Sustainable Sites

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 creation or restoration

The use of open grid pavement can help a project achieve points in what LEED areas?

Heat Island Reduction Open grid pavement is pavement that is less than 50% impervious and contains vegetation in the open cells. LEED accepts this type of pavement for the use of reducing heat islands. The reason behind this is because the vegetation in the open cells replaces heat absorbing surfaces just like any other plant. Rainwater Management Open grid pavement helps manage runoff by reducing the quantity of impervious surfaces.

Which of the following project features does NOT promote biodiversity?

. A soccer field A soccer field would have turf grass on it. Monocultures are a single species of plant such as turf grass. Monocultures do not promote biodiversity.

Which of the following has the most synergy with other credits?

. Site assessment Site assessment is one of the most important parts of the integrative process and informs good design decisions. The site assessment influences over a dozen other LEED credit areas, some directly and others indirectly. For example: Access to Quality Transit Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses Sensitive Land Protection Bicycle Facilities Open Space Rainwater Management Heat Island Reduction Energy Performance Daylight Quality Views Renewable Energy Production

A United Nations study indicates that which of the following percentages of the ecosystem services that have been assessed worldwide are currently degraded or used unsustainably?

60%

A project team will provide outdoor space to encourage occupant health and activity. Which of the following are examples of quality open space?

A jogging trail Pedestrian-orientated paving areas that encourage physical activity are considered quality open spaces. C. Garden space dedicated to community gardens A community garden is considered a quality open space.

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.

A team wants to provide quality open space on the project site. Which of the following strategies should it consider?

A walking trail on the property A walking trail on the project site encourages social interaction and physical activity, so it would count as open space.

Which of the following can increase the heat island effect in urban areas?

Air-conditioners Other causes of the heat island effect include air-conditioners, vehicle exhaust, and calm and sunny weather. D. Vehicle exhaust Other causes of the heat island effect include air-conditioners, vehicle exhaust, and calm and sunny weat

A project site in an urban area has already been selected by an owner. The team is researching how it can reduce the heat-island effect and have open space at the lowest cost. Which of the following should be considered for a rooftop design?

An extensive vegetated roof An extensive vegetated roof is covered with plants and typically not designed for general access. Usually an extensive system is a rugged green roof that requires little maintenance once established. The planting medium in extensive vegetated roofs ranges from 1 to 6 inches in depth. (USGBC) Extensive vegetated roofs are less expensive than intensive vegetated roofs because they don't require as much structural support.

A project owner is locating an office building on a greenfield near a wetland. The project team has goals of protecting sensitive ecosystems, reducing the heat-island effect, designing a healthy building, and reducing energy demand. Given these goals, where should the project team start?

By completing an early site assessment The question lists four goals: Protect sensitive ecosystems Reduce the heat island effect Design a healthy building Reduce energy demand The site assessment is the one choice that impacts all of these other goals. If a project team has the opportunity to pick where the building will be built, nearly every other LEED credit is going to tie into that single decision. Before the project team commits to a building location, they first need to know why they would want to put it there. The team can't make that decision without a site assessment, asking questions such as the following: Where on the site is the shade? Which way does the wind blow? Where does the rainwater flow? Where are there sensitive ecosystems? How far away from any roads is the building? Where are the utilities?

A data center is located in a remote, forested area. In which of the following ways could the project team reduce light pollution?

By installing surfaces and lights that reduce glare Good exterior lighting design results in the reduction of three forms of light pollution: uplight, glare, and light trespass.

Which of the following can happen as a result of increased rainwater runoff?

Eutrophication Eutrophication is the ecosystem response to the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system. Additional hardscapes can contribute to eutrophication and harm aquatic ecosystems and species. Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates. These typically promote excessive growth of algae. As the algae die and decompose, high levels of organic matter and the decomposing organisms deplete the water of available oxygen, causing the death of other organisms, such as fish. Eutrophication is a natural, slow-aging process for a water body, but human activity greatly speeds up the process.

Which of the following does a site assessment evaluate?

Existing structures Geology Hydrology A site assessment is 'an evaluation of an area's above ground and subsurface characteristics, including its structures, geology, and hydrology. Site assessments typically help determine whether contamination has occurred and the extent and concentration of any release of pollutants. Remediation decisions rely on information generated during site assessments.' - USGBC

Which of the following strategies can a project team combine to mimic natural systems and manage rainwater?

Green infrastructure (GI) and low-impact development (LID) Green infrastructure is 'a soil- and vegetation-based approach to wet-weather management that is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Green infrastructure management approaches and technologies infiltrate, evapotranspire, capture and reuse stormwater to maintain or restore natural hydrologies.' - USGBC Low-impact development is 'an approach to managing rainwater runoff that emphasizes on-site natural features to protect water quality by replicating the natural land cover hydrologic regime of watersheds and addressing runoff close to its source. Examples include better site design principles (e.g., minimizing land disturbance, preserving vegetation, minimizing impervious cover) and design practices (e.g., rain gardens, vegetated swales and buffers, permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting, soil amendments). These are engineered practices that may require specialized design assistance.' - USGBC

A project team has decided to modify a low SRI roof design to include a vegetated roof to help with rainwater management. What other credit would this decision help with?

Heat island reduction A green roof can help with reducing the heat island effect. Vegetation is a good insulator against the heat from the sun and would keep a building cooler compared to low SRI material.

A project team is evaluating materials to help reduce heat islands for a building's roof and parking lot in a dense urban center. Which of the following would be most effective?

High SRI materials Reflective materials

A project team decides to build up, instead of out, to reduce the building footprint. This strategy could help with _____.

Increasing open space Reducing the building footprint could result in more open space around the building, assuming it wasn't then paved over.

What is a benefit of increasing the quantity of open space on a project?

Increasing rainwater infiltration Increasing open space helps provide habitat for vegetation and wildlife, rainwater management, and reducing the urban heat island effect. C. More habitat for vegetation and wildlife Increasing open space helps provide habitat for vegetation and wildlife, rainwater management, and reducing the urban heat island effect.

Which of the following actions can a project team take to help manage runoff on-site in a dense urban area?

Install a green roof Harvest rainwater

What design strategy would reduce the light trespass from a site to help prevent light pollution?

Install shielded fixtures Light pollution is 'waste light from building sites that produces glare, is directed upward to the sky, or is directed off the site. Waste light does not increase nighttime safety, utility, or security and needlessly consumes energy.' - USGBC Light pollution also negatively impacts animals that are nocturnal. There are several strategies to reduce light trespass from a site: Design to avoid over-lighting Avoid up-lighting Reduce glare Direct full cutoff fixtures downward Reduce the contrast between light and dark areas Use shielded fixtures

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. Light pollution also negatively impacts animals that are nocturnal. There are several strategies to reduce light trespass from a site: Design to avoid over-lighting Avoid up-lighting Reduce glare Direct full cutoff fixtures downward Reduce the contrast between light and dark areas Use shielded fixtures

What are the economic benefits of installing a vegetated roof?

Lower cooling costs for HVAC Vegetated roofs are great insulators. They act as a barrier between the sun's heat and keep that heat from entering the building through the roof. Because of this added insulation the costs to cool the building can be reduced.

Why would a landscape designer choose native landscaping in an arid climate?

Minimize evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration is the combination of evaporation and plant transpiration into the atmosphere. Evaporation occurs when liquid water from soil, plant surfaces, or water bodies becomes vapor. (USGBC) In arid climates selecting plants with lower evapotranspiration reduces watering needs. Support integrated pest management (IPM) Native plants help with an IPM strategy.

What type of plants should be used on a green roof to promote biodiversity?

Native plants The vegetation for a green roof should use native plants, just like the rest of the project landscape. Native (or indigenous) plants are those that grow naturally in an area, or that have been in an area for many years. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and pest control. These plants can be trees, shrubs, flowers, or grasses. Adaptive plants are non-native plants that perform well in the local climate. Native and adaptive plants require less water, and are more disease resistant because they are suited to the region's usual rainfall, soil, and temperature.

Reducing the building's footprint will have positive synergies with which of the following?

Open space The smaller the building's footprint, the greater the open space area can be. C. Rainwater management Reducing the quantity of impermeable surfaces is a strategy for rainwater management.

How can the heat island effect on the roof of a building be reduced?

Painting the roof with a high SRI coating Heat islands on a roof can be reduced by reducing the amount of area that is dark, either through solar panels or a green roof, or painting exposed areas with light colored materials. A material with an SRI of 100 is light colored. The heat island effect is created when developed areas have higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas. An urban heat island effect is caused by sunlight heating up dark colored surfaces such as roads and rooftops. Huge quantities of heat are generated in buildings that have dark rooftops and absorb heat rather than reflect it.

What design strategy would promote biodiversity the most?

Planting a variety of indigenous plants Native (or indigenous) plants are those that grow naturally in an area, or that have been in an area for many years. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and pest control. These plants can be trees, shrubs, flowers, or grasses. Adaptive plants are non-native plants that perform well in the local climate. Native and adaptive plants require less water, and are more disease resistant because they are suited to the region's usual rainfall, soil, and temperature.

Construction activity pollution prevention has synergies with which of the following other project areas?

Protecting or restoring habitat B. Rainwater management

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 are ways to reduce water pollution from runoff?

Rain gardens A rain garden is used to capture runoff. D. Open grid paving Open grid paving and pervious surfaces allow rainwater to percolate through the surface instead of running off.

What does the use of light-colored, pervious paving help with?

Rainwater management Pervious paving helps with reducing runoff by allowing rainwater to percolate through the pavement. B. Heat island reduction Light colored paving, or paving with a high SRI value, helps reduce the heat island effect.

Which of the following can increase the heat island effect in urban areas?

Reduced air flow from tall buildings and narrow streets The primary cause of the heat island effect is dark surfaces such as rooftops or dark asphalt pavement that absorb heat and radiate it into the surrounding areas. Reduced air flow between buildings and narrow streets also increases the effect. Other causes of the heat island effect include air-conditioners, vehicle exhaust, and calm and sunny weather.

What information is needed to calculate the SRI of a material?

Reflectance SRI is calculated by using emissivity and solar reflectance values Emissivity SRI is calculated by using emissivity and solar reflectance values.

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 LEED project is in the pre-design phase, and a previously developed site has already been selected. The team wants to protect or restore habitat. Which of the following strategies should they consider?

Restoring compacted soils and revegetating On-site restoration involves restoring compacted soils and revegetating.

A project that specifies soil restoration as part of its site design is contributing to which of the following environmental benefits?

Restoring habitat Part of restoring habitat is restoring soil characteristics to support the native plants that will be used.

What environmental issue occurs from runoff?

Sedimentation Rainwater consists of rainwater and melted snow that run off streets, lawns, farms, and construction and industrial sites. runoff can lead to sedimentation. Sedimentation is where pollutants from natural or human activities add particles to water bodies. Pollutants come from soil, fertilizer, oil or gas on roadways, pesticides, etc. runoff should be controlled onsite by harvesting the water, increasing open space, and reducing impervious surfaces.

Which part of the development process would inform design decisions, such as locating community gardens in areas with fertile soils?

Site assessment Site assessment is one of the most important parts of the integrative process and informs good design decisions. The site assessment influences over a dozen other LEED credit areas, some directly and others indirectly.

What material attribute would a project team use to compare different products' abilities to reject solar heat?

Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) indicates a material's ability to reject solar heat and is the combined value of reflectivity and emittance. Measurements vary from 100 (standard white surface, most reflective) to 0 (standard black surface, least reflective). Materials with the highest SRI values are the coolest choices for paving. LEED requires materials with certain SRI values to meet the requirements of some credits. Materials come with SRI values to allow comparison.

A bioswale would be used to help earn credit in what LEED category?

Sustainable Sites Bioswales are landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water during and after construction. They consist of a swaled drainage course with gently sloped sides and filled with vegetation, compost and/or riprap. Bioswales would be used to help capture and improve the quality of runoff.

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.

Which of the following project team member(s) is typically responsible for developing the erosion and sedimentation control (ESC) plan for construction activity pollution prevention?

The civil engineer(s) The civil engineer is usually responsible for the plan. The landscape architect or general contractor may work on the plan's development.

A project design includes low-impact development and erosion and sedimentation control. Which of the following will be aided by these strategies?

The creation of buffers between development and water resources When a project implements erosion and sedimentation control, waterways are being protected through the use of some type of buffer. On-site rainwater management Low-impact development (LID) is 'an approach to managing rainwater runoff that emphasizes on-site natural features to protect water quality by replicating the natural land cover hydrologic regime of watersheds and addressing runoff close to its source. Examples include better site design principles (e.g., minimizing land disturbance, preserving vegetation, minimizing impervious cover) and design practices (e.g., rain gardens, vegetated swales and buffers, permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting, soil amendments). These are engineered practices that may require specialized design assistance.' - USGBC

What is true about a project that is located in an urban area?

The project is likely to experience higher cooling costs due to the heat island effect The heat island effect refers to 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. Because the air around the building is heated, more air conditioning is required in the building to keep it cool. This in turn, further heats the surrounding air and creates a vicious cycle.

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 It is a measure of a material's ability to radiate absorbed energy.

The Sustainable Sites category focuses on all of the following EXCEPT which of the following:

The ways in which community infrastructure affects occupants' behavior and environmental performance. This choice is the focus of the Location and Transportation category.

What does LEED accept as part of a building design to qualify as open space for projects in urban areas?

Vegetated (green) roofs A vegetated roof may count as open space for projects in urban areas.

Construction activity pollution prevention should address what environmental protection measures?

Waterway sedimentation B. Soil erosion Airborne dust

Projects may be able to use some of the same techniques for both ______________:

construction activity pollution prevention and habitat conservation and restoration. 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.