LEED Green GA Exam A part 2

Who of the following publishes GWP (Global Warming Potential) and ODP (Ozone Depletion) scores? a. The World Meterological Organization b. ASTM c. USGBC d. The Global Climate Control Board

a ASTM and USGBC do not publish GWP and ODP scores. The Global Climate Control Board does not exist.

Which of the following needs to be implemented for water efficiency? a. a baseline of water use b. HET c. Waterless urinals d. Xeriscape

a All other coices are good practice, but they do NOT necessarily need to be implemented for water efficiency.

If a LEED project has a CFC phase-out plan, which of the following must occur? a. The project can only allow 5% or less of annual CFC leakage b. CFC must be replaced within 15 years c. CFC must be replaced with CO2 d. CFC must be replaced with halons

a CFCs can bereplaced with CO2 or other refrigerants. Halons are used for fire supression systems. The manufacture of HVAC units containing CFCs was stopped in the US in 1995. These units had been phased out since 2011

Energy used by elevators and escalators is: a. process energy b. non-process energy c. regulated energy d. renewable energy e. non-renewable energy

a Energy used by elevators and escalators is process energy and can be renewable energy or non-renewable energy. Non-process energy is the same as regulated energy

Which of the following can be the most efficient way to save energy? a. proper building orientation and fenestration b. high performance HVAC systems c. LEED certified equipment d. none of the above

a Proper building orientation and fenestration (arrangement of windows and doors) can take full advantage of the dominant winds in the summer and avoid chilly north winds in the winter. These characteristics can also take full advantage of passive heating from the sun in the winter and avoid the westerly sun in the summer. This can be more efficient than ALL the HVAC equipment combined. LEED does not certify equipment.

Who rules on CIRs? a. The Technical Advisory Group b. The LEED Administrator c. GBCI d. USGBC

a Technical advisory group is the best answer. The LEED Administrator is a distraction. USGBC is no longer involved with building LEED certification. GBCI depends on the Technical Advisory Group

Which of the following is the most important feature of durability? a. The ability to endure and last for a long time b. low maintenance c. Little or no unexpected extra costs d. low maintenance and operation expense over the lifetime of the project

a This is the definition of durability

Which of the following must be certified under only one LEED rating system? a 100% of the LEED project gross floor area b 80% of the LEED project gross floor area c. everything inside the property boundary d. 100% of the LEED project gross site area

a a project team does NOT need to certify everything inside the property boundary, and can determine the LEED project site boundary for LEED submittal and certification

A project team is seeking extra points under the Innovation (IN) credit category. Which of the following is a feasible strategy? (choose 2) a. Set up a display area inside the building to educate the public on this building's LEED performance b. Try to gain more points than the original target level LEED cert c. Double the performance for a LEED credit d. none of the above e. there is not enough information

a and c An educational program on LEED is the most common way to gain points under the Innovation category. c may earn extra points for Exemplary Performance under the Innovation category. b may help the project earn a higher level of LEED certification, but no other rewards

A project team is seeking LEED certification for a single building. What does the LEED project boundary include? (choose 2) a. only the portion of the site submitted by the project team for LEED certification b. Overlaps with the edge of the building c. overlaps with the edge of the development d. the entire project scope of work

a and d The LEED project boundary only includes the portion of the site submitted by the project team for LEED certification, and does not necessarily overlap with the edge of the entire development, or the edge of the building. The boundary does not include the entire project scope of work

Which two of the following have the same meaning? (choose 2) a. albedo b. SRI c. Refraction d. reflection e. solar reflectance

a and e SRi stands for solar reflectance index. Albedo means solar reflectance

Which of the following standards specifies minimum ventilation rates for IAQ Performance? a. ASHARE 52.2-2007 b. ASHARE 62.1-2010 c. ASHARE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2010 d. ASTM

b ASHARE 62.-2010 specifies minimum ventilation rates for IAQ Performance. See EAP: Minimum Energy Performance

Which of the following only applies to the LEED EQ (Indoor Environment Quality) category? a. ASHARE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Retail Buildings 2010 b. ASHARE Standard 55-2010 c. ASHARE 62.1-2010 d. ASHARE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2010

b ASHARE Standard 55-2010 ASHARE Standard 62.1-2010 relates to both EQ and EA The other two standards relate to LEED EA category

. ASHARE standards apply to all of the following except: a. SS (Sustainable Sites) b. WE (Water Efficiency) c. EQ (Indoor Environmental Equality) d. EA (Energy and Atmosphere)

b ASHARE standards do not apply to WE

An office building uses ammonia (NH3) as a refrigerant. Which of the follwoing is true? a. NH3 has a higher ODP than HCFC b. NH3 has a lower GWP (global warming potential) than HCFC c. NH3 is easier to leak out than HCFC d. CFC is easier to leak out than HCFC

b NH3 has a lower GWP than HCFC

Which of the following is graywater? a. stormwater b. laundry water c. dishwasher water d. water in retention ponds

b Per UPC, graywater is household water that has not come into contact with kitchen sinks, human excretion, or animal waste. Graywater includes used water from bathtubs, washbasins, showers, and water from laundry tubs and clothes washers. graywater does not include water from dishwashers or kitchen sinks

What are the most important criteria for a LEED building rating system? a. Quantifiable performances b. Prerequisites c. Credits d. third party evaluations e. third party standards

b Prerequisites are the most important criteria for a LEED building rating system. They HAVE to be met before a building can earn LEED certification. Quantifiable performances, credits and third party standards only apply to part of the LEED rating systems, and not ALL of them have to be met.

What are RECs? a. the amount of fossl fuels avoided by buying renewable energy and expressed in kilograms b. the positive attributes of power generated by renewable sources c. the amount of renewable energy purchased from third party approved by the Green-e program d. none of the above

b RECs mean Renewable Energy Certificates. They represent positive attributes of power generated by renewable sources. When you purchase RECs, you are buying the attributes, NOT necessarily the real power used in your project. Anyone can purchase RECs from anywhere, even if the power used in the project is not green power. The money paid allows others to generate or use green power, and achieves overall reduction of the use of fossil fuels in the world. This is a marketing approach for sustainability.

Rainwater is a. potable water b. non-potable water c. blackwater d. raw water e. graywater

b rain water is non-potable. See definitions for blackwater and graywater. raw water is a distraction

A project team is preparing a construction waste management plan. Which of the following should be included? (choose 2) a. the removal of refrigerants containing ODP and GWP b. recycle areas c. The removal and disposal of hazardous materials like PCBs d. the reduction of building size

b and c The removal of refrigerants containing ODP and GWP should be conducted by a specialist and is not part of a construction waste management plan. The reduction of building size is part of the design decision, not part of a construction waster management plan

if a building's wastewater overflows, which of the following can come into contact with potable water? (choose 2) a. CO b. Toxic metal c. grease d. Halons

b and c grease typically goes down the drains in the kitchen as part of the blackwater. Toxic metal can be found in blackwater also. CO2 and halons are unlikely to be found in wastewater

The priorities for LEED projects are based on: (choose 2) a. costs and benefits b. environmental guidelines c. carbon footprint d. project constraints

b and d per USGBC, the priorities for LEED projects are based on environmental guidelines and project constraints

Which of the following cannot save water for landscape irrigation? (choose 2) a. Mulches b. Perennials c. hardscape d. Overhead irrigation e. Head to head coverage

b and d Hardscape can reduce landscape area; mulches can prevent moisture loss. Both can reduce water for landscape irrigation. Perennials use more water. Overhead irrigation can increase water loss due to runoff and evaporation by the sun and wind. Head to head coverage is a standard practice for landscape irrigation

The economic benefits of green buildings include: (choose 2) a. reduced disturbance of wetland b. lower water bills c. increased use of rapidly renewable materials d. better EQ and less liabilities

b and d Reduced disturbance of wetlands is an environmental benefit, not necessarily an economic benefit. Increased use of rapdly renewable materials may not save money. Better EQ does create fewer liabilities, lowers the cost related to employees' health and reduces the number of sick days.

Which of the following can earn points for innovation? (choose 2) a. Meeting the requirements of all LEED prerequisites and credits b. Exceptional performance above and beyond the LEED requirements for an existing credit c. Finding a solution responding to the projects regional priorities d. Innovative performance in green building categories not covered by an existing LEED credit

b and d both can earn points for innovation

Which of the following is a prerequisite for purchasing green power? (choose 3) a. the completion of the commissioning plan b. Commissioning with the key stakeholders c. consultation with an electrical engineer d. compilation of energy data e. Evaluation of onsite and offsite energy choices

b, d, e Consultation with an electrical engineer is good practice, but is not as important as the other choices. The completion of the commissioning plan will occur AFTER onsite renewable systems are selected.

For a LEED project, which of the following should not be used in a fire suppression system? (choose 2) a. Dry ice b. water c. HCFCs d. CFCs

c and d HCFSs and CFCs should not be used because of their ozone depletion potential (ODP)

Choose the non-alternative-fuel vehicle from the following: a. hybrid car b. a bus powered by natural gas with at least 20 mpg c. a fuel-efficient car powered by gas with at least 40 mpg d. an electric car

c A car powered by gas is a non-alternative-fuel vehicle

Which of the following is not true? a. A LEED project team has to review the USGBC or GBCI website for previously submitted CIRs before submitting a new one b. A LEED project team has to review the USGBC refernece guide before submitting a CIR c. All LEED rating systems can have CIRs except LEED ND d. A fee has to be paid for each CIR submitted

c All LEED rating systems can have CIRs, including LEED ND

Which of the following is considered a project soft cost? a. Carpet b. Doors c. Permit Fees d. Trees and shrubs

c All the other answers are hard costs (material costs)

Construction waste reduction strategies include which of the following? a. purchasing materials manufactured locally b. using durable materials c. donating unused materials to charities d. burning the construction waste from site

c Burning construction waste on site is not acceptable. a and b are good practice, but they cannot reduce construction waste

A project team is working on a lEED project composed of 6 buildings on a campus. Each building is located on a 1 acre parcel of land. How should the project team determine the boundary of the LEED project? a. Each building should have its own LEED project boundary at the edge of the 1 acre land. b. The LEED project boundary should be the perimeter of the 6 acre site. c. The project team can make its own decision and determine the LEED project boundary. There is not enough information to determine the LEED project boundary.

c For a single building project, the perimeter of the LEED project is typically the project's boundary; for a multi-building project, the LEED project team can choose a portion of the project site to submit as the LEED project boundary

Which of the following is the most effective way to reduce stormwater runoff? a. Building a roof with high SRI value b. Using pavers with high albedo c. Grouping buildings together d. Adding trees to a parking lot

c High SRI value and albedo can help alleviate the heat island effect. Adding trees to a parking lot can reduce stormwater runoff to some extent, but grouping buildings together can reduce the hardscape areas, and is the most effective way to reduce stormwater runoff.

The heat island effect can typically create _____ degrees Fahrenheit of change in temperature? a.1 b.5 c.10 d. 20

c Pay attention to the word "typically"

Which of the following is a pre-consumer recycled item? a. Aluminum storefront created from materials reclaimed from the manufacturing process b. Demolition concrete pieces used at another project c. rigid insulation created from materials reclaimed from the manufacturing process of form cornice d. Scrapes re-used in the carpet manufacturing process

c Scrapes re-used from the same manufacture process, such as reground and rework, can not be included as pre-consumer recycled items or post-consumer recycled items. Therefore a and d are incorrect. Demolition concrete pieces used at another project are salvaged materials.

a project team is seeking LEED BDC NC certification for a 3-stroy residential building. Each floor is 600 sf. Which of the following is true? a. the project team can seek LEED BDC NC certification because the building is less than 100,000 sf b. the project team can seek LEED BDC NC cert because the building is more than 1,000 sf c. the project team cannot seek LEED BDC NC certification d. the project team can seek LEED BDC NC certification because it meets LEEDs MPRs.

c The project team cannot use the LEED BDC NC certification because the building is less than 9 stories high. The project team should use the LEED BD+C: Homes and Multifamily LOwrise rating system

Where can a LEED Green Associate find the latest errata for LEED reference guides online? a. www.gbci.org b. www.nrdc.org c. www.usgbc.org d. www.epa.org

c USGBC is in charge of creating all reference guides and the related errata

Which of the following are the most commonly used energy codes in the United States? a. Universal Energy Conservation Codes b. IPC by International Code Council c. International Energy Conservation Codes d. Energy Rating Codes

c Universal Energy Conservation Codes and Energy Rating Codes do not exist. IPC stands for Internation Plumbing Code.

The best way to prevent environmental impact caused by refrigerant leakage is to: a. choose high quality plumbing materials, and perform high quality installation and maintenance b. use refrigerants without ODP c. design a building with natural ventilation and use no refrigerants d. none of the above

c a is good practice, but is not the best choice; no matter how good a job you do, the system can still fail and leak out refrigerants. b is partially correct; there are refrigerants without ODP that still have GWP. C is the best choice if you do not use refrigerants there is absolutely no chance for them to leak out and cause environmental damage.

Which of the following is used to measure a LEED building's environmental performance? a life cycle analysis b. cradle to cradle analysis c. whole building perspective d. Integrated design approach e. Overall energy reduction

c cradle-to-cradle analysis is the same as life cycle analysis, eco-balance, or life cycle assessment, and is used to evaluate the environmental impact of a service or product. Whole building perspective is used for LEED. Energy reduction is only one aspect of LEED. LEED includes other categories such as SS, WE, EQ, etc. Integrated design approach is a design approach that includes consideration for people, planet, and profit (bottom line or triple Ps)

A project team uses a strategy to earn an Innovation (IN) point for a project in CA Which of the following is true? a. The same strategy can be used and guaranteed for an IN point in other projects b. the same strategy can be used for other projects in the same region c. the same strategy may or may not earn an IN point in another project d. none of the above

c the same strategy can be used for other projects, but it may or may not earn an IN point. Each case has to be reviewed and determined by GBCI

Which of the following is a fossil fuel (choose 2) a. gas b. natural gas c. biofuel d. solar power

c and d biofuel is generated by plant materal like crops, trees, and grease. Gas and natural gas are both fossil fuels.

A LEED project's landscape area includes which of the following? a. Green roofs b. naturalistically designed retention ponds c. sidewalks d. vegetated roofs

d Green roofs include vegetated roofs and light color reflective roofs. Light color reflective roofs are NOT landscape areas. Retention ponds and sidewalks are not considered landscape areas. The best answer is vegetated roofs.

Which of the following are most appropriate for vegetated roof? a. native plants b. trees with large canopies c. adaptive plants d. lightweight plants e. there is not enough info to answer

d Lightweiplants are most appropriate for a vegetated roof. Native plants or adaptive plants are good for LEED projects, but some of them are NOT appropriate for rooftops. A native tree with a large canopy on a vegetated roof means large roots will be present and many cause problems

Per Montreal Protocal, HCFCs have to be phased out by: a. 1995 b. 2010 c 2011 d. 2030

d Per Montreal Protocol, the manufacture of HVAC units containing CFCs was stopped in the United States in 1995. These units had been phased out from existing buildings located in the US by 2011. HCFCs which are less active have to be replaced by 2030

Which of the following sites is the best for community connectivity? a. A site close to the ocean b. A site close to a train station c. a brownfield site d. a site close to a shopping center

d The qualified Basic Services that can help to gain LEED points for community connectivity include, but are not limited to: place of worship, restaurant, supermarket, convenience grocery, laundry, cleaner, beauty salon, hardware, pharmacy, medical/dental, bank, senior care facility, community center, fitness center, daycare, school, library, museum, theater, park, fire station, post office

Which of the following is a car share membership program? a. 3 or more people going to work in the same vehicle b. a program in which 2 or more people share the cost of a parking space c. a shuttle service program from a train station to work places d. a program for people to rent a vehicle on a daily or hourly basis

d a is considered carpooling; b is sharing parking cost; c is a shuttle service program

Which of the following is the foundation of the LEED building rating system? a. prerequisites b. MPRs c. Prerequisites and credits d. the triple bottom line

d prerequisites and credits are part of the LEED building rating systems, MPRs are Minimum Project Requirements, and the foundation of the LEED building rating system is the triple bottom line: people profit and planet

A project team is seeking LEED Platinum certification for a school project. When can the project team advise the school board that the LEED Platinum certification has been achieved? a. After the project's substantial completion b. After the LEED registration is approved c. After the design review d. After the construction review e. After the LEED application is reviewed and approved by GBCI

e The project team can ONLY advise the school board that the LEED Platinum certification is achieved after the LEED application is reviewed and APPROVED by GBCI, because the GBCI can reject the application after the review or approve the project for a lower level of LEED certification.