Green Building Certification Program Flashcards
1
Q
LEED categorizes projects under ____ according to their types of construction & space usage.
A
Rating systems
2
Q
What is the first requirement a project persuing a LEED certification should look into?
A
Minimum program requirements (MPR)
3
Q
What are the Minimum Program Requirements (MPR) for a LEED certification?
A
- Permanent location on existing land
- Project size requirements
- Reasonable LEED boudaries
4
Q
What does a project have to get after fulfilling the MPR?
A
Prerequities for the selected rating system
5
Q
What is the next step after achieving MPR & prerequisites for the selected LEED rating system?
A
Collect points w/in rating system
6
Q
What is the minimum # of points required for a LEED certification?
A
40/100
7
Q
What is the max # of points you can get for a LEED certificate, and what happens if you go over?
A
100;
Bonus points - 10 max bonus points for total 110
8
Q
Satisfying prerequisites does not result in the award of any points, only ____ do.
A
Credits
9
Q
What do you need to do once the chosen credits are achieved for the project?
A
Prepare documentation to show achieved MPRs, pre reqs, & enough credits. Upload to LEED online
10
Q
____ & ___ are manadtory for a project to earn a LEED certificate. However, projects are free to choose the credits they want to persue.
A
MPRs & pre reqs
11
Q
How many points are needed to achieve LEED Certified (base certificate)?
A
40-49
12
Q
How many points are needed to achieve LEED Silver?
A
50-59
13
Q
How many points are needed to achieve LEED Gold?
A
60-79
14
Q
How many points are needed to achieve LEED Platinum?
A
80+
15
Q
What happens if a project earns 90 credits but misses 1 pre req?
A
No LEED certificate rewarded
16
Q
What are the 5 LEED categories for rating systems?
A
- Building Design & Construction (BD+C)
- Interior Design & Construction (ID+C)
- Building Operations & Management (O+M)
- Neighborhood Development (ND)
- Homes
17
Q
What are the 3 Interior Design & Construction (ID+C) rating systems?
A
- commerical interiors
- retail
- hospitality
18
Q
What kind of buildings are in the 6 Building Operations & Maintenance (O+M) rating systems?
A
- existing buildings
- retail
- schools
- hospitality
- data centers
- warehouses/distribution centers
19
Q
What are the 7 Building Design & Construction (BD+C) rating system types? (Types of buildings)
A
- new const & major reno
- core & shell development
- schools
- retail
- data centers
- warehouse/distribution centers
- hospitality
- healthcare
20
Q
What are the 2 Neighborhood Development (ND) rating systems?
A
- plan
- build project
21
Q
What are the 2 Homes rating systems?
A
- Homes & multi family low rise
- Multi family mid rise
22
Q
Can a project have multiple rating systems?
A
No
23
Q
If more than one rating system seems applicable to a project, what rule should be used to decide the rating system?
A
40/60
24
Q
How do you apply the 40/60 rule?
A
- divide project into sections according to appropriate rating system each section fits
- total floor area corresponding to each rating system should be calculated
- If total floor area less than 40% of total floor area, that rating system cannot be used
- If more than 60% that rating system must be used
25
What happens in the 40/60 rule if a project falls between 40% & 60% of the project’s total floor area?
Project team can deicde on rating system
26
All building types - whether newly constructed or any type of existing buildings going through major renos while keeping core structures of the buildings - will fall under what major rating ceategory?
BD+C
27
To be eligable for all BD+C rating systems (except CS), how much gross floor area should be completed at the time of the LEED certification?
At least 60%
28
What is the New Construction & Major Renovation (BD+C: NC) rating system?
General rating system that addreses design & construction activities for new builds & major renos for existing buildings
29
What kind of improvements are required for the New Construction & Major Renovation (BD+C: NC) category of the rating system - on the renovation side?
- HVAC improvements
- significant building envelope modifications
- major interior rehabilition
30
What kind of projects should use the Core & Shell Development (BD+C: CS) rating system?
Developer controls the design & construction of the building core & entire mechanical, electrical, plumbing, & fire protection system. No design & construction on interior
31
For Core & Shell Development (BD+C:CS), what is the total gross interior floor area allowed to be constructed?
Less than 40%
32
What is the only BD+C category that is eligable for precertification?
Core & shell (CS)
33
Why does the BD+C:CS category allow for precertification?
Aid in marketing the project to potential tenants & financers
34
What types of buildings qualify under the “Schools” (S) category of a rating system?
Learning spaces K-12 & higher education & nonacademic buildings on school campuses
35
What kind of buildings can qualify for the “Retail” (R) part of a rating system?
```
Banks
Restaurants
Apparel stores
Electronics outlets
Big box stores
Etc.
```
36
The category in a rating system “DC” refers to what kind of buildings?
Data centers
37
The category in a rating system “WDC” refers to what kind of buildings?
Warehouses & distribution centers
38
A self storage facility falls under what category in a rating system?
WDC - warehouse & distribution centers
39
What kinds of buildings would fit under the “Hospitality” (HO) category of a rating system?
Hotels/motels/inns
| Other businesses in the service industry that provide transitional or short term lodging with or without food
40
What does the “HC” category of a rating system refer to?
Healthcare buildings including acute & long term care
41
What kind of rating system can be used for interior LEED projects?
ID+C
42
What does the ID+C: CI refer to?
Commercial interiors - spaces dedicated to functions other than retail or hospitality
43
How many years does it take to make up for the environmental impacts of demolishing an old building & constructing a new one?
80
44
What kind of construction is the Building Operations & Maintenance (O+M) rating system most suitable for?
Existing buildings undergoing improvement work & little to no construction
45
What does the LEED O+M rating system monitor?
Building’s systems (HVAC, electrical, building automation, etc)
& building performance
46
How often does a project with an O+M certification have to be recertified?
5 years
47
What is the O+M: EB rating system? What does it not include?
Existing buildings - not hospitality, k-12 education, retail, data center, warehouse/distribution center
48
What is the LEED ND (New Development) rating system used for?
Certify new land development projects or development of land that contains residential uses, non residential uses or both
49
What is the purpose of a LEED ND certified neighborhood?
Integrates principles of smart growth, urbanism, & green building
50
What kinds of buildings & aspects will you typically see in a LEED ND certified neighborhood within walking distance from all residential units?
```
Grocery store 🛒
School 🎓
Office 📎
Safe sidewalks 🚶🏼♀️
High performing green buildings/green spaces 🌿
Bicycle networks 🚲
Recycling ♻️
```
51
What are the main goals of a LEED ND neighborhood?
*Reduce suburban sprawl
&
Reduce vehicles miles traveled (VMT), create jobs & services accessible by foot or public transit
52
What is suburban sprawl?
Expansion of populations away from central urban areas into low density areas
53
Developments in ____ are more environmentally friendly than those in ____.
City centers; suburban areas
54
What is the LEED ND: Plan rating system used for?
Neighborhood-scale projects that are currently in any phase of planning & design & up go 75% constructed
55
What is the LEED ND: Build Project rating system used for?
Neighborhood-scale projects that are near completion or were completed w/in the last 3 years
56
In what kinds of projects are the credit categories different than that of BD+C?
LEED ND
| About certifying land not buildings
57
What are the LEED ND credit categories?
- smart location & linkage
- neighborhood pattern & design
- green infrastructure & buildings
- innovation & design
- regional priority credit
58
What are the bonus credit categories for LEED ND & how many points can be rewarded for each?
```
Innovation (6)
Regional priority (4)
```
59
What does smart location & linkage promote?
Consideration by communities of location, transportation alternatives & preservation of sensitive lands while discouraging sprawl
60
What does neighborhood pattern & design promote?
Development of vibrant, equitable communities that are healthy, walkable & mixed-use
61
What do green infrastructures & buildings promote?
Design & construction of buildings & infrastructure that use less energy & water. Encourages more sustainable material use & reuse of existing historical structures
62
What does the innovation & design category in the LEED ND rating system recognize?
Bonus points for going above & beyond & including a LEED AP on the design team
63
The regional priority credit of the LEED ND rating system encourages projects to focus on earning credits of significance to what?
The project’s local environment
64
What kind of homes are considered part of the LEED Homes rating system?
Single or multi family homes b/w 1-8 stories
65
What rating system + category do buildings 9 stories or more fall under?
BD+C: New Construction & Major Renos
66
How many stories are homes that qualify under the BD+C Homes & Multi Family Low Rise (BD+C: H) rating system?
1-3
67
How many stories are homes that qualify under the BD+C Multi Family Mid Rise (BD+C: MD) rating system?
4-8
68
What are the 3 types of LEED rating system development (by USGB)?
- implementation & maintenance of current version
- LEED rating system adaptions
- next version of LEED
69
What are Alternative Compliance Paths (ACP)?
Credit adaptation for international projects for them to earn appropriate pre reqs/credits to meet international standards or their local standards instead of those in the USA
70
What are pilot credits & what category in the rating system are they applied to?
Tested credits for the new version of LEED; innovation (bonus)
71
What rating systems are pilot credits tested across?
All
72
What disqualifies a LEED project under the MRPs for location?
If it is designed to move at any point in its lifetime - permanent only
73
What do the MPRs reasonable LEED boundaries include?
```
All land associated w/ project & supports its typical operations
I.e.
Landscaping
Septic or stormwater treatment equipment
Parking
Sidewalks
```
74
In the MPRs, what % of gross floor area should not be less than the land area w/in the LEED project boundary?
2%
75
How is the LEED project boundary identified/defined?
Platted property line including all land and water within it
76
LEED BD+C & LEED O+M rating systems must include a minimum of ___ sq ft of gross floor area
1,000
77
LEED ID+C rating systems must include a minimum of ___ sq ft of gross floor area
250
78
LEED for Neighborhood Development rating systems must contain at least __ habitable buildings & be no larger than ____ acres
2; 1500
79
LEED for Homes rating system must be defined as “____” by applicable codes to comply with project size requirements on the MPRs
Dwelling unit
80
What is a pre-req for LEED BD+C: New Construction & Major Renos? & what is it?
Fundamental refrigerant management
| - no use of any CFC-based refrigerants in their HVAC&R
81
What is an example of a credit for BD+C: New Construction & Major Renos? & what is it?
Access to quality transit
| - project located within walking distance to public transit
82
What 2 categories can credits be put into?
Design pre reqs/credits & construction pre reqs/credits
83
Define impact categories/system goals?
Key elements that every LEED project aims to accomplish
84
What are the 7 main Impact Categories?
1. Reverse contribution to global climate change 🌎
2. Enhance individual human health and well being ❤️🩹
3. Protect and restore water resources 💦
4. Protect, enhance & restore biodiversity and ecosystem services 🐒
5. Promote sustainable and regenerative material resources cycles ♻️
6. Build a greener economy 💰
7. Enhance social equity, environmental justice, & community quality of life 👩🏼⚖️
85
The more a credit makes a total contribution to _____ _____, the more points that credit will contain
Impact categories
86
What are the components of the “Reverse Contribution to Global Climate Change” impact category?
Green house gas emissions reduction of/from
- building operations energy use
- transportation energy use
- materials and water embodied energy use
- embodied energy of water reduction
- cleaner energy supply
Global warming potential reduction from non energy related drivers
87
What are the components of the “enhance individual human health and well being” impact category?
- support occupant comfort and well being
- protect human health from direct exposure to negative health impacts
- protect human health globally and across the entire built environment life cycle
88
What are the components of the “protect and restore water resources” impact category?
- water conservation
- water quality protection
- protection and restoration of water regimes and natural hydrological cycles
89
What are the components of the “protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services” impact category?
- local biodiversity, habitat protection & open spaces
- global biodiversity, habitat protection, and land preservation
- sustainable use and management of ecosystems services
90
What are the components of the “promote sustainable and regenerative material resource cycles” impact category?
- reduce raw material resources extraction
- move to cyclical, non-depleting material cycles
- reduce negative environmental impacts throughout the materials life cycle
91
What are the components of the “build a greener economy” impact category?
- enhance the value proposition of green building
- strengthen the green building industry and supply chain
- promote innovation and integration of green building products and services
- incentivize long term growth and investment opportunities
- support local economies
92
What are the components of the “enhance social equality, environmental justice & community quality of life” impact category?
- create a strong sense of place
- provide affordable, equitable & resilient communities
- promote access to neighborhood completeness resources
- promote human rights and environmental justice
93
What should a project team do if they have a question about technical details of a pre req, MPR or credit?
Issue a CIR to clarify a single question
94
What should a project team issue if they need clarification on several questions for pre reqs, MPRs or credits?
Leed interpretation
95
A LEED Interpretation is _____
Precedent setting -
| incorporated into the entire LEED system
96
The fixed cost of issuing a LEED interpretation is $__ of more than the cost of issuing a ____ for both members & non members.
$180
| CIR
97
CIRs are administered by ____ & LEED interpretations are administered by _____
GBCI;
| USGBC
98
LEED interpretations can become part of ____
Addenda
99
What is an addenda?
Combines all changes, improvements, issued LEED interpretations, modifications made in a LEED rating system
Example - software update
100
What are the first steps for LEED to certify a building?
Register project online
pay flat registration fee
project admin needs to be assigned
101
Upon completion of the project, review fees depend on the ____ of a project & ___, while fees for appeals, registration, CIR & LEED interpretation are ____.
Gross floor area of the project & membership status;
| Flat fees
102
What is a combined review?
Documentation for all design & construction pre reqs/credits are submitted for review at the end of the construction phase
103
What is a split review?
The design pre reqs/credits are submitted for review during the design phase, & both the additional design pre reqs/credits & all construction pre reqs/credits are submitted at the end of the construction phase
104
Why is a combined review riskier than a split review?
If expected credits are not rewarded, there will not be a makeup since construction is already completed & no change in the design or construction can be made
105
If a design pre req/credit is marked “anticipated,” what does that mean?
Project will earn it at the end of the construction phase once that design is implemented on site
106
What are the steps for a combined review for LEED BD+C & LEED ID+C projects?
1. Both design and construction submittal are sent
2. Prelim review by GBCI
3. GBCI asks for additional info if needed
4. GBCI final review & report “awarded/deny”
5. Project team can appeal final result
107
What are the steps for a split review on LEED BD+C & LEED ID+C projects?
DESIGN PHASE:
1. Design submittals sent
2. Prelim design review by GBCI
3. GBCI asks for any additional info if needed
4. GBCI final review & report “anticipated/deny”
5. Project team can appeal
CONSTRUCTION PHASE:
6. Construction & design submittals sent
7. GBCI prelim review
8. GBCI asks for additional info if needed
9. GBCI Final construction review & reported “approve/deny”
10. Project team can appeal
108
How many times can you appeal results on a LEED project?
Unlimited
109
LEED O+M projects need recertification every 5 years, therefore, there is no ____ review option available
Split
110
What are the 3 stages of the certification process for a LEED ND project?
Stage 1 - conditionally approved for LEED ND plan (optional)
Stage 2 - pre-certified (reviewed) LEED ND plan (optional)
Stage 3 - certified LEED ND (required)
111
Why would you want to be conditionally approved for a LEED ND plan?
Verify pre reqs can be achieved
112
Why would you want to pre-certify a LEED ND plan?
Help projects secure financing or attract tenants before project completion
113
When can appeals be made for LEED ND projects?
Any stage
114
What are some things that are verified during in-field verification & performance testing for LEED Homes?
- energy performance
- building insulation
- air tightness & leakage testing
115
What 3 types of people will be hired to assist with the LEED Homes verification process? & what are their roles?
1. LEED for homes provider organization - overseeing cert process
2. LEED for homes green rater - conduct in field verification
3. Energy rater - conduct performance testing
116
During a LEED Homes project, energy raters will need to have the ____ credential (administered by residential energy service network RESNET)
HERS Rater (home energy rating system rater)
117
What are the stages of the LEED Homes certification process?
1. Registration
2. Verify
- prelim rating
- mid-construction verification visit
- final construction verification visit
3. GBCI prelim & final design reviews & report “award/deny”
4. Certification rewarded or project team can appeal
118
What is a LEED volume program?
Streamlined certification process for organizations that plan to certify more than 25 prototype-based projects w/in 3 years
119
What is an example of LEED volume program project type?
coffee shop chain w/ uniform designs
120
What is a LEED campus program?
Certification system for multiple projects that are located on a single campus owned by the same entity
