plants, thus potentially avoiding the costs of constructing new plants.' - USGBC
Which of the following are reasons an owner should build a new construction project in a LEED for Neighborhood Development location?
The certification process would be easier. By locating a project in a LEED-ND location, the LT credits are streamlined because the LEED-ND project already has all of the necessary documentation for the LT credits; therefore the certification process is easier. . The project would have excellent location and transportation within the surrounding community. Project teams that select to build in a LEED-ND neighborhood are choosing a site that has connection with the surrounding community and both a good location and transportation attributes already. LEED projects can earn credit for locating the project in a LEED-ND neighborhood.
Which of the following project team members is responsible for verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements?
The commissioning authority This is another way of asking who is responsible for commissioning.' Commissioning is 'the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements.' - USGBC The owner's project requirements (OPR) are 'a written document that details the ideas, concepts, and criteria determined by the owner to be important to the success of the project.' - USGBC
What statement is true regarding green building?
The construction of green buildings have no major significant cost difference to non-green buildings According to Cost of Green Revisited - The 2006 study shows essentially the same results as 2004: there is no significant difference in average costs for green buildings as compared to non-green buildings.
What does a REC represent?
The environmental, social, and other positive attributes of power generated by renewable resources A REC represents the environmental, social, and other positive attributes of power generated by renewable resources. These attributes may be sold separately from the underlying commodity electricity. RECs represent the reduced emissions of renewable energy compared to conventional fossil fuels. RECs are sold separately allowing people to purchase the 'greenness' of the electricity. This allows anyone to purchase an REC even if the power to their building is not green power. RECs have no geographic constraints, because they are sold separately from electricity. A project in Maine can purchase RECs from any other state
A project design with a focus on creating a healthy building includes materials with low VOC emissions, grates used in the entryway, higher-rated MERV filters, and air intakes located in an open-air parking garage. Which of these design strategies negatively impacts good indoor-air quality?
The location of the air intakes Air intakes should be located near fresh air sources and away from exhaust or smoking areas.
When choosing products that have Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), which factor is used in determining if LEED credit can be earned?
The number of different permanently installed products used from different manufacturers When purchasing materials a certain number of products must be selected to meet LEED credit requirements. For LEED a product must be a permanently installed building product, and is defined as 'an item that arrives on the project site either as a finished element ready for installation or as a component to another item assembled on-site.' - USGBC Example products include: steel, wood, drywall, carpet. Things that are not considered products that count towards the MR credits include: Scaffolding Concrete formwork Anything temporary
What is the difference between a LEED charrette and a LEED scorecard ?
The outcome of the Charrette should include a first draft of the LEED scorecard a preliminary rating, and defining the roles of each member of the project team.
An existing office building has a 20-year old chiller that uses CFC-11. An owner is considering a major renovation of the building and applying for LEED for New Construction certification. What statement is true about the project's ability to earn LEED certification?
The owner can implement a phase-out plan to earn LEED certification Existing buildings that have CFC based systems are still eligible for certification. A phase out plan must be implemented if a third party audit shows that the simple payback for the new system would be 10 years or less.
Locating a project in any of the high-priority site types can increase the likelihood of which of the following:
The project being in a dense area served by transit and diverse uses
What credit can you earn for having a LEED AP on a project?
The rating systems allow one ID point for having a LEED AP on stafff Having more than one LEED AP on a project does not earn the project more than one point
What does the emissivity of a material refer to?
The ratio of energy radiated by a particular material to energy radiated by a black body at the same temperature The emissivity of a material is the ratio of energy radiated by a particular material to energy radiated by a black body at the same temperature. It is a measure of a material's ability to radiate absorbed energy.
What is the purpose of the LEED Pilot Credit Library?
To allow credits to be refined through LEED project evaluations before they complete the balloting process for introduction into LEED The LEED Pilot Credit Library facilitates the introduction of new prerequisites and credits to LEED. The process allows projects to test credits that haven't been through USGBC's complete drafting and balloting process.
Which of the following is a priority designation used in LEED?
To encourage investment in economically disadvantaged or low-income areas The high-priority site credit helps project teams identify priority development areas. LEED projects can earn points for building in what tend to be disadvantaged neighborhoods.
What best defines the property area
Total area within the legal property boundaries of the site; it encompasses all areas of the site, including constructed and non-constructed areas The property boundary and/or property area is the total area within the legal property boundaries of the site; it encompasses all areas of the site, including constructed and nonconstructed areas.
Which of the following instances of documentation is an acceptable form when the name of the organization is appearing in a press release for the first time?
U.S. Green Building Council USGBC Name: The official organization name is the U.S. Green Building Council. 'USGBC' is the official acronym. Use the complete name for any first reference. Subsequent references in copy may use USGBC. NOTE: When using 'USGBC' as a noun, do not precede with 'the.' For example: Contact USGBC for more information.
Which of the following aid in the identification of sensitive habitats?
US fish and wildlife service FEMA Code of federal regulations Natureserve heritage program
To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life' denotes which of the following:
USGBC Mission
When there are two or more rating systems that might be applicable to a project, how should the project team decide which rating system to use?
Use the 40/60 rule LEED has a 40/60 rule to help project teams decide on a rating system: If a particular rating system is appropriate for 40% or less of a LEED project building or space, then that rating system should not be used. If a particular rating system is appropriate for 60% or more of a LEED project building or space, then that rating system should be used. Project teams with buildings and spaces that do not fall into the scenarios described in a) and b) must independently assess their situation and decide which rating system is most applicable.
A hamburger franchise is planning on building thirty new restaurants across the country in the next two years. Each restaurant is based on the same prototype. How should the multiple buildings be certified?
Using the LEED Volume Program The LEED Volume Program is a streamlined certification process for organizations planning to certify a large number of new construction projects that are prototype-based.
What review practice identifies design alternatives that reduce costs while yielding higher performance?
Value engineering Value engineering (VE) is review process that identifies and selects the lowest lifecycle cost options in design, materials and processes that achieves the desired level of performance, reliability and customer satisfaction. USGBC has redefined value engineering to mean reducing costs while improving performance. In conventional building many building features are VEd out to cut the budget. Because of the integrative process in green buildings, VEing out a feature often messes up the performance of the system as a whole. For example if a building owner decides to take out better quality and more costly insulation, the building's utility bills will most likely go up and the HVAC system could be undersized.
A business owner wants to have an open office plan in a tenant space. To increase daylighting and optimize views, which of the following should the plan include?
Vision panels Low Partitions
Which of the following materials, if reused, would be considered pre-consumer recycled content?
Walnut shells Walnut shells are a type of pre-consumer recycled content. The walnut shells are taken from the walnut processing line at the food plant and shipped somewhere else to be turned into composite wood products such as cabinetry. Sawdust Sawdust can be taken from a lumber mill and sent to another manufacturer where they turn it into medium density fiberboard (MDF).
What is a CIR?
What do you do if you have a question about a credit? One feature that is available through LEED Online is : Credit Interpretation Requests and Rulings (referred to as "CIRs"). CIRs are used to clarify a single question the project team may have and can be submitted any time after project registration. Often the reference guide will not specifically address the issue at hand and more information is needed. To address these issues, USGBC has created the Credit Interpretation Ruling process.
Which of the following helps reinforce the open consensus process of new LEED versions?
What is consensus in LEED? 'LEED is developed by USGBC member-based volunteer committees, subcommittees, and working groups in conjunction with staff. LEED development follows a structure that includes a balanced representation of stakeholders and management of conflict of interest, to ensure that the development of LEED is transparent and consensus-based. The LEED committee structure balances market needs and constraints with consistency and technical rigor in the development and improvement of the credits within LEED, to ensure the quality and integrity of the LEED brand. The balloting process of new versions with USGBC membership reinforces the open consensus process. The appeal procedures that are implemented by USGBC further support the consensus process and ensure the fair treatment of affected stakeholders. All of these measures are essential to protecting and enhancing the integrity, authority, and value of LEED.' - USGBC
In which of the following instances would a project team need to use the ITE Transportation Planning Handbook?
When calculating a project's parking capacity When reducing parking, project teams will use the ITE Transportation Planning Handbook to determine recommended parking
In what instances would a project team submit a Credit Interpretation Request (CIR)?
When the reference guide does not address a specific issue CIRs should be used when you can't find the answer in the reference guide. When a conflict in a credit or prerequisite requires resolution CIRs should be used when there are conflicts in a credit/prerequisite
What should be included in a green cleaning program?
Where the chemicals are stored What chemicals are used and in what quantities Training in the use of the chemicals Indoor pest control plans Equipment use
What is FSC Certified wood?
Wood that has been procured from well managed forests Wood that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is acceptable for LEED credits. FSC Certified wood comes from well managed forests that use responsible logging practices
How do you register a project?
You can register your project at leedonline.com The registration fees are: $900 for members $1,200 for non-members The earlier the better
Waste stream audit ?
a review of consumables waste of a project. Essentially, finding out what makes up the projects waste can help determine ways to increase recycling orreduce waste through other methods
What is an environmental product declaration (EPD) ?
a standardized way of quantifying the environmental impact of a product or system. Typically, an EPD will include information about a product's impact on global warming, ozone depletion, water pollution, ozone creation, and greenhouse gas emissions. An EPD can also include other impacts that are of particular interest to the discloser, such as human toxicity risk and corporate social responsibility.
What is regional Priority used for?
acknowledges that different regions in the world have different needs and has selected existing credits in the rating systems that should be a priority.
What are the basic types of LEED improvements that are updated through revisions on a regular development cycle?
adaptatins new LEED errata and addenda
How can dirt be kept off buildings?
adding metal grates or walk-off mats at every entrance
What is a heat island ?
air and surface temperature differences between developed and undeveloped areas.
post consumer material examples
aluminum cans water bottles newspaper construction debris
What are Halons ?
are chemicals used in fire suppression systems that also negatively affect the ozone layer. The destructiveness of these chemicals is measured by their ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP).
A project owner that chooses to use onsite renewable energy sources instead of oil, coal, and natural gas gets what economic benefit of the triple bottom line?
avoiding escalating market prices
Which of the following is not a credit category for LEED for Neighborhood Development?
awareness and education
What is blackwater?
blackwater - untreated wastewater from toilets and urinals.
What metric is useful for determining the energy, water, solid waste, materials, and transportation impacts of buildings and communities?
carbon emissions
What stakeholders would likely be involved in a building operations project?
cleaning contractors - because they help operate a building
What can help reduce indoor potable water use?
composting toilets
Location and Transportation LT focuses on the surrounding community of the project and what currently exists - is there public transportation, existing infrastructure, a previously developed site to build on, etc.?
core and shell
pre certification
core and shell
What are examples of structural incentives that may be available to a developer to encourage green building?
density bonuses expedited reviews of bonuses There are different incentives for rewarding developers or homeowners who practice green building techniques spurs innovation and demand for green building technologies. Structural incentives include: Expedited review / permitting process Density and height bonuses Financial incentives include: Tax credits Fee reductions / waivers Grants Revolving loan funds (low-interest loans) Non-finanical incentives include: Technical assistance Marketing assistance
What information is needed to calculate the SRI of a material?
emissivity and reflectance
If a developer is looking for water efficient appliances to install in residences what label should they look for on the appliances?
energy star
Which type of products would reduce the environmental effects of cleaning products
environmental choice
What is ASHRAE 55
establishes acceptable thermal environmental conditions for occupancy.
what is AHRAE 62
establishes ventilation requirements for acceptable indoor air quality.
What must be addressed for daylight design?
excess glare increased thermal temperature
What is process energy
generally comes from equipment that is plugged into a wall outlet (it has a plug load). Examples of process energy include: Computers Office equipment Kitchen stoves Kitchen refrigerators Washers and dryers Elevators and escalators (these don't have regular plugs, but are considered process energy for LEED)
To qualify for LEED, carbon offsets must be which of the following?
green e-climate certified Green-e Climate certification is for qualifying carbon offsets for LEED.
HERS
home energy rating system
Which refrigerants are considered environmentally benign?
hydrocarbons and propane
IESNA
illuminating engineering society of north America
Source Reduction
is the practice of designing, manufacturing, purchasing, or using materials (such as products and packaging) in ways that reduce the amount or toxicity of trash created.
What LEED credit category rewards projects within relatively dense areas, near diverse uses, with access to a variety of transportation options, or on sites with development constraints?
location and transportation
How can we reduce light pollution?
making parking lots smaller or placing them underground. lighting controls The type of light fixture can make a difference in reducing Good lighting design
Which responsibilities would belong to the general contractor during construction to improve indoor air quality?
making sure someone is sweeping periodically to control dust capping air ducts
Submetering
meters placed on smaller portions of a larger system, ie submeters monitoring water use on each floor of a project
Which greenhouse gas is produced in landfills as a result of solid waste disposal?
methane
Carbon offsets are measured in ___
metric tonnes
The purchasing policies for the ongoing operations of a building should address which of the following?
ongoing consumable durable goods
green seal covers which types of products?
paints, coatings, seals, and cleaning products
What does the Construction Waste Management Plan cover?
plan that covers how waste will be either disposed or reused or recycled by addressing sorting, collection, and final disposal of items used in the construction or renovation process
What are the key criteria that define green building performance?
pre requisites
What is the difference between a prerequisite and a credit?
prerequisites are mandatory credits are not . No single credit is mandatory; credits are selected and pursued at the option of a LEED project team.
A project team is reviewing potential sites for a new office building. Which of the following sites would be preferred?
project teams that select to build in a LEED-ND neighborhood are choosing a site that has connection with the surrounding community and good location and transportation attributes already. Note that LEED-ND projects may include residential uses, non-residential uses, or a mix.
A project team developing a library on a greenfield site decides to reduce the project's parking footprint. Which of the following additional areas of the project could this also aid?
protecting sensitive land
Health Product Disclosure (HPD)
provides a full disclosure of the potential chemicals of concern in products by comparing product ingredients to a wide variety of "hazard" lists published by government authorities and scientific associations.
What are benefits of rainwater management?
reduce infrastructure costs while reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and heat-island effects, thus creating natural habitat and improving human health. reduce sedimentation To reduce the quantity and quality of rainwater runoff limit the number of impervious surfaces, reuse rainwater, or adopt some low -impact strategies.
A large home builder is developing a new neighborhood with 200 homes. What strategies would help the builder save on material costs and conserve materials?
reducing hallways advanced framing Select products that ship with less packaging The three correct choices are examples of source reduction and space-efficient strategies.
pre consumer material examples
sawdust wood chips treebark magazine-overruns fly ash
What is ASHRAE 90.1
sets minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings, including HVAC and lighting systems
What site selection would promote walkability and reduce vehicle distance traveled?
site with pedestrian access between diverse uses
SRI?
solar refectivity index
Which of the following legally binding documents describe the quality of the materials to be used on the project?
specifications
What is heat island effects?
the ability of dark, non-reflective paved areas-city streets, rooftops, and sidewalks-to absorb and radiate heat, making urban areas and the surrounding suburbs noticeably hotter than rural towns nearby. Other contributors include reduced air flow due to tall buildings and narrow streets, calm and sunny weather, and auto exhaust.
A project team is beginning the integrative process late into the design-phase of a new office building. At this point, which of the following could still be changed and would be a low-cost solution for improving daylighting?
the colors of the surfaces type of furnishing
What do the ASHRAE standards do , and where are they used?
they set standard for LEED that stakeholders must comply with in HVAC within buildings
What is the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) intended to replace?
traditional building codes
Who administers DR
utility companies
How do credit weightings evolve?
weightings depending on their ability to impact different environmental and human health concerns. More points are awarded for those credits that have a greater impact.