LEED Green Associate Practice Exam

Exam #1
1. C
2. E
3. C
a.
b. Plug load: ordinary AC plug
4. A
a.
b. Heat island effect: reduced air flow from tall buildings and narrow streets
c. Steep sloped back asphalt shingle roof: not good
5. B and E
6. E
a.
b. Bring in additional fresh air for indoor air quality
c. Tight building envelope: air inside becomes stagnant
7. D (ASHRAE 189.1 – standard for the design of high performance)
8. B
a.
b. Ensure improvements: USGBC member-based volunteer committees (Steering Committee)
c. Technical Advisory Groups recommend technical solutions to rating system development
and maintenance issues
9. D
10. C and D
11. B
a.
b. Transportation contributes 25% of greenhouse gases
12. A
13. D (used process water permitted s an alternative water source for indoor water use)
14. C
15. B (the square footage of the project is the primary cost consideration for LEED certification)
16. E
a.
b. Reduced energy cost – most significant saving as a result of water efficiency
17. A
a. (bad question)
b. Economic performance over life – life cycle costing
18. D
19. C
20. B
21. B
a.
b. Public faucet: 0.5 gpm
 c. Private bathroom faucet: 2.2 gpm
22. B
a.
b. Submeter will not help with measuring the quality of reused storm water
23. C
a.
b. Prerequisites and MPRs must be met regardless
24. A and F
a. and F
b. Building Disclosure and Optimization: GreenScreen and Cradle-to-Cradle Certified
c. Disclosure: transparency, which incudes environmental product declarations (life-cycle
impacts), material ingredients (health product declarations), and raw materials sourcing
(corporate sustainability reports)
d. Optimization: third-party certification for the product
25. B
a.
b. Location and Transportation credit does not include ATM, vending machines, touchscreens
26. C
a.
b. Integrated pest management: develop a coordinated program of nonchemical strategies
27. A and C
a. and E
b. Some obstacles team face with people new to green building: The costs and time to hold
meeting. Resistance to green goals. Resistance to the integrative process. Not being familiar
with the approaches suggested. Getting people to use the modeling tools
28. C
29. C
30. C
a.
b. Promotes triple bottom line (people, planet, profitability) through its guiding principles:
i. Promote the triple bottom line
ii. Establish leadership
iii. Reconcile humanity with nature
iv. Foster social equity
v. Maintain integrity
vi. Be inclusive
vii. Exhibit transparency
31. C (Xeriscaping: landscape which requires little or no irrigation)
32. D
a.
b. Establish water saving metrics for measuring success
c. Metrics and measuring for success are part of the integrative process
33. C
a.
 b. Every credit category begins with Overview
i. Intent and Requirements
ii. Behind the intent
iii. Step-by-Step Guidance
iv. Further Explanation
v. Required Documentation
vi. Related credit tips
vii. Changes from LEED 2009
viii. Referenced standards
ix. Exemplary performance
x. Definitions
34. C
a.
b. IAQ: Outlining green cleaning procedures and goals for custodians
35. D (Value engineering: select the lowest lifecycle cost options in design
36. B
a.
b. Building a Greener Economy
c. Support local economies and strengthen the green building industry through supply chain
support
37. C
38. A and E
39. C and D
a. and E (carbon-dioxide and outdoor airflow)
40. A and C
a. and E
b. Install new flush valves: New, needs to be Watersense – reduce the potable water used in
lavatories or showered
41. C and D
a. and D
b. Reduce single-occupancy vehicle use:
i. Locating a project near public transportation
ii. Encouraging carpooling
iii. Encourage walking or bicycling
iv. Providing preferred parking for green vehicles
v. Discounted transportation passes for buses, rails, ferrys
vi. Telecommuting
vii. Compressed workweeks
42. B
43. D
44. B (no significant difference in average costs for green buildings as compared to non-green buildings)
45. B
46. B
a. CFC: Ozone Depletion
 b. HFC: Global warming
47. D
a.
b. Member logo may not be used to endorse a product
c. Could use in company letterhead for marketing purpose
48. A and B
49. C, D, G
a. , C, G
b. BD+C Sustainable Sites pre-req: Airborne dust, waterway sedimentation, soil erosion
50. B
51. B, C (part-time employees are not visitors/transients)
52. A, F
53. C
54. B
55. B, C, D
56. C
a. , D
b. Open space: promote sustainability by fostering social interaction and linking habitat
corridors in urban areas
57. C
58. B (VOC off-gas from adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets, and particle board)
59. D
60. A
61. A
62. A
63. C
a.
b. Double pane: better insulator, decrease energy demand
64. B
65. B, D (Would not help reduce outdoor water: vegetated roof and turf glass require additional
irrigation)
66. B
67. A
a.
b. EPA: legal protection of the ozone layer in the US
68. A
69. A
70. D
a.
b. Green buildings generally use 24% less energy
71. C (synergy: interaction or cooperation)
72. B, C
a. Many buildings implement: Uniform Plumbing Code and International Plumbing Code
b. Also: Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC)
73. A, B
a. , D
b. Locate the project near a city’s downtown core – a downtown core is definitely densely
distributed
74. E
75. C
76. C
77. C
78. C
79. D (infill site: already connected to existing utility lines; save infrastructure costs)
80. A
a.
b. HCFC-123 to replace CFC-11
81. B, D, D
a. , B, E (no inclusion of CIR or pilot credit)
b. Revision: development of addenda to supplement the rating system, maintenance of
current version, major updates to provide next versions of the rating systems
82. D
83. C
84. B, D
85. D
86. D (carbon offsets: Green-e Climate certified)
87. D
88. C (open space: on site; encourages social interaction and physical activity)
89. D
90. A, B
91. C
92. A, B
a. , D
b. Discourage developing on sensitive habitats: State/local fish and wildlife agencies, the
Natural Heritage Program
93. C
94. A
95. A
96. D
a. Maintain energy efficiency and performance: Building Automation systems
b. Ongoing commissioning: retro-commissioning: already commissioned building undergoes
another commissioning process
c. Enhanced commissioning: 10 months after substantial completion and develop ongoing
commissioning plan
97. D (BD+C Core and Shell: pre-certification)
98. C
99. A
100. B
101. D (Embodied energy of the windows: find sum total of the energy necessary for an entire
product lifecycle)

Exam #2

1. D
a.
b. Consider acoustic performance when planning room layouts
2. C
3. A, B, C
a. A, C
b. Important for success: market driven, consensus based, voluntary
4. D
5. B, C, D
a. , C, F
b. Green Globes (not Green Screen), Living Building Challenge, BREEAM
c. BREEAM: based in UK, world’s leading environmental assessment method
6. A
7. B, C
a. ,C
b. Site: food retail, community-serving retail services, civic and community facilities,
community anchor uses
8. B
a.
b. ISO 14000: environmentally preferable. Environmental Labels and Declaration, Life Cycle
Assessment, and Design for Environment
9. A, B
a. , C
b. Economic: reduced liabilities due to poor indoor air quality causing health issues
10. A
a. If building code does not allow, need to find alternative solutions (not submit LEED
interpretation or CIR)
11. A
12. B
a.
b. Paper towels that are FSC certified, cafeteria food from a local farm, ENERGY STAR
computers
13. D
14. D
a.
b. Promote sustainable and regenerative material resources cycles
c. Impact category promotes: local biodiversity, habitat protection and open spaces global
diversity, habitat protection and land preservation sustainable use, and management of
ecosystem services
15. C
a.
b. Radon: cancer causing
16. C
17. C
a. Avoid purchasing energy from fossil fuels: avoid escalating market prices
18. C
19. A, B, C
20. A
21. B
22. C
23. D
24. A
25. C, D
26. D
a.
b. CIR: specific questions regarding one credit or one prerequisite
c. LEED Interpretation: Precedent setting version of Credit Interpretation Rulings
d. LEED scorecard: helps teams decide what credits to achieve
27. B (SMACNA: indoor air quality guidelines)
28. A
29. D
a.
b. LEED Rating System Adaptations: extensions of existing rating system to address specific
types of spaces or requirements for international projects
30. A
31. B, C (historic district; building life-cycle impact reduction, high priority sites)
32. B
a.
b. Increased ventilation: tradeoff between high IAQ and decreased energy performance –
to minimize an increase in energy, use demand controlled ventilation
33. B
34. B (3% of water in globe is fresh)
35. D, E
36. A, C, E
a. , D, E
b. Structural insulated panels, reduced hallways, advanced framing (examples of source
reduction and space-efficient strategies)
37. A, B, F (MPR – protect integrity of LEED program, give clear guidance to customers, reduce
certification process challenges)
38. C
39. B
40. D
a.
 b. Commissioning: median payback 0.7 years
41. A
42. D
a.
b. UN study: 60% of ecosystem services worldwide are currently degraded or used
unsustainably
43. D (air intakes should be located near fresh air sources and away from exhaust or smoking areas)
44. D
45. C
46. A, D
a. , C
b. Reduce long-term environmental effects: Install demountable interior nonstructural falls
(design for flexibility which reduces the demand for new building materials over time),
Selecting refurbished furniture (reuse)
47. A
48. D
49. C (SMACNA: EQ credit category, not Enhanced Commissioning)
50. A
51. D (REACH: Materials and Resources; Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and
Restriction of Chemicals)
52. A
a.
b. Increase daylight but reduce energy: appropriately modeling and locating the windows
53. B
a.
b. Better indoor air quality improves productivity of the occupants
c. ETS: environmental tobacco smoke
54. D
55. A
56. D
57. B
a.
b. Installing building level meters does not help reduce potable water for irrigation; need
submeter
58. B
a.
b. Waste-to-energy: Conversion of non-recyclable waste materials into usable heat,
electricity, or fuel
59. B
60. C
61. B
a.
b. Refrigerants that are neutral to the ozone layer are less efficient
62. B
63. D
64. E
65. C
66. A, B, E
a. , D, E
b. Add vegetated open space and reduce heat island effect: vegetated roof, landscaped
planters on a terrace, trees
67. A, D
68. C
a. MPR defines types of buildings, spaces, and neighborhoods
69. D
a. Increase density: shrink the building footprint the maximize the FAR (floor-area-ratio)
70. C
a.
b. Purpose of LEED AP: to streamline the LEED process
71. C
a.
b. Disorganized: Use LEED project checklist
72. C
73. C
74. B (LEED for Homes: single-family homes and multi-family residential buildings of 1-3 stories.
Projects 3-5 stores may choose the Homes rating system that corresponds to the Energy Star
program in which they are participating)
75. C
76. A, B
a. , C
b. Ensure high IAQ: replace air filters, calibrate sensors
77. D
78. C (integrative: together, not separate)
79. E (net-zero energy: contribute from grid)
80. B
a. Should be D
b. Maintain ongoing energy efficiency and performance: BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM
81. A, C (Eutrophication: process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of
nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates, causing the death of other organisms)
82. B, D
a. , D
b. Meet credit compliance: performance path and prescriptive path
83. B
84. E (humans spend 90% of time indoors)
85. A, B, E
86. B
87. C
88. C
 a.
b. Negative feedback loop: output may signal the system to stop changing! Thermostat
89. A, B, E
a. , C, D
b. Process energy: Elevator, desktop computer, washing machine
c. Process: plug load (equipment plugged into a wall outlet)
90. D (dishwasher water usually considered blackwater and cannot be used anywhere)
91. B
a.
b. To evaluate impact of energy, water, solid waste, materials and transportation: Carbon
Emissions
c. ESC: erosion and sedimentation control
92. A, D
a. , B
b. Improve daylight: the colors of the surfaces, the types of furnishings
93. A
a.
b. Green roof: lower cooling or heating costs
94. D
95. B
a.
b. Compare energy performance of multiple buildings: ENERGY STAR portfolio manager
96. A, B
97. B, C
a. , D
b. Sensitive habitats: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the NatureServe Heritage Program
c. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – list of threatened and endangered species
d. NatureServe Heritage Program – classifies species and ecological communicates under
different ratings
98. C
99. C
a. Indoor water use reduction: baseline compared to EPAct of 1992 or 2005
100. A, C, F
a. , C, E
b. Integrative process: People, planet, profit (not consider the company’s corporate social
responsibility plan)

Exam #3

1. A
2. C, E (ongoing consumables: paper, toner, cartridges; durable goods: furniture, office equipment)
3. A (K-12 school has to be LEED for schools)
4. E
5. A
 a. : International Green Construction Code (IgCC)
b. ISO 14000 is a standard
6. B
7. A
8. A
9. C, D, E
10. B (38% space heating, 21% lighting, 8% water heating, 8% cooling, 7% ventilation, 6% refrig)
11. A, C
12. C
a.
b. Rainwater management benefit from avoiding development on any green fields
c. Undisturbed sites will help with managing rainwater runoff naturally
d. Brownfield: contaminated lands
13. C
14. C
15. C
16. B, D
a. , D
b. Subdivision of 10 homes: LEED for ND certified projects in proximity to site
c. Parking: local zoning requirements
17. D
18. D
19. B
a. : Low Impact Development
b. Rain gardens, intensive/extensive green roofs, and 50% unbound pervious pavement
20. D
21. A
a.
b. Buildable land area: Areas with trees
22. C
a.
b. BPDO-Material: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization
c. USGBC has approved programs, but does not design
23. A, C, F
a. , B, E: individual occupant spaces
b. Hotel guest room, study carrel, open-office workstation
24. C (campus needs master site)
25. A (ENERGY STAR supports LEED, in addition to its own building certification program)
26. C
27. E (CSR: corporate social responsibility, HPD: Health Product Declaration)
28. C
29. A
30. A
31. D
32. C, E
33. A
34. D
35. D
36. A
37. B (area with high development density)
38. A
a.
b. Site energy: the amount of heat and electricity consumed by a building as reflected in
utility bills
c. Source energy: total amount of raw fuel that is required to operate the building
d. Primary energy: raw fuel that is burned to create heat and electricity
e. Secondary energy: energy product (heat or electricity) created from a raw field, such as
electricity purchased from the grid or heat received from a district stream system
39. D (heaviest weighting: 35%, reverse contribution to global climate change)
40. C
41. A, C
a. , C
b. Global Alternative Compliance Path (Global ACPs) and Alternative Compliance Paths
(ACPs)
42. A
a.
b. RECs (Renewable Energy Credit) are tradable commodities
43. B
44. B
45. C, D
a. , D
b. Renewable energy sources: Dung, Hydro resources
c. Primary renewable energy sources: solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind, wave and tidal
low-impact hydroelectricity, geothermal, biofuel, dung
d. Coal, oil, and natural gas: hydrocarbons and non-renewable
e. Energy flow:
i. Primary energy (energy as available in the natural environment)
ii. Secondary energy (energy ready for transport or transmission, electricity)
iii. Final energy (energy which the consumer buys or receives)
iv. Useful energy (energy which is an input in an end-use application; shaft for
power-sawing)
46. B
47. A, D
a. , E
b. SMACNA
i. Capping the ducts to mechanical systems
ii. Sweep periodically to control dust
iii. Keep site free of dust and dirt (inside)
 iv. Protect building materials from moisture damage to prevent mold growth
v. Preventing smoking in and around the building
48. A (stakeholder: verify info on LEED credit forms and authorized by project administrator to sign
form)
49. B (district heating and cooling system)
50. A
51. A
52. C
a.
b. Less parking: protect sensitive land
53. D
a.
b. Xeriscaping: requires little to no irrigation
54. B (vision: buildings will regenerate; mission: transform buildings)
55. C, E (ASHRAE 189.1: standard for the design of high performance, green building except low-rise
residential)
56. B, C, G (occ lighting control, occ sensor, daylight sensor)
57. A (Commissioning: OPR)
58. B, D, F
59. C
a.
b. Bicycle: including a vicinity map showing the bicycle network, route, and distance along
the network to eligible destinations
60. A (depending on the space categorization, the credit requirements may not apply)
61. B
a.
b. Hospitals: design rooms with modular systems
62. A
a.
b. MSDS: Manufacturer safety data sheet
63. D
64. C
65. B, D
66. D
a.
b. Street grid patterns: connectivity/walkability – ability for people to get from place to
place easily without using automobiles
67. D
68. A (design part of split review: allow LEED credits to be assessed prior to substantial construction
completion)
69. A, C
70. B
71. B
72. D
73. C (open office: trade-off poor acoustic)
74. B
75. C, E (native plant: evapotranspiration, support pest management)
76. A, B
77. A, B
78. B, F
79. D
80. A
a.
b. Systems thinking: understanding of the built environment as a series of relationships in
which all parts influence many other parts
c. Integrative process: bring members together
d. Regenerative design: without compromising future generations’ ability
81. A
a.
b. Using a fixture cut-sheet
82. B (site assessment)
83. A
a. : local residents understand their own area the best
84. A, B, C
85. B
86. D
87. A
a.
b. Reusing an existing building: Materials and Resources benefits the greatest
c. Location and transportation not enough information
88. B
a. : Environmental Choice for EBOM green cleaning
89. C
90. C
a.
b. Most important for reducing building emissions: Building location
91. C
a.
b. GI: green infrastructure, vegetation-based approach to wet-weather management
c. LID: low-impact development, manage water runoff
92. A
93. A
94. B
95. D
a.
b. Environmental Protection Declaration: must follow ISO (International Standards
Organization)
96. B
 a.
b. LEED for New Construction: use 40/60 rule
97. C, D
a. , B
b. Ventilation level: types of occupant activities being performed, type of occupant
clothing
c. Thermal comfort: Environmental factors: air temp, radiant temp, air velocity, humidity;
Personal: clothing insulation, metabolic heat
98. B (mulch higher slope areas: not require for achieving construction activity pollution)
99. C, D
a. , C
b. Open space: pedestrian-oriented paving areas that encourage physical activity
100. E
101. D
a.
b. Utilize existing development and land density: location and transportation

Exam #4

1. D
a.
b. Greater density neighborhood: more environmentally friendly
c. Mixed-use: putting apartments on top of retail stores – reduce materials
2. D, E, F
3. C (ANSI: integrative process)
4. D
a.
b. LPE: Licensed Professional Exemption
c. Submit license info and declaration of compliance in lieu of a number of submittals
d. LP: Licensed Professional
5. D
6. D
a.
b. Building renovation in a federal empowerment zone: Reusing a building in a high priority
designated area
7. C
a.
b. Stakeholder: someone who has a vested interest in the project
8. D
a.
b. Development Footprint – buildings, streets, parking areas, impermeable surfaces
9. B (U.S. buildings use 12% of water)
10. D, E (recycle/refinish)
11. A (EUI energy use density: per unit floor space)
12. C
a.
b. Legally binding document describing quality of materials: specifications
13. B, C
a. , E
b. Protecting green fields: site assessment, construction activity pollution prevention
14. B, C
15. E
a. , B
b. Cooling tower must be 100% metered
c. Domestic hot water and indoor plumbing fixtures: 80% metered
16. D
17. C
18. A (CIR: site plan ok; no attachments, cut sheets, drawings allowed)
19. D (efficiency first)
20. C
21. A
a.
b. Resources that have been fully used are not allowed to be released outside the system
c. All aspects of a closed ecosystem are highly integrated to ensure maximum efficiency
22. A
23. A
24. D
a.
b. Priority: Source Reduction!
25. C (smoking allowed in indoor smoking rooms for residential projects)
26. A (55: temperature, air speed, humidity; 52.2: ventilation, air filters)
27. C (envelope and core renovations: core and shell; for exterior shell but not a complete interior
fit-out)
28. A
a.
b. HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems): minimum energy performance of two-story
residential project
29. D
a.
b. USGBC corporate member receive certification discounts
30. A, D
a. , B
b. ND certified locations: excellent location/transportation, easier certification process
31. B
32. B
33. D
a.
b. Impact Categories developed for LEED’s goals – what should a LEED project accomplish?
 c. 7 categories: Climate change, human health, water resources, biodiversity, natural
resources, greener economy, community
34. B
35. B
36. A
37. C, D, E
38. D
a.
b. ALWAYS look at local/state regulations first
39. B
a.
b. HPD: Health Product Declaration: disclosure of potential chemicals. Less negative health
effects
40. D
41. E
a.
b. Increase floor to area ratio: increase open space
42. A, B, C
a. , C, D
b. Pre-consumer: material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing
process
c. Post-consumer: waste material generated by households or by commercial, industrial
and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the product, which can no longer
be used for its intended purpose
43. C
44. B, D, E
a. , C, D
b. Blighted area: neglected/abandoned
45. A
46. E
a.
b. Legal requirements: non-potable water sources
47. D
48. C
a.
b. Smoking for whatever reason: cannot be certified
49. A
50. C (commercial buildings: Awareness and Education are covered under the Innovation category)
51. B (long atmospheric life: high ODP)
52. D
53. C
a.
b. LEED v4: 21 rating systems (BC+C 10, ID++C 3, O+M 6, ND 2)
54. B
 a.
b. Systems thinking: understand how the built environment affects every other part.
Research how occupants will travel to the project
55. D
a.
b. EPAct 1992: set baseline waterflow requirements of toilets and fixtures
56. C
a.
b. Brownfield: encourage investment in economically disadvantaged or low-income areas
57. B
58. B, C, D
59. D
60. C
61. A, E
a. , D
b. Proximity to diverse uses: reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas (walkable, less cars)
62. C (transportation: 66.6% of global emissions)
63. D
a.
b. Green Seal: USA
c. Global Ecolabeling Network: outside US
64. A, F
a. , D
b. Erosion sedimentation control (ESC): Help the creation of buffers between development
water resources
c. Low impact development (LID): on-site rainwater management
65. A (xeriscaping most bang for buck; cisterns expensive to buy and maintain)
66. C (natural buffers: prevent rain water from carrying pollutants)
67. D
68. D
69. C
70. D
71. C
a.
b. Externalities: cost or benefit that affects a party who did not choose to incur that cost or
benefit
c. Ponzi effect: positive feedback system
72. D (retro-commissioning: performed on existing buildings to identify and recognize system
improvements)
73. D
a.
b. Wet building materials: replace to ensure no mold
74. B, E
 a. On-site wastewater treatment: reduce demand for wastewater treatment
infrastructure, reduce energy required to treat wastewater
75. D
76. B
77. B, C
78. C
a.
b. IAQ plan during construction: protect materials from moisture damage, flush-out the
building before occupancy and restrict entry of dust
79. D
80. D
81. D
82. A
83. C (ozone depletion: energy use and choice of refrigerants; local value factors worth 200% of
normal cost relate to raw material extraction, locally sourced materials)
84. A, D, E
85. C
a.
b. Compost: reduce indoor water use
86. E
87. D
88. D, F
89. A
a.
b. FAR: non-residential on buildable land
90. D
91. C (Energy Star: use LEED Online for project timeline)
92. D
a.
b. Carbon offsets: reforestation, changing land use, and methane abatement
93. D
94. A, C
95. B C, E
96. B
a.
b. Industry lacking a way to define a green building through third-party verification
97. C
98. C
a.
b. ITE: determine amount of parking needed
99. D
100. B
101. B (site located in existing LEED for ND certified worth the most)
Exam #5
1. B, C, E
2. A, D
a. , E
3. A, C
4. C
a.
b. Toilet: 1.6 gpf
5. A, D, E
6. D
7. C
a.
b. ASHRAE 189.1: Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential
Buildings
8. B
9. D
10. E
a.
b. Thermal emittance: shed infrared radiation (heat)
11. E
12. A, C
a. , C
b. LEED site boundary: affects exterior light pollution, determining where site disturbance
must stop (site development – protect or restore habitat)
13. D
a.
b. EPD: evaluate material’s carbon footprint
14. A, B
a. , D
b. Increased ventilation: Active mechanical ventilation, passive ventilation
15. B
16. B, C
17. C
18. B, C, F
19. B
20. B, E
21. A
a.
b. Baseline flush rate for urinals: 1.0 gpf
22. B
23. C, D, E
a. , C, E
b. Vegetative roofs: enhanced acoustical performance, increased durability, reduced heat
island effect
24. B
25. E
a. IEQ and Energy & Atmosphere: Daylighting strategies, Low emitting materials