LEED Exam 1

For the Building Disclosure and Optimization credit that looks at the ingredients of materials, which standards would help earn points? (CHOOSE 2)

Cradle to Cradle Certified, GreenScreen

Evaluation of the economic performance of a product over its life-cycle is useful in determining using which procedure

Life-cycle costing, The key term here is economic performance (cost) over the life-cycle.

Transportation is the second largest contributor of global greenhouse gases at what percentage?

25%

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, Regenerative design is "sustainable plans for built environments that improve existing conditions. Regenerative design goes beyond reducing impacts to create positive change in the local and global environment." - USGBC By generating more electricity than the project uses, the system is considered regenerative.

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 Standard for the Design of High Performance Green Buildings - Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings is a set of technically rigorous requirements, which (like the IgCC), covers criteria including water use efficiency, indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, materials and resource use, and the building's impact on its site and its community.

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: (CHOOSE 2)

Carbon dioxide levels, Outdoor airflow

The existing TD office towers in downtown Toronto, which were constructed with single-pane windows, is retrofitted to include double-pane glass. This can lead to:

Decreased energy demand

The LEED rating systems are updated on a regular development cycle. What are the basic types of improvements that keep the rating systems current? (Choose 3)

Development of Addendas to supplement the rating systems, Maintenance of the current versions of the rating systems, Major updates to provide the next versions of the rating systems

How does open space help promote sustainability? (CHOOSE 2

Fosters social interaction Links habitat corridors in urban areas

What is the overarching goal of the Materials and Resources credit category?

Minimize the embodied life-cycle impacts of the building materials

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, Metrics and measuring of success are part of the integrative process. The integrative process continues until the building's end-of-life—not at project handover.

The USGBC is a not for profit organization that promotes the triple bottom line through its:

Guiding Principles

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, The best option here is to install new aerators to reduce outdoor potable water usage. All other options are incorrect and reducing cooling tower cycles = increase in water usage

Which LEED rating system has precertification?

LEED BD+C: Core and Shell, LEED for Core and Shell is used when the project owner/developer controls only the design and construction of the building's core and shell (i.e. the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, as well as the envelope). Once a project is registered as a LEED BD+C: Core and Shell project, the project team may apply for precertification. The precertification is a formal recognition by the USGBC, given to a candidate project for which the developer/owner has established a goal to develop a LEED BD+C: Core and Shell building. When precertification is granted, the developer/owner can market the building's proposed green features to potential tenants and financiers.

Which LEED Rating system has performance periods?

LEED O+M: Existing Buildings, Performance periods are used to compare current building performance to its past.

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 lot of energy is used to heat, cool, and distribute water within a building, with water heating in commercial buildings alone accounting for 15% of total energy use (CBECS). Reducing the quantity of water used (increasing efficiency) has a direct impact on the amount of energy used, and thus the total maintenance costs.

When does commissioning take place?

Substantial completion phase, Commissioning is the process of verifying and documenting that a building's systems and assemblies are installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. The systems cannot be commissioned until they are installed, thus the process usually takes place prior to occupancy, when the building is substantially completed. Substantial completion means the building's necessities are in place, for example, all of the HVAC systems are in and the building has water and power. Extras like painting, carpets, and tile don't need to be in place for this phase.

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, The square footage of the project is the primary cost consideration for LEED certification. Remember certification and registration fees are not the same. Generally, the bigger the building, the higher the cost and the smaller the building the lower the cost as compared to the other options here.