LEED Process Flashcards

Question

(Materials and Resources) When choosing products that have Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), which factor is used in determining if LEED credit can be earned? A. The cost of the qualifying products as a percentage of the total project cost B. The number of different permanent and temporary products used from one manufacturer C. The number of different permanently installed products used from different manufacturers D. The cost of the qualifying products as a percentage of the total building envelope material's cost

Answer 1

C. 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

Answer 2

B. Selecting refurbished furniture Reusing materials or furnishings reduces the demand for new materials and thus preserves virgin resources. D. Installing demountable interior nonstructural walls This strategy is part of designing for flexibility which reduces the demand for new building materials over time.

Answer 3

C. The types of furnishings D. The colors of the surfaces

Answer 4

B. Regenerative design | This is a description of regenerative design.

Answer 5

B. Reduced utility costs Water use and energy use should be lower in a green building. C. Reduced liabilities due to poor indoor air quality causing health issues One of the goals of the IEQ category is to create a healthier indoor environment for occupants. This results in reduced sick days and hopefully cleaner air. Buildings that have mold or contaminants can cause health problems which can lead to lawsuits from the occupants.

Answer 6

B. Indoor air quality ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality specifies minimum ventilation rates. These rates are used to improve indoor air quality as part of the IEQ credit category.

Answer 7

B. 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.

Answer 8

A. EN 15251:2007 This is one of the international indoor air quality standards projects outside of the U.S. may use. Previous versions of the credit used ASHRAE 62.1 as the reference standard. In LEED v4, projects outside the U.S. may use European standards when ASHRAE 62.1 is not available or suitable. B. SMACNA SMACNA standards are for construction activity pollution prevention. C. Global Ecolabeling Network (Is the answer) For any projects outside the U.S., the ISO standard developed by the Global Eco-Labeling Network may be used instead of Green Seal Environmental Choice. D. Green Label Plus Green Label Plus is a standard for carpets.

Answer 9

Which of the following is one of the tasks that integrative project team members complete together? A. Select a target certification level The owner usually does this. The team may provide assistance, but the owner has the final say on the project's goals for certification. B. Applying for financing This would be done by the owner. C. Energy modeling The energy modeler creates the model, not the whole team. D. 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.

Answer 10

A. ASHRAE 62.1 ASHRAE 62.1 is used to measure indoor air quality. B. I-Codes C. ASHRAE 90.1 ASHRAE 90.1 is used to measure minimum energy performance for commercial projects. D. ENERGY STAR for Homes (Is the Answer) The exam objectives require knowing the standards that support LEED. ENERGY STAR for Homes is the basis of the requirements for energy efficiency in a LEED Homes and Multifamily Lowrise project.

Answer 11

B. Considering how occupants will get to the project building Systems thinking is a process of understanding how each part of the built environment affects every other part. It is the belief that the component parts of a system can best be understood in the context of relationships with each other and with other systems, rather than in isolation. These parts include project materials, building systems, site, people, and information. In this choice the people are considered and the relationship to the transportation options and/or parking at the site.

Answer 12

A. Committing to green building early in the process The green building process should begin early instead of being an add-on later in the project. When green building products or designs are considered after construction has already started then it becomes more expensive and less efficient. It's like adding a second story onto a one story house. It's cheaper to build a two story house to begin with. B. Budgeting the planning and design costs separately from the operations costs (Is the Answer) By separating costs stakeholders will not realize the long term savings green buildings have. C. Looking at long term savings Often owners consider only the upfront costs and not the long term operations and maintenance costs. Yes a more efficient HVAC system may cost 20% more up front, but if it cuts energy bills by 50% the payback may be only a few years, followed by 30 more years of lower energy bills. D. Multidisciplinary approach One of the principles of an integrative process is an integrative project team. Everyone involved in the project or that is impacted by the project such as neighbors are considered stakeholders. E. Commitment to the process through the life of the project The green building process should not end when the occupants are allowed into the project. Systems will need repair and maintenance for the life of the building. Strategies that were put in place in the design need to be upheld for the greatest benefit.

Answer 13

A. Occupancy, Operations, and Performance Feedback USGBC defines this stage as, 'This third stage focuses on implementing performance measurement and creating performance feedback mechanisms. Such feedback is critical for informing building operations, so the degree to which established performance targets have been met can be assessed and so corrective actions can be taken.' C. Design and Construction (Implementation) USGBC defines Implementation as, 'This phase begins with what is conventionally called 'Schematic Design.' It resembles conventional practice in its structure, but integrates all of the work and collective understanding of system interactions reached during the Discovery Phase.' D. Discovery USGBC defines discovery as, 'This is the most important phase of the integrative process; it can be thought of as an extensive expansion of what is conventionally called 'Pre-Design.' It is unlikely that a project's environmental goals will be achieved cost-effectively if this phase is not rigorously engaged as a discreet phase of the design process. Discovery work needs to be accomplished before 'putting pencil to paper' . . . in other words, before schematic design begins.'

Answer 14

A. ASHRAE 62.1 Natural (or passive) ventilation uses the natural forces of wind and buoyancy to deliver fresh air into buildings through doors, windows, or other designed opening (chimneys). ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality specifies minimum ventilation rates.

Answer 15

A. LEED Online LEED Online is a tool used to manage the documentation of a LEED project as it proceeds. B. Green-e Green-e is a program established to promote green electricity products and provide consumers with a nationally recognized method to identify those products. C. LEED LEED itself does not compare energy use to buildings. LEED references other standards that are used to improve energy performance. LEED compares the greenness of two buildings, which includes much more than just the energy performance. D. ENERGY STAR (answer) ENERGY STAR is specific to energy performance and can be used to compare building performance.

Answer 16

B. A reduction in the demand for wastewater treatment infrastructure C. A reduction in energy required to treat wastewater

Answer 17

A. Graywater

Answer 18

C. Decreased building operating costs When low flow fixtures and fittings are used, the quantity of water that needs to be heated is reduced thereby decreasing energy consumption. D. Reduced drawdown of water from water bodies and aquifers Less water is taken from nature which helps preserve the environment for future generations.

Answer 19

A. Occupants' usage When calculating indoor water use baselines or design cases, the calculations are based on the number of occupants in the building using the fixtures (50 employees, 600 students, etc.).

Answer 20

C. Installing low-consumption flush fixtures and low-flow rate faucets The intent of the Water Efficiency category is to reduce potable water demand (not increase it). Low-flow fixtures help reduce potable water consumption indoors.

Answer 21

C. Promote Sustainable and Regenerative Material Resources Cycles The components of the Protect, Enhance and Restore Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services are: Local Biodiversity, Habitat Protection and Open Spaces Global Biodiversity, Habitat Protection and Land Preservation Sustainable Use and Management of Ecosystem Services

Answer 22

C. LEED BD+C: Core and Shell 'Once a project is registered as a LEED BD+C: Core and Shell project, the project team may apply for precertification. LEED BD+C: Core and Shell 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. Once precertification is granted, the developer/owner can market the building's proposed green features to potential tenants and financiers.' -USGBC

Answer 23

A. Awareness and Education In the commercial building rating systems the topics of Awareness and Education are covered under the Innovation category.

Answer 24

A. LEED Project Checklist The LEED Project Checklist is the quick list of what credits the project team has decided to pursue in the pre-design phase, based on the project vision and the project's green building goals. Through each phase this checklist is consulted to ask 'are we on track and are we working towards meeting those credits we set out to do?'

Answer 25

B. Reverse Contribution to Global Climate Change

Answer 26

``` C. 80 Certified 40-49 points Silver 50-59 points Gold 60-79 points Platinum 80+ points ```

Answer 27

A. Meeting the Minimum Program Requirements MPRs are mandatory for certification. F. Meeting all prerequisites Meeting the prerequisites are mandatory for certification. Credits are optional, though a certain number of credits are needed for certification. The project team chooses which credits to pursue. Prerequisites are not a choice.

Answer 28

B. Cost of the LEED charrette The cost of the charrette and the time of each team member for the one day is pretty insignificant compared to the benefits and cost savings of the integrative process. Notes: 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. 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.

Answer 29

C. LEED project type (schools, healthcare, data centers, etc.) Each LEED project type may have different impacts so each rating system has its own RP credits. For example a warehouse may not have high priority for indoor water use if there are not a lot of occupants.

Answer 30

B. 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.

Answer 31

D. Increased air pollution Every company, large or small, has 'externalities' that typically do not show up in profit and loss reports. Environmental externalities are transactions in which one or more parties to the transaction are not compensated and may have little choice in the transaction. Air pollution, for example, is a visible externality of manufacturing, the cost of which is generally paid by others. Externalities can be either negative or positive for both parties affected. Consider the effects of locating an oil refinery adjacent to a residential neighborhood: air pollution and associated health effects, noise pollution, light pollution, increased traffic, risk of industrial accident (all negative externalities) and availability of high-paying jobs, increased tax base for schools and other infrastructure (positive effect).

Answer 32

A. Tertiary treatment A project that treats 50% of wastewater onsite to tertiary standards can earn the Innovative Wastewater Technologies credit. Tertiary treatment of wastewater leaves the water in a state where it can be used for agriculture or discharged back into the environment. It is not suitable for drinking. B. Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration is water leaving plants and soil and returning back to the atmosphere. C. Cogeneration (is the answer) Combined heat and power (CHP) is an electricity generation technology, also known as cogeneration, that recovers waste heat from the electric generation process to produce simultaneously other forms of useful energy, such as usable heat or steam. On average, two-thirds of the input energy used to make electricity is lost as waste heat. In contrast, CHP systems are capable of converting more than 70 % of the fuel into usable energy. D. Commissioning Commissioning is systematic process of assuring that a building performs in accordance with the design intent and the owner's operational needs.

Answer 33

A. 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.

Answer 34

A. 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.

Answer 35

A. Purchasing carbon offsets | One way to achieve carbon neutrality is to purchase carbon offsets

Answer 36

A. Guiding principles USGBC has seven guiding principles outlined in the 2013-2015 strategic plan. They are: PROMOTE THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE - USGBC will pursue robust triple bottom line solutions (people, planet, profit) that clarify and strengthen a healthy and dynamic balance between environmental, social, and economic prosperity. ESTABLISH LEADERSHIP - USGBC will foster both revolutionary and evolutionary leadership by championing societal models that achieve a more robust triple bottom line. RECONCILE HUMANITY WITH NATURE - USGBC will endeavor to create and restore harmony between human activities and natural systems. FOSTER SOCIAL EQUITY - USGBC will continue to respect all communities and cultures and aspire to be a fully inclusive movement that embraces opportunities which broaden and expand our reach through partnerships and initiatives. MAINTAIN INTEGRITY - USGBC will be guided by the precautionary principle in utilizing technical and scientific data to protect, preserve and restore the health of the global environment, ecosystems, and species. BE INCLUSIVE - USGBC will ensure inclusive, interdisciplinary, multi-sector, and democratic decision making with the objective of building understanding and shared commitments toward a greater common good. In this spirit, USGBC will continue to seek common ground and partner with allied, influential organizations and leaders in the field to confront mutual challenges. EXHIBIT TRANSPARENCY - USGBC will continue to operate in an organizational culture that places honesty, openness, and transparency above all else.

Answer 37

A. Materials and Resources C. Water Efficiency E. Sustainable Sites Notes: The intent of this question is to learn the common categories of the LEED rating systems. The LEED credit categories common among the rating systems are: ``` Location and Transportation Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency Energy and Atmosphere Materials and Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Innovation ``` The correct category is Indoor Environmental Quality, not Air. Air quality is a subset of IEQ.

Answer 38

A. The project checklist The project checklist (LEED Scorecard) is the best way to stay on top of credits attempted, under review, and earned. B. The review comments The credit-by-credit tracker includes comments and actual credit language for each credit along with its up-to-the-minute review status. C. The credit assignments Project team members have access to every single credit. There are no additional credit assignments. D. The project timeline ( Is the Answer) The project timeline gives an overview of all the steps of the project's process via real-time snapshots.

Answer 39

B. Reverse Contribution to Global Climate Change and Enhance Individual Human Health and Well-Being Weighting of the LEED v4 impact categories account for differences in scale, scope, severity, and relative contribution of the built environment to the impact. The weightings are: 35% Reverse Contribution to Global Climate Change 20% Enhance Individual Human Health and Well-Being 15% Protect and Restore Water Resources 10% Protect, Enhance and Restore Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services 10% Promote Sustainable and Regenerative Material Resources Cycles 5% Build a Greener Economy 5% Enhance Social Equity, Environmental Justice, Community Health and Quality of Life

Answer 40

B. Water Conservation, Water Quality Protection, and Protection and Restoration of Water Regimes and Natural Hydrological Cycles The components of this impact category are: Water Conservation Water Quality Protection Protection and Restoration of Water Regimes and Natural Hydrological Cycles

Answer 41

D. 60-79 Certified 40-49 points Silver 50-59 points Gold 60-79 points Platinum 80+ points

Answer 42

D. Installed lighting power per unit area Lighting power density is the installed lighting power per unit area (the amount of electrical power used to illuminate a space). It is usually expressed in Watts per unit of area. Reducing the lighting power density can reduce energy use.

Answer 43

A. Energy metering Metering of the building systems helps the staff track any issues that would impact energy performance. C. Commissioning Commissioning and ongoing commissioning are intended to improve energy performance once the building is operational.

Answer 44

C. Install a photovoltaic system on site | On-site renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal) would help the project generate all of the electricity it needs.

Answer 45

C. Open-office workstation D. Hotel guest room F. Study carrel

Answer 46

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

Answer 47

A. Using demand control ventilation Demand-control ventilation is based on monitoring spaces and only increasing the ventilation when set points are reached. This is based on having CO2 sensors/monitors in the room. For example, if a room has five people in it and then ten more come in, the CO2 in the air would go up. The sensor would register this and increase the airflow. If the ventilation is only increased as needed, the operating costs go down instead of the system running at a maximum at all times.

Answer 48

D. The impact the material has on society This is the social portion of the triple bottom line. E. The environmental impact of extracting and manufacturing the material This is the environmental portion of the triple bottom line. F. The cost of the material This is the economic portion of the triple bottom line.

Answer 49

A. Qualification for tax rebates

Answer 50

C. Locating the project near existing utilities

Answer 51

A. LEED Scorecard | The LEED Scorecard helps teams decide what credits to achieve.

Answer 52

D. LEED Homes and Multifamily Lowrise LEED Homes and Multifamily Lowrise is appropriate for single family and low-rise (1-3 stories) multifamily residential buildings that are undergoing new construction or a gut rehab.

Answer 53

D. An old building Redeveloping (or reuse) of an existing building significantly minimizes the project's impact on the environment. It also provides the project team opportunity to reuse existing infrastructure.

Answer 54

C. Overseeing LEED credential maintenance D. Administration of the LEED exams E. Third-party technical reviews of registered LEED projects

Answer 55

D. HVAC operating efficiency | How efficiently HVAC equipment is directly impacts how much fossil fuel is burned to heat and cool a building.

Answer 56

D. Build a Greener Economy The Build a Greener Economy impact category components are: 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

Answer 57

A. Reduce certification process challenges C. Protect the integrity of the LEED program D. Give clear guidance to customers

Answer 58

C. Is technically qualified to verify the information on the LEED credit forms and is authorized by the project administrator to sign the form This is the definition of the declarant.

Answer 59

D. The LEED Homes rating system that corresponds to the ENERGY STAR program in which they are participating. For LEED Homes and Multifamily Lowrise is used for single-family homes and multi-family residential buildings of one to three stories. Projects three to five stories may choose the homes rating system that corresponds to the ENERGY STAR program in which they are participating.

Answer 60

B. 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.

Answer 61

B. Exploring and comparing the green dimensions of the built environment One of the tasks of a LEED Green Associate is to create project profiles/case studies/press releases. Part of the public relations guidelines for LEED-certified projects may be to utilize the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG). The GBIG is a global-innovation platform used for exploring and comparing the green dimensions of the built environment.

Answer 62

C. Replicate the natural hydrology and water balance of the site This question asks about the intent and goals of rainwater management.

Answer 63

C. Building codes The main purpose of building codes are to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate authority.

Answer 64

B. Space heating According to the USGBC, on average, the distribution of a building's energy use is below. Variations will exist in different buildings and different cliamtes, but for the purposes of the LEED exam these are the end use breakdowns to be aware of: ``` Space Heating - 36% Lighting - 21% Cooling - 8% Water Heating - 8% Ventilation - 7% Refrigeration - 6% Cooking - 3% Computers - 2% Office Equipment - 1% Other - 8% ```

Answer 65

A. Building life-cycle impact reduction Building life-cycle impact reduction is rewarded in the Materials credits. C. High-priority sites