Question 1Construction and demolition debris includes all but which of the following?

 A Concrete from a demolished building

 B Steel from a demolished building

 C Drywall

 D Rocks

Notes:Reference: O&M Glossary

Construction and demolition (C&D) debris is defined as: 'Waste and recyclables generated from construction, renovation, and demolition or deconstruction of preexisting structures.'

Rocks would be part of the excavation of the site area.

The steel and concrete are all debris that came from the existing building.

Drywall can come from an existing building or as scraps from new construction.

Hazardous materials, excavated soil (rocks) and land-clearing debris do not contribute to LEED credits but these items should still be addressed in a construction waste management plan.

Question 2What should be included in a construction waste management plan?

 A Asbestos removal

 B Where construction debris will be diverted

 C Erosion control

 D The percent of recycled materials

Notes:

The plan should include the goals of the team as well as what will be diverted, where to, and by whom.

Hazardous waste is not included and must be disposed of based on local codes.

Question 3 Show Answer LegendA project team discovers a new way to avoid the heat island effect. How does the LEED certification process reward this new concept?

 A Heat Island Effect is covered by LEED, so no additional points would be given B An innovative performance point would be awarded C An exemplary performance point would be awarded

 D An extra Heat Island Effect point would be awarded

Notes:

Innovative performance as part of the Innovation in Design or Operations category is meant for green building categories not specifically addressed by LEED. Innovation credits are not awarded for the use of a particular product or design strategy if the technology aids in the achievement of an existing LEED credit.

USGBC/GBCI uses the CIR process for cases like this. A CIR could be submitted that specifies an alternate way to earn the Heat Island credit. However only the Heat Island credit would be earned, not an ID point or extra points.Question 4 Show Answer Legend

Which of the following does not help achieve a water-efficient landscape?

 A Micro misters B Green roof C Planting with adaptive plants D Planting with native plants

Notes:

Micro misters, drip irrigation, native and adaptive plants are all strategies to reduce the quantity of water needed for irrigation.

A green roof does not necessarily reduce water needs.

Question 5 Show Answer LegendWhich of the following projects would not meet the minimum program requirements for certification?

 A A new building on an office campus located next door to an existing certified building

 B A modular classroom that can be moved to another location on the school property C A building project that is three stories high D A new laboratory building that will be located partially underground

Notes:

Reference: GBCI website, Policy Manual

Structures must be permanent - a temporary classroom would not qualify.Question 6 Show Answer Legend

The addition or increasing the use of graywater in a building can help with:

 A Reducing potable water use in faucets

 B Reducing stormwater runoff C Reducing potable water used by urinals D Reducing rainwater harvesting

Notes:

Graywater can be used for flushing in water closets and urinals, or process water needs for some systems.

Graywater would not be recycled for people to use for hand washing.Question 7 Show Answer Legend

What environmental issue is associated with refrigerants used in HVAC&R systems?

 A Damage to the Earth's ozone layer B Increased use of fossil fuels C Pollution of water bodies D Increased air pollution

Notes:

Reference: Treatment by LEED of HVAC Refrigerants

Refrigerants have ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP) due to greenhouse gas emissions. Low values of each are best for refrigerant choices.

Question 8 Show Answer LegendWhat has the lowest priority in building design?

 A Building codes B Fire protection codes C Plumbing codes D LEED Rating System

Notes:

Although the LEED Rating System is critical to a successful green building project, all local, state, and federal codes and regulations have precedent over any LEED standards. A project team can't ignore local codes in favor of a green building strategy. Both must be addressed.

Certain locales have their own set of green codes, which must be addressed as well.Question 9 Show Answer Legend

Biomass is what type of material?

 A Landfill gas B Fly-ash

 C Plant material D Animal waste

Notes:

Reference: O&M Glossary

Biomass is plant material converted to heat energy to produce electricity.

Question 10 Show Answer LegendWhat information is needed to calculate the SRI of a material?

 A Reflectance B Thickness of the material C Emissivity D Thermal gradient

Notes:

SRI is calculated by using emissivity and reflectance values.

Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) is a value that incorporates both solar reflectance and emittance in a single value to represent a material's temperature in the sun. SRI quantifies how hot a surface would get relative to standard black and standard white surfaces. It is expressed as a fraction (0.0 to 1.0) or percentage (0% to 100%). Materials with the highest SRI values are the coolest choices for paving.

The higher the SRI number the more the sunlight the material can reflect. Black asphalt has an SRI of 0.Question 11 Show Answer Legend

What is the benefit of installing bicycle racks?

 A Reducing automobile use B Innovation in Design C Reducing heat islands D Communitiy connectivity

Notes:

Bicycle use is one of the ways to promote alternative modes of transportation in the Sustainable Sites section.Question 12 Show Answer Legend

What site features are included in the landscape area?

 A The building B Paved bicycled path C Walkway made of recycled rubber tires

 D Area with invasive plants

Notes:

The landscape area of the site is the total site area less the building footprint, hardscape area, water bodies, etc.

The question asked what areas are included. Any area that has plants must be included, whether the plants are invasive or not.

Even though the area includes invasive plants which are undesirable, they must still be included in the calculation. Invasive plants should be removed from the landscape if possible.

Question 13 Show Answer LegendHow can regional priority credits be earned?

 A Addressing green measures or strategies that are more important to a climate or region

 B Using 100% native plants for the site's landscaping C Developing an educational or training system that addresses local building issues D Using materials that are located within 500 miles of the project site

Notes:

Regional credits are bonus points awarded for addressing needs specific to a region.

Do not confuse the following terms:

Regional Priority Credits - these are bonus points for encouraging teams to attempt LEED credits that address specific environmental priorities in the project's region. Each zipcode in the U.S. has 6 LEED credits that are extra important to that zipcode. A project that achieves one of those credits earns a bonus point, up to a maximum of 4. Here is an example. In Georgia zipcode 30002 saving water is important, because Georgia has had a lot of droughts lately.

See what is important in your zipcode here:

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1984

Regional Materials - building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site.

Regional Variations - These are only found in reference guides and are specific to each credit. A regional variation 'outlines concerns specific to the geographic location of the building'. For example in some areas there aren't great recycling programs, or they may be nonexistent. In regards to construction waste management the regional variation states 'hey, check your local recycling program before you get to deep into this credit because if you can't recycle anything your chances of earning the credit go down'.Question 14 Show Answer Legend

Which vehicle is not considered an alternative-fuel vehicle?

 A Efficient gas-electric hybrid B Electric car C Natural gas powered car D Gas powered Honda that has achieved a Green Score of 40

Notes:

Alternative-fuel vehicles use nongasoline fuels such as:

electricityhydrogenpropanecompressed natural gasliquied natural gasmethanolethanolefficient gas-electric hybrids

Hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius are not, of themselves, alternative fuel vehicles - clever use of a battery, motor/generator, merely means that a more efficient but less powerful engine can be used. Essentially all the power comes from petroleum.

For LEED, low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles are defined as vehicles that are either classified as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board or have achieved a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide.

A green score of 40 does not imply a fuel efficiency of 40 mpg or more or that the car is powered with alternative fuel. In fact most cars that are eligible for LEED don't come anywhere close to that. The score is based on emissions not on fuel efficiency. For a complete list look at:

http://www.greenercars.org/leedvehicles%2000-09.xlsQuestion 15 Show Answer Legend

The use of native plants on the project site can most assist projects teams with what other sustainable intents?

 A Using sustainable materials B Construction waste management C Protecting existing local habitat D Reducing stormwater quantity

Notes:

Native 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.

Native plants help with both protecting and restoring local ecosystems and habitat.

Native plants don't necessarily perform any better at reducing stormwater quantity. A stormwater management plan that included vegetated areas would help, but the plants could be either native or non native and still do the job.

Native plants are not a building material, so using sustainable materials would not be a correct choice.Question 16 Show Answer Legend

What helps minimize the space requirements of occupant recycling?

 A Installing can crushers B Having multiple bins for each recycled material C Locating the recycling bins in the basement of the building D Having onsite cardboard bailers

Notes:

Can crushers and cardboard bailers help reduce the volume of the materials to be recycled.

Multiple bins would increase space requirements, compared to comingled recycling.

Locating bins in the basement would deter recycling due to the inconvenience involved.

Question 17 Show Answer LegendWhat important documents should be created for the purpose of selecting the design team?

 A Request for qualifications B Operations and maintenance manuals C Statement of work D Bidding documents

Notes:

Reference: Sustainable Building Technical Manual Part II, pg. 6

From the guide: 'The Statement of Work (SOW) includes the project criteria, including green building issues. The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) identifies the skills required for participation in the project, including green building expertise.'Question 18 Show Answer Legend

What resources are available to team members to find more information about other LEED projects?

 A USGBC's monthly magazine

 B LEED Online C USGBC Chapters D USGBC publications

Notes:

Reference: USGBC website

USGBC publications provide information about LEED projects.

USGBC Chapters are local resources that help spread the word about LEED.

USGBC has no monthly magazine.

LEED Online is for use by the project team and does not contain information about other projects. LEED Online can be used to show/restrict public information about the project. These public facing details can be viewed using USGBC project search tool on their website.Question 19 Show Answer Legend

What tool is used to determine the target certification level?

 A LEED Score Card B LEED Online C EPA's Target Finder D CIR

Notes:

The LEED Scorecard helps teams decide what credits to achieve.Question 20 Show Answer Legend

How many points are listed for prerequisites on the LEED Scorecard?

 A 1 B 2 C 0 D 18

Notes:

Prerequisites are required and are not assigned any points.

Question 21 Show Answer LegendHow can the site boundary differ from the LEED project boundary?

 A The site boundary is the property line while the LEED project boundary the portion of the site submitted for LEED

 B The site boundary is the portion of the site submitted for LEED while the LEED project boundary marks where the LEED project ends

 C They are exactly the same D They can be the same, but site boundary includes only the area submitted for LEED

Notes:

USGBC Definition of LEED project boundary - portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification. For single building developments, this is the entire project scope and is generally limited to the site boundary - they are not necessarily the same thing.Question 22 Show Answer Legend

What type of fixture can earn EPA's WaterSense label?

 A HET dual flush toilet B Kitchen sink faucets C Washing machine D Dishwasher

Notes:

Reference: EPA WaterSense

WaterSense helps consumers identify water efficient fixtures.

The WaterSense label applies to showerheads, toilets, urinals, and bathroom sinks.

Kitchen sink faucets do not usually come in low flow varieties or with flow restrictors because these would only serve to make it take longer to fill up a pot of water rather than save water.Question 23 Show Answer Legend

What does the Montreal Protocol ban?

 A CFCs B Coal-fired power plants C Mercury in light bulbs D Incandescent light bulbs

Notes:

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are now banned under the Montreal Protocol. Refer to the Treatment by LEED of Environmental Impact of HVAC Refrigerants.

Under the Montreal Protocol, CFC production in the United States ended in 1995. To implement the Montreal Protocol, the EPA established Section 608 of the EPA Clean Air Act for regulating the use and recycling of ozone-depleting compounds.Question 24 Show Answer Legend

A project will include underground parking. This change can have a positive impact on what issue?

 A Community connectivity B Pedestrian access C Heat island effect D Parking capacity

Notes:

The heat island effect would be reduced because the parking has been moved underground.

The parking capacity would remain unchanged.

Pedestrian access to the surrounding buildings and services would not be affected.

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.

LEED defines a heat island as one whose temperatures are at least 10 degrees higher than those of surrounding suburban or rural areas.

Question 25 Show Answer LegendWhich items are considered pre-consumer recycled content?

 A Excavated soil B Wooden pallets used by a shipping company C Leftover drywall from a renovation D Magazine overruns

Notes:

Pre-consumer content is content from industry scraps that was diverted from the waste stream and used for other purposes. Examples include sawdust, wood shavings, wood chips, and print overruns. Excluded are materials that are re-incorporated into the same manufacturing process that generated it.

Print overruns are considered pre-consumer recycled content.

Pallets are post-consumer waste since the shipping company did not manufacture them (they used them, they did not make them).Question 26 Show Answer Legend

Which of the following strategies have earned innovation in design / operations in the past?

 A Implementing an educational outreach program B Implementing a green parking design

 C Using high volume fly ash in concrete D Using organic foods in a cafeteria

Notes:

Green education is one of the most common innovation points projects often add. These programs outline the green building strategies used in the building. The programs may include self-guided tours or computer kiosks in the main entryway of the building so visitors can learn about the building.

Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal and can be used to offset the quantity of cement used in concrete mix.

Reducing the parking requirements is covered in LEED in the reduced parking design credits.

Organic food use is not considered an innovative design.Question 27 Show Answer Legend

Which of the following is not a LEED Rating System?

 A LEED for Retail B LEED for Small Buildings C LEED for Neighborhood Development D LEED for Schools

Notes:

LEED for Small Buildings does not exist. Small buildings are covered in the LEED for New Construction rating system for new buildings, or LEED Operations and Maintenance for existing buildings.Question 28 Show Answer Legend

What project issues are addressed by guidelines from SMACNA?

 A VOCs in materials B Refrigerant quantities C Carpet durability D Air quality issues from construction or renovation

Notes:

The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association (SMACNA) has a set of indoor air quality guidelines that are used to help manage air quality issues resulting from construction and renovation.Question 29 Show Answer Legend

What are attributes of native plants?

 A Require less pruning B Require less pesticides

 C Require less sunlight D Require less fertilizer

Notes:

Native 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.

Sunlight is dependent on the plant requirements, as is pruning.Question 30 Show Answer Legend

LEED Online can be used for all of the following except:

 A Managing public facing project details B Accessing online reference guides C Document compliance with LEED Credit Requirements D Submit technical inquiries regarding LEED Credits

Notes:

Reference: leedonline.com introduction page

Reference guides are not available in LEED Online

Using LEED Online you can:

-Submit documentation to USGBC for review-Document compliance with LEED Credit Requirements-Coordinate resources among project team members-Manage public facing project details-Submit technical inquiries regarding LEED Credits-Track progress towards LEED Certification

What are public facing project details?You can search USGBC's website to find out about specific projects going on. LEED Online can be used to show/limit what is displayed to the public. For example using LEED Online you would enter in 'Project ABC is going to have a budget of $10M'. You probably don't want anyone to see the project budget so you could hide that detail from public view.

Managing the public facing details of the project means this: The person who is the administrator of the project can use LEED online to pick and choose what details they want to make available to the public. For example, 'do you want everyone to know your project budget', check yes or no. 'Do you want everyone to know the project's address', check yes or no. Using LEED Online the administrator restricts or allows access to this and other various project information. USGBC may then reveal any information that has been marked as publically available.

Question 31 Show Answer Legend

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

 A Covering the roof with high VOC materials B Installing a cistern on the roof C Painting the surface with dark colored coatings D Installing a green roof

Notes:

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.

Green roofs help reduce heat islands. They also help provide greater insulation of the roof to reduce energy consumption, and they have a longer life-cycle than traditional roofs.

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.

LEED defines a heat island as one whose temperatures are at least 10 degrees higher than those of surrounding suburban or rural areas.Question 32 Show Answer Legend

What defines the density of a nonresidential building?

 A Floor Area / Acre of Buildable Land B Building Footprint / Acre of Buildable Land C Floor Area / 120,000 sq. ft. D Site Area / Acre of Buildable Land

Notes:

Reference: LEED for Homes Rating System, Glossary

The glossary defines density for both residential and nonresidential buildings:

'The quantity of structures on a site, measured for residential buildings as dwelling units per acre of buildable land available for residential uses, and for nonresidential buildings as floor area ratio per net acre of buildable land available for nonresidential uses.'Question 33 Show Answer Legend

What does ASHRAE 55-2004 specify?

 A Thermal comfort B Indoor air quality

 C Commuting surveys D Energy performance

Notes:

ASHRAE 55-2004 Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy help with defining what makes a comfortable indoor environment for occupants. Indoor conditions are considered acceptable if 80% or more of occupants find them acceptable.Question 34 Show Answer Legend

How is the quantity of locally harvested and manufactured materials used on a project calculated?

 A By the amount of leftovers diverted from landfills B By the number of board feet C By the materials' proportion of cost D By the materials' average distance from the project site

Notes:

Regional materials are calculated based on the proportional (percent) cost of all materials' total value.

If the building materials for a project cost $500,000 and the quantity of regional materials out of the total materials purchased amounted to $250,000, the project would have 50% regional materials.

Simplified:

$500,000 of total materials purchased

Of that $500,000, $250,000 were purchased within 500 miles

$250,000 regional materials / $500,000 total materials = 50% regional materialsQuestion 35 Show Answer Legend

What is the most common way to meet the requirements of off-site renewable energy?

 A Directly purchasing green power from local utility companies B Obtaining energy from a geothermal system C Purchasing RECs D Installing a rooftop photovoltaic array.

Notes:

The most common way (according to LEED) of meeting the requirements of off-site renewable energy is by purchasing RECs. Many local utility companies currently are either closed markets or do not offer renewable alternatives.

Photovoltaic arrays and geothermal systems are types of on-site renewable energy.

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.

Question 36 Show Answer LegendWhat is the minimum occupancy rate required for an Existing Buildings O&M project (Building Operations & Maintenance) to earn certification?

 A 75% of FTEs B 1 FTE C 80% of FTEs D Typical physical occupancy

Notes:

Reference: GBCI website, Policy Manual, Minimum Occupancy Rates

For O&M the building must be in a state of typical physical occupancy.

For example, a hotel usually has a typical occupancy of about 60% of the rooms rented out. The O&M certification could not be attempted until the hotel was at least 60% occupied. If the hotel was just constructed and didn't have any occupants the certification could not be earned.

A school dormitory is another example. If the dormitory was completed in April but will not be occupied until the fall semester in September, the project is not yet in typical occupancy because no students are living in the dorm between April - August.Question 37 Show Answer Legend

What is the best type of site to develop on?

 A Nature preserve B Greenfield C Previously developed site D Wetland

Notes:

Selecting a previously developed site avoids disturbing natural areas that have not been developed.Question 38 Show Answer Legend

A LEED AP on a project works exclusively on the HVAC system and does not serve as a principal participant. What statement is true regarding this scenario?

 A The project would earn a Regional Priority credit B The project would earn an Innovation in Design credit C The project would earn an Energy and Atmosphere credit D No Innovation in Design credit would be earned for having the LEED AP work on the project

Notes:

The purpose of having a LEED AP on the project is to work on sustainable design and synergies, and streamlining the process. Working in isolation, which is not an integrated design, does not meet the Innovation in Design credit requirements.

For example if your project has a LEED AP that comes in and sweeps the floors of the construction site for 20 minutes a day during construction but doesn't participate in any other way, that doesn't meet the intent of the credit.

The spirit of the credit is to have a LEED AP work in a significant role. It is possible to thwart the system and put in a LEED AP who never worked at all on the project, or who sat in on only one conference call. It's also possible to earn a LEED plaque by submitting a non-existent building and phony documentation. That isn't the spirit of LEED or of this credit, which is what the question is pointing out.Question 39 Show Answer Legend

On what should the priorities for the project design criteria be based?

 A Environmental guidelines B Carbon offsets C Value engineering D Project constraints

Notes:

Reference: Sustainable Building Technical Manual Part II, pg. 5

'Prioritize design options based on environmental guidelines and project constraints'

Question 40 Show Answer LegendWhat must occur if a project includes a CFC phase-out plan?

 A The CFC-based refrigerants must be replaced with HCFCs B The project must implement green house gas emissions reporting C The annual leakage of CFC-based refrigerants must be reduced to 5% or less D The CFC-based refrigerants must be replaced with low ODP refrigerants

Notes:

The project team can take 5 years from project completion to phase out CFC-based

refrigerants, as long as the annual leakage rate of CFC-based refrigerants is reduced to 5% or less.

Projects that have a shown a simple-payback of CFC based refrigerant systems will take more than 10 years can be exempt from this requirement, but must still reduce the annual leakage rate to 5% or less.

Simple payback takes the cost of an item or strategy and divides that number by the yearly savings that product or strategy creates. If replacing a CFC-based system costs $150,000 but saves a property manager $50,000 a year, the project will have a simple payback period of 3 years.Question 41 Show Answer Legend

What is a way LEED encourages the purchase and use of low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles?

 A Providing discounted parking passes, if parking fees exist B Setting up a carpool notification system C Implementing car share membership D Locating the project in a densely developed neighborhood

Notes:

Discounted parking passes given to the owners of these vehicles may encourage their purchase by offsetting any parking costs.

Locating the project in a densely developed neighborhood helps channel development to urban areas with existing infrastructure, protect greenfields and preserver habitat and natural resources.Question 42 Show Answer Legend

What amount of parking will encourage alternative transportation and maximize open space?

 A Enough for parking for FTE building occupants B The minimum amount required by any local code C 25% less parking spaces than the peak occupant demand D Enough parking to handle peak occupant demand

Notes:

Maximizing open space requires less parking. Providing carpool programs, shuttle services, etc. while providing no more parking spaces as required by local code helps encourage alternative transportation.

For the purposes of LEED, open space is the property area minus the development footprint, when local zoning does not define open space.Question 43 Show Answer Legend

A Green Education program is widely known as an innovative strategy worthy of an ID point in the LEED rating systems. What characteristics

does this program display that must be present in all innovative performance strategies?

 A Quantifiable B Unique C Rare D Comprehensive

Notes:

Reference: ID Credit Guidance

The 3 basic criteria for achieving an ID credit for a category not found in the LEED rating system is:

1. Quantitative. This means the concept must have measurable/quantifiable environmental benefits. Establish a baseline and compare it with the final outcome to determine the improvement. How much environmental benefit did the strategy achieve?

2. Comprehensive. The process or specification must be comprehensive. For example, if a new material could be used in every floor of a building, the project team can't use it in just one floor. A process that only addresses a part of the project isn't considered comprehensive and does not meet the credit requirements.

3. Transferrable. The concept must be able to be used on other projects by other project teams. It can't be a concept that only applies to a unique aspect of one project.

Question 44 Show Answer LegendWhat information can be entered in the LEED Score Card?

 A USGBC Member ID

 B Certification estimate

 C Points attempted for prerequisites

 D If the credit will be streamlined

Notes:

Reference: Any LEED v2009 Score Card

Question 45 Show Answer LegendWhat would be included in hard cost estimates?

 A Art

 B Carpet

  Furniture

C D Fire sprinkler system

Notes:

Soft costs: These costs involve all of the other fees involved in the completion of the project. You would include your attorney fees, other professional fees, testing, appraisal, marketing, office, overhead expenses here.

Soft costs are those expenditures necessary to complete a project but not directly 'bricks and mortar,' such as design and consultant fees, communications costs, interim housing, moving or relocation costs, and additional district staffing.

A primary soft-cost category is fixtures, furnishing and equipment (FF&E). During the planning stages of a project the soft costs usually are allocated as a percentage of the total project budget. As the planning and design of a project progresses, the percentage can be increased or decreased.

The hard-cost categories are the bricks and mortar of the project.

Art and furniture are not fixed assets (they can be moved) and are thus not considered in the hard cost calculations. Think of a home. There is the price of the home and the price of the furnishings. The furnishings are not included in the price of the home or the mortgage because they are not fixed assets.

Question 46 Show Answer LegendIf local code permits, what types of water should be used for flushing toilets?

 A Dishwasher water

 B Stormwater

 C Well water

 D Graywater

Notes:

Reference: USGBC Glossary

Waste water from toilets and urinals is considered blackwater and cannot be used for irrigation (unless it has been treated first).

Graywater is defined by the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPS) as untreated house-hold wastewater which has not come into contact with toilet waste or kitchen sinks.

Some states and local codes have other definitions.

Graywater includes used water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, and water from clothes-washer and laundry tubs.

Dishwasher water is considered blackwater (by most jurisdictions), and cannot be used without being treated first. Local code will define blackwater, however it is almost 100% likely no local code will allow dishwater to be used for flushing toilets, regardless if the local code defines the dishwater as blackwater or not.

Question 47 Show Answer LegendWhen does a successful integrated project begin?

 A In the construction phase

 B At the project handover

 C In the pre-design phase

 D After occupancy

Notes:

Reference: AIA Integrated Project Delivery

Successful integrated projects will begin in the pre-design phase when all team members get together and discuss the project's vision, the projects green building goals, the technologies and strategies that will be used, etc. When projects wait until later phases to start integrated, its often too late and becomes much more expensive. The reason green buildings perform better is because the systems are integrated and work together to achieve maximum benefits.

Please refer to the Sustainable Building Technical Manual Part II referenced in the GBCI Candidate Handbook for detailed information on the differences between the pre-design and design phases:

http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3591

Question 48 Show Answer LegendWhat will NOT help with water efficient landscaping?

 A Xeriscaping B Creating a sediment basin C Mulching around plants D Planting native plants

Notes:

A sediment basin is useful strategies for stormwater management, but is not used to reduce water use in landscaping.Question 49 Show Answer Legend

What design decisions would help reduce the quantity or improve the quality of stormwater runoff?

 A Adding a constructed wetland B Replacing all roads and hardscapes with impervious asphalt C Using drip lines for irrigation D Placing the building next to a park or other natural area

Notes:

Adding constructed wetlands reduces the quantity of stormwater runoff by providing a location for the stormwater to collect.

Using drip lines vs. conventional irrigation does not impact stormwater. However the source of the water for irrigation is important - potable vs. stormwater or graywater.

Placing the building next to a park or natural area does not address the issue.

Replacing all roads and hardscapes with impervious asphalt is incorrect. Use pervious pavement to allow water to filter through.Question 50 Show Answer Legend

In an integrated design approach, when does the green building process end?

 A At the construction phase B At the bidding phase C At the design phase D At final occupancy

Notes:

Reference: Sustainable Building Technical Manual Part II

The extra phases of green building begin in the pre-design and end at final occupancy. The integrated team doesn't meet just once in the design phase; they communicate throughout the entire project to ensure that the green goals are being met.Question 51 Show Answer Legend

How long can a project team take after project completion to phase-out any CFC-based refrigerants?

 A 4 years B 2 years C 3 years D 5 years

Notes:

The project team can take 5 years from project completion to phase out CFC-based refrigerants, as long as the annual leakage rate of CFC-based refrigerants is reduced to 5% or less.

Question 52 Show Answer LegendWhat type of water has the highest quality?

  Well water

A B Graywater

 C Stormwater

 D Non-potable water

Notes:

Potable water is water that is suitable for drinking.

Potable water is water that meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water standards and comes from wells or the municipal water supply.

Question 53 Show Answer LegendWhat is the EPAct of 1992 used for?

 A To set the baseline water flow requirements of toilets and fixtures

 B To define ODP and GWP limits for refrigerants

 C To determine the baseline building energy performance for buildings 20,000 sq. ft. or less

 D To define the VOC content limits of certain building materials

Notes:

EPAct of 1992 set water flow limits on toilets and fixtures.

Question 54 Show Answer LegendWhat landscaping strategy will best eliminate the need for irrigation?

 A Drip irrigation

 B Micro-irrigation

 C Mulching

 D Xeriscaping

Notes:

Xeriscaping is a landscaping method that employs drought-resistant plants to minimize or eliminate water use.

Micro-irrigation and drip irrigation are both irrigation techniques.

Mulching helps retain moisture for plants, but it is not the BEST strategy from the choices given.

Question 55 Show Answer LegendIf a building has already earned LEED for New Construction certification, what additional certifications could the project earn?

 A Neighborhood Development

 B Operations & Maintenance

 C Core & Shell

 D Commercial Interiors

Notes:

Core & Shell cannot occur after New Construction certification.

Neighborhood Development applies to the community, not to a building.

Question 56 Show Answer LegendWhich of the following is not a strategy to reduce construction waste?

 A Sell unused materials

 B Use salvaged materials

 C Recycle materials

 D Maximize the building footprint

Notes:

Note the question asks what is not a strategy.

To reduce construction waste, divert any unused materials from the waste stream-namely, landfills and incinerators.

Materials can be donated, sold, or recycled, to keep them out of landfills and to help reduce the demand for virgin materials.

Question 57 Show Answer LegendWhat are the life cycle costing benefits of a vegetated roof?

 A Reduced heat islands B Longer product life C Reduction in storm water runoff D Lower maintenance costs

Notes:

Life cycle costing is used to evaluate economic performance and takes into account operational and maintenance costs throughout the life of the product.

Reducing stormwater runoff and heat islands are environmental benefits which would be determined by life-cycle analysis (environmental analysis).Question 58 Show Answer Legend

In many buildings the most significant savings associated with water efficiency result from:

 A Keeping contaminants at safe levels in reservoirs and aquifers B Reduced development costs C Reduced maintenance costs D Reduced energy costs

Notes:

Energy is used to heat, cool, and distribute water within a building. Water heating in commercial buildings accounts for 15% of total energy use (CBECS). Reducing the quantity of water used has a direct impact on the energy it takes to heat, cool, and distribute the water.

Municipal energy is also saved because less water must be treated at sewage plants.Question 59 Show Answer Legend

What types of green energy qualify as green power for LEED projects?

 A On-site renewable energy B Using no refrigerants C Energy reductions D Renewable energy certificates

Notes:

Reference: Guide to Purchasing Green Power

Green power is off-site generated power.

Green power is not generated on site (that is called on-site renewable energy).

RECs can be purchased to show green power is used for the building's energy supply.

There is the general term 'green power' which tends to mean renewable energy. You might hear this term on the news. However in LEED renewable energy has distinct credits.

On-Site Renewable Energy - energy the building produces on site. This could be a solar panel or an onsite windmill.

Green Power - a completely different LEED credit. This credit deals with renewable energy from the grid (utility providers) and comes from off-site. This could be solar power from a solar power farm, or a wind farm, low impact hydro, etc. In LEED, RECs contribute to the Green Power credit. If a project has no access to a solar power farm from their local utility provider, RECs can be purchased to earn the Green Power credit.

This can be confusing. You might look at the BD+C rating system and check out the Green Power and On-Site Renewable Energy credits.Question 60 Show Answer Legend

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

 A Plants with high watering needs B Tall plants that provide shade C Lightweight plants D Native plants

Notes:

The vegetation for a green roof should use native plants, just like the rest of the project landscape.

Native 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.

Green roofs help reduce heat islands. They also help provide greater insulation of the roof to reduce energy consumption, and they have a longer life-cycle than traditional roofs.

Question 61 Show Answer LegendWhat organization publishes Ozone Depletion and Global Warming Potential scores?

 A USGBC B World Meteorological Organization C Montreal Protocol D United Nations

Notes:

The Treatment by LEED of Environmental Impact of HVAC Refrigerants states that values are published by the Environmental Protection Agency [3-6] and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Because the WMO values are better documented, we use that publication as the preferred source, supplemented with values from the EPA where necessary.Question 62 Show Answer Legend

What would qualify as preferred parking for LEED?

 A Visitor drop-off areas B Delivery truck parking C Bicycle parking

 D Providing discounted parking passes

Notes:

Preferred parking spaces are for particular users and are parking spaces that are closest to the main entrance of a project. They do not include handicapped parking. For LEED, other forms of preferred parking include discounted parking passes, designated covered spaces, and guaranteed passes in a lottery system.

Preferred parking is a strategy by LEED to reduce the pollution from automobiles. Preferred parking is reserved for carpools, vanpools, and occupants who drive low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles. Each of these drivers help reduce automobile use and/or emissions.

LEED allows providing discounted parking passes to owners of low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles. The discounted passes may help to encourage the purchase of these vehicles that are better for the environment.

Question 63 Show Answer LegendWhat should potable water be used for?

 A Irrigation B Flushing toilets C Cooling towers D Drinking

Notes:

Potable water meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water standards. Potable water can be used for any purpose, though the intent of the water efficiency credits is to reduce the use of potable water.Question 64 Show Answer Legend

What are attributes of open space?

 A Open space is vegetated B Open space is 100 ft. beyond the building perimeter C Open space is shaded D Open space is pervious E Open space has been previously developed

Notes:

Open space are the ground areas that are vegetated and pervious.

Green roofs can be considered open space but only for urban areas.

For the purposes of LEED, open space is the property area minus the development footprint, when local zoning does not define open space.Question 65 Show Answer Legend

A vehicle must meet which requirement to be considered low-emitting and fuel-efficient?

 A Green Label score of 40 or more B Green score of 40 or more C Green-e score of 40 or more D Green Seal score of 40 or more

Notes:

Vehicles must be classified as a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board or have a green score of 40 or more from the ACEEE annual vehicle rating guide.Question 66 Show Answer Legend

Green power refers to electricity products that include significant proportions of electricity generated from energy resources that

 A Come from hydroelectric sources B Are environmentally preferable

 C Have zero emissions

 D Are greenhouse gas neutral

Notes:

Reference: Guide to Purchasing Green Power

Green power is synonymous with renewable energy.

The term 'green power' refers to electricity products that include significant proportions of electricity generated from energy resources that are both renewable and environmentally preferable (such as a wind farm).Question 67 Show Answer Legend

Why does the USGBC outline rules on use of its trademarks and logos?

 A USGBC wants to make sure it retains control over what is said about LEED

 B USGBC wants to make sure its message is spread accurately

 C USGBC wants to be able to charge a fee for logo use

 D USGBC wants customers to be directed to its website for clear information

Notes:

This question pertains to exam objective I.P USGBC Policies (e.g., trademark usage; logo usage) from the LEED GA Candidate Handbook. While we receive many comments about the relevance of these types of questions the subject matter may come up on your exam.

The USGBC Logo Guidelines assist the community in the use of USGBC proprietary

marks and corresponding language that accurately and consistently convey USGBC's messages and identity.Question 68 Show Answer Legend

What credit category is given the greatest weighting?

 A Sustainable Sites

 B Water Efficiency

 C Materials and Resources

 D Energy and Atmosphere

Notes:

The Energy and Atmosphere category has the most points available and the most environmental impact.

Question 69 Show Answer LegendWhat strategy does the EPA rank highest as having the greatest impact on waste reduction?

 A Recycling

 B Source reduction

 C Reuse

 D Selecting sustainable materials

Notes:

Reference: EPA - http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/reduce.htm

Reducing waste at its source is the best way to reduce waste. Less packaging and fewer materials reduce the demand for virgin materials.Question 70 Show Answer Legend

Some wood flooring recovered onsite from a renovation project was refurbished and reused onsite. What type of material is the wood flooring considered?

 A Virgin wood

 B Salvaged material

 C Regional/local material

 D Recycled content

Notes:

The question is asking about which groups of materials the wood flooring would be included in.

The flooring would be a salvaged material since it was found and used onsite. This material would also be a regional/local material since it came from onsite.

Do not confuse recycled content with salvaged materials. Recycled content contains materials that have been recycled. An example is insulation made from recycled newspapers. Salvaged materials are construction materials recovered from building sites and reused on different building sites in the same or a different capacity. Examples can include flooring, brick, beams, and doors.

Virgin wood is new wood. Since the wood flooring was obtained from the renovation project the wood was not new and was not cut down from a forest specifically for the use in the project.

You may hear regional materials also referred to as local materials. Exam objective V.B from the GBCI handbook is 'Locally (regionally) Harvested and Manufactured Materials'. The USGBC GA study guide also has 'Regional/Locally Sourced Materials' in the book's definitions. The terms mean the same thing.Question 71 Show Answer Legend

A site described as accessible means the site meets the requirements of which standard?

 A AIA

 B GBCI

 C ADA

 D USGBC

Notes:

Reference: Code of Federal Regulations, ADA Standards for Accessible Design

ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act.

Accessible describes a site, building, facility, or portion thereof that complies with the guidelines outlined in the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.Question 72 Show Answer Legend

What accounting methodology is used to evaluate the economic performance of a product or system over its useful life?

 A Cradle-to-cradle analysis

 B Life-cycle assessment

 C Life-cycle costing

 D Triple bottom line accounting

Notes:

Life cycle costing evaluates a product's 'economic performance'. This differs from life cycle assessment which evaluates a products 'environmental impact'.Question 73 Show Answer Legend

Who decides if wastewater from showers can be used for irrigation?

 A Project team

 B USGBC via the CIR process

 C Universal plumbing code

 D Local authorities with jurisdiction in the area

Notes:

Reference: USGBC Glossary

Blackwater does not have a single definition accepted nationwide. Adjacent cities may have different codes that allow or prohibit the use of sink/shower water for non-potable uses. On jurisdiction may define sink/shower water as blackwater and not permit its use, while another may define it as graywater and will permit its use. Review local codes before making design decisions based on the use of wastewater.Question 74 Show Answer Legend

In sustainable building, what should a project's budget include?

 A Lifecycle cost analysis

 B Project goals

 C Statement of work

 D Industry-related standards relevant to the project

Notes:

Reference: Sustainable Building Technical Manual Part II

The project budget should include:

-relevant design fees and construction costs (include the green building measures)-life-cycle-cost analysis for the green building measures-green building expertise to help your project with the design and costs-contingency measures for alternatives in case a new green technology or strategy doesn't work out

Whole building design looks at the project over its lifetime, so a lifecycle cost analysis helps define the long-term operations and maintenance costs. For example, if a Carpet A costs $10,000 but only lasts 5 years, and Carpet B costs $20,000 but lasts 20 years, Carpet B is a better choice because it has lower lifecycle costs.Question 75 Show Answer Legend

With regards to refrigerants, what is a natural conflict between the prevention of ozone depletion and global warming?

 A Refrigerants contain ozone layer gases

 B Refrigerants that deplete the ozone layer are less efficient

 C Refrigerants that are neutral to the ozone layer are less efficient

 D Refrigerants contain global warming gases

Notes:

See Treatment by LEED of Environmental Impact of HVAC Refrigerants. If a cooling system achieves greater efficiency only at the environmental price of using a chlorine-containing refrigerant, an inevitable environmental conflict exists.Question 76 Show Answer Legend

What two terms mean the same thing?

 A SRI

 B Albedo

 C Solar reflectance

 D Emissivity

 E Heat island

Notes:

Solar reflectance (aka albedo) is a measure of a material's ability to reflect sunlight (including the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet wavelengths) on a scale of 0 to 1. An albedo value of 0.0 indicates that the surface absorbs all solar radiation, and a 1.0 albedo value represents total reflectivity.

Solar Reflectance Index (SRI): a value that incorporates both solar reflectance and emittance in a single value to represent a material's temperature in the sun. SRI quantifies how hot a surface would get relative to standard black and standard white surfaces. It is expressed as a fraction (0.0 to 1.0) or percentage (0% to 100%). Materials with the highest SRI values are the coolest choices for paving.Question 77 Show Answer Legend

If an HVAC engineer is a LEED AP and also a principle participant on a project, what type of credit can be earned??

 A Platinum

 B Bonus

 C Innovation in Design

 D Quantifiable

Notes:

Projects can earn one Innovation in Design point (and only one) for having at least one principle on the project that is a LEED AP.

Question 78 Show Answer LegendWhy should a project team aim to achieve more points than are required for the target certification level?

 A Achieving more points will increase the energy efficiency of the building

 B If some credits are denied, the project will still earn enough points for the target certification

 C To earn regional priority credits

 D

In case extra points are achieved during the construction process, the next certification level can be achieved

Notes:

Achieving five or more points than the target certification level helps the project hit the target if some credits are denied.

Extra points are not normally achieved during construction. If they were that would be a sign of poor design, indicating the team either didn't model correctly or made late decisions that may have a negative impact on the whole building design.

Achieving more points doesn't necessarily increase the energy efficiency of the building.

Question 79 Show Answer LegendWhat is the most commonly used energy code in the United States and includes information such as R-values for insulation?

 A International Energy Conservation Code

 B ENERGY STAR Rating

 C RESCHECK

 D HERS

Notes:

The International Energy Conservation Code is used as the basis for energy codes in the US for many building components.

Question 80 Show Answer LegendIf a refrigeration system is inefficient, what is the indirect impact?

 A Increased energy consumption

 B Decreased water use

 C Increased heat islands

 D Decreased green house gas emissions

Notes:

Reference: Treatment by LEED of HVAC Refrigerants

Systems with low efficiency will have an indirect impact through increased energy use. Increased energy use generates additional CO2 emissions due to electricity consumption.

Using a CFC-based refrigeration system is an example of a direct impact because CFCs have a direct impact on depleting ozone.

Question 81 Show Answer LegendA granite countertop taken from a demolition project and reused in a residence is what type of product?

 A Locally extracted

 B Locally manufactured

 C Locally recovered

 D Salvaged

Notes:

While the product may be a local material, it is definitely a salvaged material.

Question 82 Show Answer LegendWhy choose a project site with a high development density?

 A The project site would be near a public rail line

 B The project would have access to public parking

 C The project would reduce sprawl

 D The project would have access to at least 10 basic services

Notes:

Development density and community connectivity help to reduce urban sprawl.

Development density does not mean access to a given number of basic services. Development density is the measure of how much development exists in a given area. The more dense the development, the less sprawl there is (usually).

Dense development does not mean proximity to public transportation will exist. Some cities have very poor public transportation systems despite having dense developments.

A dense development does not mean public parking will be available.

Question 83 Show Answer LegendWhat is a working fluid that flows through a machine that is designed to pump heat from a lower temperature to a higher temperature?

 A Graywater

 B Green power

 C Potable water

 D Refrigerants

Notes:

The Treatment by LEED of Environmental Impact of HVAC Refrigerants states that a 'refrigerant' is a working fluid that flows through a machine that is designed to pump heat from a lower temperature to a higher temperature.

Question 84 Show Answer LegendA product made in part from cardboard boxes collected at curbside pickups or from an onsite comingled recycling area is an example of what material?

 A Recycled materials

 B Durable materials

 C Remanufactured materials

 D Salvaged materials

Notes:

Reference: See O&M Glossary

Post-consumer material - is material recycled from consumer waste. (USGBC)

Postconsumer recycled content - is the percentage of material in a product that was consumer waste. The recycled material was generated by household, commercial, industrial, or institutional end-users and can no longer be used for its intended purpose. It includes returns of materials from the distribution chain. Examples include construction and demolition debris, materials collected through recycling programs, discarded products (e.g., furniture, cabinetry, decking), and landscaping waste (e.g., leaves, grass clippings, tree trimmings). (ISO 14021)

Pre-consumer content - formerly known as post-industrial content, is the percentage of material in a product that is recycled from manufacturing waste. Examples include planer shavings, plytrim, sawdust, chips, bagasse, sunflower seed hulls, walnut shells, culls, trimmed materials, print overruns, overissue publications, and obsolete inventories. Excluded are materials such as rework, regrind, or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it (ISO 14021).

Question 85 Show Answer Legend

What are acceptable ways to reference LEED in product literature?

 A ABC Bamboo flooring complies with all requirements of MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials under LEED

 B ABC Bamboo flooring contributes to satisfying MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials under LEED

 C ABC Bamboo flooring complies with MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials

 D ABC Bamboo flooring is a LEED product

 E ABC Bamboo flooring is LEED qualified product

Notes:

This question pertains to exam objective I.P USGBC Policies (e.g., trademark usage; logo usage) from the LEED GA Candidate Handbook. While we receive many comments about the relevance of these types of questions the subject matter may come up on your exam.

Reference: USGBC logo guidelines, http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3885

This question asks about how LEED can be used by various parties/organizations when referenced in product literature. Manufacturers are allowed to say certain things regarding their products and how they can be used for LEED credits. 

Claiming that product is 'LEED certified' for example is wrong.

Question 86 Show Answer LegendLEED Minimum Project Requirements prohibit gerrymandering. What does this mean?

 A Making the project building area < 2% of the site area

 B Hiding project costs in ROI calculations

 C Defining the site area to exclude green space between campus projects

 D Adjusting a project boundary for the benefit of earning credits/prerequisites

Notes:

Reference: GBCI website, Minimum Project Requirements

Gerrymandering is prohibit: 'The boundary may not unreasonably exclude sections of land to create boundaries in unreasonable shapes for the sole purpose of complying with prerequisites or credits'.

Question 87 Show Answer LegendWhat items would NOT be included in comingled recycling?

 A Cardboard

 B Plastic

 C Aluminum cans

 D Stone

Notes:

At a minimum, a recycling program should include paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal.

For LEED, stones, dirt, hazardous materials, batteries, mercury-containing light bulbs, and food waste would not be included.

Question 88 Show Answer LegendWhat type of land is NOT considered previously developed?

 A Farmland

 B Tree mill

 C Site of an old drive-in theatre

 D Graded site that has grown over with grass

Notes:

Reference: LEED for Homes Glossary

Previously developed land has pre-existing paving, construction, or significantly altered landscapes. Land that has been altered and turned into a natural use such as agricultural, forestry, or nature preservation does not count.

Question 89 Show Answer LegendWhat attribute should recycled materials have in order to take advantage of synergies with regional materials?

 A Lower life-cycle costs

 B More durability

 C Remanufactured regionally

 D Low VOCs

Notes:

Only the choice of being remanufactured regionally would help with earning credit for regional/locally sourced materials.

You may hear regional materials also referred to as local materials. Exam objective V.B from the GBCI handbook is 'Locally (regionally) Harvested and Manufactured Materials'. The USGBC GA study guide also has 'Regional/Locally Sourced Materials' in the book's definitions. The terms mean the same thing.

For LEED, regional materials are materials that originate within 500 miles of the project site. To be considered regional the materials must be extracted, processed, and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site. For example if lumber is extracted 1,000 miles away and turned into flooring 250 miles from the project site the flooring would not be considered a regional material.

Question 90 Show Answer LegendWhich projects would not be eligible for LEED certification?

 A

An existing building project that phases out the use of CFC-based refrigerants no later than 5 years after the project is completed

 B A new building project that uses CFC-based refrigerants

 C

An existing building project that reduces CFC-based refrigerants by 95% prior to submitting the LEED application and will continue to use this system for another 10 years

 D A new building project that uses no refrigerants

 E A new building project that uses hydrocarbons (HCs) as refrigerantsNotes:

New buildings cannot use CFC-based refrigerants. This is called Fundamental Refrigerant Management in LEED.

For existing buildings with CFC-based refrigerants, a phase out plan must be in place that eliminates all CFC-based refrigerants within 5 years of project completion. For such projects, the refrigerant leakage rate must be reduced to no more than 5% each year.

The answer choice of 'An existing building project that reduces CFC-based refrigerants by 95% prior to submitting the LEED application' would not be eligible unless the project had a phase-out plan in place at the time of the application and the CFC-based system was phased out within 5 years (not 10 years).

Hydrocarbons (HCs) are a category of refrigerants called natural refrigerants, such as Propane, Butane, Ammonia (NH3), etc.

The use of no refrigerants is preferred, when possible.

Question 91 Show Answer LegendWhat standard might need to be consulted for increasing building energy performance?

 A ISO 14020

 B SMACNA

 C Green-e

 D ASHRAE 90.1-2007

Notes:

ASHRAE 90.1-2007 is used to measure building energy performance.Question 92 Show Answer Legend

What environmental issue occurs from stormwater runoff?

 A Heat islands

 B Blackwater

 C Sedimentation

 D Ozone depletion

Notes:

Stormwater consists of rainwater and melted snow that run off streets, lawns, farms, and construction and industrial sites. Stormwater 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.

Stormwater runoff should be controlled onsite by harvesting the water, increasing open space, and reducing impervious surfaces.Question 93 Show Answer Legend

What is not a credit category in LEED?

 A Sustainable Sites

 B Water Efficiency

 C Indoor Air Quality

 D Materials and Resources

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:

Sustainable SitesWater EfficiencyEnergy and AtmosphereMaterials and ResourcesIndoor Environmental QualityInnovation in Design (or Operations for O+M)

The correct category is Indoor Environmental Quality, not Air. Air quality is a subset of IEQ.Question 94 Show Answer Legend

If a mechanical engineer on a LEED project team needs guidance on whether a particular software package can be used to measure energy efficiency, how should the engineer proceed?

 A Submit a CIR to the project administrator

 B Submit a CIR to the LEED Steering Committee

 C Submit a CIR using LEED Online

 D See if the credit is marked 'Anticipated' during the design phase review

Notes:

Because it is unclear whether the strategy applies to the given credit, a CIR must be submitted using LEED Online. The design phase review would not mark a credit as 'Denied' in this case for choosing one software package over another.

Anyone on the project team (after being added to LEED Online for that project) can submit the CIR, then someone has to cut a check to GBCI for the review.Question 95 Show Answer Legend

What should be used during all project phases to verify the green building goals are being met?

 A LEED Score Card

 B Commissioning plan

 C Materials checklist

 D ID Credit Catalog

Notes:

The LEED Score Card 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?'

The commissioning plan is used to verify the installed systems are working as designed.

The ID Credit Catalog is a list of all ID credits previous projects have achieved.

The materials checklist would be used by contractors to purchase materials needed for the project.Question 96 Show Answer Legend

How can green power be purchased for use in LEED projects?

 A By purchasing any renewable energy source

 B By installing solar panels

 C By purchasing biofuel based power

 D By selecting a Green-e certified power provider

Notes:

Green-e is the organization that certifies green power.Question 97 Show Answer Legend

What best defines non-potable water?

 A Reclaimed water

 B Recycled water from a municipal supply

 C Water that is not treated to drinking water standards

 D Water obtained from rainwater harvesting

Notes:

Non-potable water is water that is not treated to drinking water standards and is not meant for human consumption.Question 98 Show Answer Legend

What environmental benefit does green power have?

 A Avoiding electricity blackouts

 B Reduced environmental regulation

 C Emission reductions

 D Stability of electrical prices

Notes:

Reference: See Guide to Purchasing Green Power

The environmental attributes of green power differ from the financial benefits. Emission reductions are an environmental benefit. The other choices are financial benefits.Question 99 Show Answer Legend

What does the global warming potential measure?

 A Lifespan of refrigerants

 B Chemical contribution to global warming

 C Harm done by refrigerants to the ozone layer

 D Embodied energy of a refrigerant

Notes:

See The Treatment of LEED of the Environmental Impact of HVAC Refrigerants reference materials, page iv.Question 100 Show Answer Legend

What types of old materials/items does LEED NOT suggest reusing on a project?

 A Flooring

 B Asphalt

 C Showerheads

 D Furniture

Notes:

Old plumbing fixtures tend to be more inefficient than newer models and consume more water. For new construction or renovations, consider higher efficiency models, such as waterless urinals.