Table of Contents

Green Associate Study Guide | LEED v4 — First Edition

CHAPTER | 1 1
Introductory conversations into sustainable design and construction and the associated
benefits of the roles of the LEED AP and LEED rating systems
Introduction1
About the Studio4 LEED Green Associate Study Guide  2
The Studio4 LEED Green Associate Study Guide Format  2
A Bit of Housekeeping 4
A Bit of Study Advice 5
Commentaries: the Value of LEED 5
Recommended Reference Links 5

CHAPTER | 2 11
An analysis between traditional design and construction practice versus green building
strategies and the environmental impacts associated with each
Green Buildings and Communities 11
Green Building: Past, Present, Future 12
Green Building Core Principles 13
Traditional Thinking 13
Sustainable Thinking 14
Green Building Benefits 15
Economic Benefits 15
Social Benefits 15
Environmental Benefits 15
The Triple Bottom Line 16
Climate Change and Sustainable Communities 16
Green Building Costs 17
Hard Costs 17
Soft Costs 17
Life Cycle Costing 17
Value Engineering 17
Green Building Core Design Principles 18
The Sustainable Structure of Green Design 18
Integrated Design Approach 19
The Building Program 19
Design Flexibility for the Future 19
Location, Location, Location 20
Credit Interactions 21
Building Commissioning 21
Operations & Maintenance Program 22
Energy Audit 22

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Green Codes 23
Green Building Incentive Strategies 23
The Smarter Approach 23
Chapter Recap 23
Recommended Reference Links 25

CHAPTER | 3 27
A review of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Green Building Certification Institute
(GBCI), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the processes required
for, and associated with, LEED certification
USGBC, GBCI & LEED 27
Introduction  28
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)  28
USGBC’s Mission 28
USGBC’s Vision 28
Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) 29
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)  29
USGBC’s Guiding Principles 30
The Goals of LEED 30
The Flexibility of LEED 30
The Benefits of LEED Certification 30
The Benefits of LEED Accreditation 30
Accreditation vs Certification 31
LEED Rating Systems 31
Rating System Organization 32
LEED for Building Design and Construction 33
LEED for Interior Design and Construction 33
LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance 33
LEED for Neighborhood Development 33
Choosing Between LEED Rating Systems 35
Multiple Certifications 36
LEED Reference Guides 36
Reference Guide Structure 36
Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) 38
Impact Category and Point Allocation 38
Credit Harmonization 39
Credit Synergies and Trade-offs 39
LEED Pilot Credit Library 39
LEED Committees 39
Project Certification Process 40
Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR) 44
LEED Interpretations 44

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Alternative Compliance Path (ACP) 44
Global Alternative Compliance Paths (Global ACP) 44
LEED Credentialing & Credential Maintenance 44
USGBC Trademark Policy and GBCI Logo Guidelines 45
Recommended Reference Links 48

CHAPTER | 4 51
A review of the Integrative Design Process that gives teams an opportunity to be rewarded
for holding charrettes, having a certain number of team meetings, conducting a thorough
site assessment and having a LEED AP as a team member
Integrative Process (IP) 51
Integrative Process (IP) Credit Matrix 52
Integrative Process (IP) Overview 52
Integrative Process (IP) Prerequisite and Credit 53
Integrated Design Process 54
Holistic, Whole Building Design Objectives 55
Key Project Team Stakeholders and Disciplines 57
Design and Construction Phase Plan 58
Design Charrette 58
Credit Interactions 59
Building Commissioning  59
The Systems Thinking Approach 60
The Goal 60
Systems Thinking Approach 60
Systems Thinking 60
Systems61
Leverage66
Measuring Sustainable Building Performance 67
The Life Cycle Approach 67
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) 67
Life Cycle Costing (LCC) 68
Externalities and the Environment 69
Planning for the End Game 69
Integrative Process (IP) Referenced Standards 71
Integrative Process (IP) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 71
Integrative Process (IP) Related Terms 71
Integrative Process (IP) Chapter Recap 71
Integrative Process (IP) Recommended Reference Links 73
Studio4 Project: IP Schematic Design Phase 74

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CHAPTER | 5 77
The sustainable goals of the Location & Transportation category addresses the site location
relative to existing infrastructure, services, and transportation
Location and Transportation (LT) 77
Location and Transportation (LT) Credit Matrix 78
Location and Transportation (LT) Overview 78
Location and Transportation (LT) Category Goals & Objectives 79
Location and Transportation (LT) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues 80
Location and Transportation (LT) Strategies82
Site Assessment 82
Locate in a LEED for Neighborhood Development Location 82
Sensitive Land Protection 83
High Priority Site 84
Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses 84
Access to Quality Transit 86
Bicycle Facilities 86
Reduced Parking Footprint 88
Green Vehicles 89
Location and Transportation (LT) Triple Bottom Line 90
Location and Transportation (LT) Referenced Standards 91
Location and Transportation (LT) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 91
Location and Transportation (LT) Related Terms 91
Location and Transportation (LT) Chapter Recap 92
Location and Transportation (LT) Recommended Reference Links 95
Studio4 Project: LT Schematic Design Phase 96

CHAPTER | 6 101
The sustainable goals of the Sustainable Sites category addresses the development of and
construction on the project site
Sustainable Sites (SS) 101
Sustainable Sites (SS) Credit Matrix 102
Sustainable Sites (SS) Overview 102
Sustainable Sites (SS) Category Goals & Objectives 103
Sustainable Sites (SS) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues 103
Sustainable Sites (SS) Strategies104
Site Assessment 104
Construction Activity Pollution Prevention 105
Environmental Site Assessment (Schools and Healthcare) 105
Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat 106
Open Space 106

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Rainwater Management 107

Light Pollution Reduction 111
Site Master Plan (Schools only) 114
Joint Use of Facilities (Schools only) 114
Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines (Core and Shell only) 115
Places of Respite and Direct Exterior Access (Healthcare only) 115
Sustainable Sites (SS) Triple Bottom Line 116
Sustainable Sites (SS) Referenced Standards 117
Sustainable Sites (SS) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 117
Sustainable Sites (SS) Related Terms 117
Sustainable Sites (SS) Chapter Recap 118
Sustainable Sites (SS) Chapter Recommended Reference Links 121
Studio4 Project: SS Schematic Design Phase 122

CHAPTER | 7 127
The sustainable goals of the Water Efficiency category address the following areas: Indoor
potable water reduction; outdoor potable water reduction; water efficiency as a teaching
tool
Water Efficiency (WE) 127
Water Efficiency (WE) Credit Matrix 128
Water Efficiency (WE) Overview 128
Water Efficiency (WE) Category Goals & Objectives 129
Water Efficiency (WE) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues 130
Water Efficiency (WE) Strategies130
Outdoor Water Use Reduction 130
Indoor Water Use Reduction 132
Fixture and Fitting Types 133
Cooling Tower Water Use 134
Metering Water Use 135
Water Efficiency (WE) Triple Bottom Line 137
Water Efficiency (WE) Referenced Standards 137
Water Efficiency (WE) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 138
Water Efficiency (WE) Related Terms 138
Water Efficiency (WE) Chapter Recap 139
Water Efficiency (WE) Recommended Reference Links 142
Studio4 Project: WE Schematic Design Phase 144

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CHAPTER | 8 147
The sustainable goals of the Energy and Atmosphere category address the following areas:
reducing energy demand; increasing energy efficiency; managing refrigerants; renewable
energy; ongoing energy performance
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) 147
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Credit Matrix 148
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Overview 148
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Category Goals & Objectives 150
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues 150
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Strategies 150
Designing the Building 150
Reducing Energy Demand 151
Passive and thermal design 151
Demand Response 151
Energy Audits, Assessments, and Monitoring 152
Increasing Energy Efficiency and Performance 154
Energy Simulation 154
Using Alternative Energy Sources 155
Renewable Energy Generation 156
Investing in Alternative Energy Sources 157
Managing Refrigerants 158
Ensuring Energy Efficiency and Ongoing Performance 160
Commissioning160
Metering Energy Use 162
Building-Level Energy Metering 162
Advanced Energy Metering 162
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Referenced Standards 163
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 164
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Related Terms 164
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Chapter Recap 166
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Recommended Reference Links 169
Studio4 Project: EA Schematic Design Phase 171

CHAPTER | 9 175
The sustainable goals of the Materials and Resources category address the following areas:
sustainable construction and materials selection; waste management
Materials and Resources (MR) 175
Materials and Resources (MR) Credit Matrix 176
Materials and Resources (MR) Overview 176
The Stages of Waste Hierarchy 176

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Life Cycle Thinking and Assessment 177

Materials and Resources (MR) Category Goals & Objectives 179
Materials and Resources (MR) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues 179
Materials and Resources (MR) Strategies179
Designing the Building 180
Material Sourcing 181
Defining Sustainable Products and Materials 181
Furniture and Medical Furnishings (Healthcare only) 183
Design for Flexibility (Healthcare only) 183
Sustainable Purchasing Policies and Plans 183
Toxic Source Reduction (Healthcare only) 185
Materials and Resources (MR) Triple Bottom Line 186
Materials and Resources (MR) Referenced Standards 187
Materials and Resources (MR) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 187
Materials and Resources (MR) Related Terms 187
Materials and Resources (MR) Chapter Recap 189
Materials and Resources (MR) Recommended Reference Links 192
Studio4 Project: MR Schematic Design Phase 193

CHAPTER | 10 197

The sustainable goals of the Indoor Environmental Quality category address the following
areas: indoor air quality; thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) 197
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Credit Matrix 198
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Overview 198
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Category Goals & Objectives 200
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues 200
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Strategies 200
Designing the Building 201
Protecting the Building During Construction 201
Protecting the Building After Construction and Before Occupancy 201
Source Control 202
Low-Emitting Materials 202
Ventilation203
Occupant Comfort 204
Thermal204
Lighting205
Daylight206
Views206
Acoustics207
Occupant Comfort Survey 207

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Green Cleaning and IPM Policies 207

Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Triple Bottom Line 207
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Referenced Standards 208
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 208
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Related Terms 209
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Chapter Recap 210
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Recommended Reference Links 214
Studio4 Project: EQ Schematic Design Phase 215

CHAPTER | 11 219

The Innovation in Design credit category awards bonus points for projects that use new
and innovative technologies and strategies to improve a building’s performance
Innovation (IN) 219
Innovation (IN) Credit Matrix 220
Innovation (IN) Overview 220
Innovation (IN) Category Goals & Objectives 221
Innovation (IN) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues 221
Innovation Descriptions 221
Innovation221
Exemplary Performance 221
Innovation Strategies 221
Innovation (IN) Recommended Reference Links 222
Studio4 Project: IN Schematic Design Phase 223

CHAPTER | 12 225

USGBC has identified environmental concerns that are important for every region of the
country and offers bonus points for credits that address those regional priorities
Regional Priority (RP) 225
Regional Priority (RP) Credit Matrix 226
Regional Priority (RP) Overview 226
Regional Priority (RP) Category Goals & Objectives 226
Regional Priority (RP) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues 226
Regional Priority (RP) Category Strategies 226
Regional Priority (RP) Recommended Reference Links 226
Studio4 Project: RP Schematic Design Phase 227

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CHAPTER | 13 231

For professionals who support green building design, construction, and operations, the
LEED Green Associate credential denotes basic knowledge of green building principles and
practices, and LEED
LEED Green Associate Exam 231
Exam Overview 232
What you NEED to know 232
What you SHOULD know 232
General Codes 232
IP Category 234
LT Category 234
SS Category 235
WE Category 236
EA Category 237
MR Category 238
EQ Category 240
Exam Study Tips 241

CHAPTER | 14 243

Acronyms, abbreviations and definitions that may be unfamiliar or have specific meanings
in the context of sustainability and green building
Acronyms and Glossary of Terms 243
Acronyms & Abbreviations 244
Glossary of Terms 251
Integrative Process (IP) Category 251
Location and Transportation (LT) Category 253
Sustainable Sites (SS) Category 259
Water Efficiency (WE) Category 262
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Category 268
Materials and Resources (MR) Category 274
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Category 283

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CHAPTER | 15 289

Additional resources, referenced and not referenced throughout this study guide
Appendix289
Rating System Matrix: IP - EA 290
Rating System Matrix: MR - RP 291
Fundamental Commissioning and Verification 292
Enhanced Commissioning 294
Commissioning Activities (Cx) 296
Commissioning Authority (CxA) 297
Integrative Process (IP) Referenced Standards 298
Location and Transportation (LT) Referenced Standards 299
Sustainable Sites (SS) Chapter Referenced Standards 300
Water Efficiency (WE) Referenced Standards 302
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Referenced Standards 303
Materials and Resources (MR) Referenced Standards 305
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Referenced Standards 309
Integrative Process (IP) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 314
Location and Transportation (LT) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 315
Sustainable Sites (SS) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 316
Water Efficiency (WE) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 319
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 320
Materials and Resources (MR) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 322
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Related Synergies and Trade-offs 324

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