1- What can be used to compare the energy performance of two buildings?

A. LEED

LEED itself does not compare energy use to buildings. LEED references other
standards that are used to improve energy performance. LEED compares the
greenness of two buildings, which includes much more than just the energy
performance.
B. ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is specific to energy performance and can be used to compare

building performance.
C. LEED Online

LEED Online is a tool used to manage the documentation of a LEED project as

it proceeds.
D.Green-e

Green-e is a program established to promote green electricity products and

provide consumers with a nationally recognized method to identify those
products.

2- Designers and builders can construct green buildings that use significantly less
municipal water than conventional construction by performing which of the
following actions?

A. Using graywater and/or rainwater for nonpotable water needs

B. Installing water-efficient fixtures
C. Reducing the site's runoff volume

This is part of rainwater management. If the choice was to implement

rainwater harvesting with the runoff, that would be a correct response. Just
reducing runoff alone doesn't equate to a project using less water.
D.Incorporating native landscapes that eliminate the need for irrigation
E. Installing water meters
 Installing water meters does not reduce demand. It helps building owners
make informed decisions about water use.
F. Decreasing the number of fixtures in a project

Decreasing fixtures does not decrease their use; it just increases the time
people have to wait to use the bathroom.

3- For which of the following are the ICC International Codes used?

A. Defining minimum indoor air quality standards

B. Establishing energy-efficiency guidelines for public buildings
C. Providing minimum safeguards for people at home, at school, and in the
workplace
D.Guiding code officials about hazardous chemicals contained in building
materials
Notes:

The International Codes, or I-Codes, published by ICC, provide minimum safeguards for
people at home, at school, and in the workplace. The I-Codes are a complete set of
comprehensive, coordinated building safety and fire prevention codes. Building codes
benefit public safety and support the industry's need for one set of codes without
regional limitations.

Fifty states and the District of Columbia have adopted the I-Codes at the state or
jurisdictional level. Federal agencies including the Architect of the Capitol, General
Services Administration, National Park Service, Department of State, U.S. Forest Service,
and the Veterans Administration also enforce the I-Codes. The Department of Defense
references the IBC for constructing military facilities, including those that house U.S.
troops both domestically and abroad. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands enforce
one or more of the I-Codes.

4- An architectural firm is meeting with a building owner that has never done a
LEED project before. What are some of the obstacles the firm may encounter with
the owner?

A. The additional time for the integrative process

 B. Convincing the owner to limit their involvement in the process
C. The use of new technologies
D.The extended construction schedule
E. The substantial cost increases the project will incur

Notes:

Some of the obstacles teams face with people new to green building include:

The costs and time to hold meetings

Resistance to green goals
Resistance to the integrative process
Not being familiar with the approaches suggested
Getting people to use the modeling tools
5- Which of the following identifies the biggest difference in the integrative process
compared to a conventional building process?

A. The integrative process involves all project team members.

Both involve all project team members. In integrative process, all team
members will meet at least once as a group. In conventional design, the
landscape designer may never speak to the plumber (as an example).
B. The integrative process includes a schematic design phase.

Both have a schematic design.

C. The integrative process is iterative.

The integrative process is iterative.

The integrative process is, 'An iterative, collaborative approach that involves a
project's stakeholders in the process from visioning through completion of
construction and throughout building operation.' - USGBC
D.The integrative process has a completion date.

Integrative design continues throughout the building's operational lifetime

and has no completion date

6- A project owner is locating an office building on a greenfield near a wetland. The

project team has goals of protecting sensitive ecosystems, reducing the heat-
island effect, designing a healthy building, and reducing energy demand. Given
 these goals, where should the project team start?

A. By sourcing local materials

B. By finding out if the owner can lease a renewable energy system
C. By determining if a demand response program is available from the local
utility company
D.By completing an early site assessment

The question lists four goals:

Protect sensitive ecosystems

Reduce the heat island effect
Design a healthy building
Reduce energy demand

The site assessment is the one choice that impacts all of these other goals. If
a project team has the opportunity to pick where the building will be built,
nearly every other LEED credit is going to tie into that single decision. Before
the project team commits to a building location, they first need to know why
they would want to put it there. The team can't make that decision without a
site assessment, asking questions such as the following:

Where on the site is the shade?

Which way does the wind blow?
Where does the rainwater flow?
Where are there sensitive ecosystems?
How far away from any roads is the building?
Where are the utilities?
7- What best defines the project boundary?

A. Platted property line of the project defining land and water within it

The project boundary is the platted property line of the project defining land
and water within it. (-USGBC)
B. Portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification
 The LEED boundary is the portion of the project site submitted for LEED
certification. (-USGBC)

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.

In the case of a multiple building project the LEED boundary is that part of the
entire project being submitted for certification as determined by the project
team. For example for a campus project that might have 5 buildings, each
building is submitted separately for certification. The LEED boundary is set for
each of the 5 buildings though they cannot overlap if they property is
contiguous.
C. Total area within the legal property boundaries of the site; this encompasses
all areas of the site, including constructed and nonconstructed areas
The property boundary is the total area within the legal property boundaries
of the site; it encompasses all areas of the site, including constructed and
nonconstructed areas. (-USGBC)
D.Total area within the platted property line not including any non-constructed
areas

This is not any type of area.

Notes:

While you may have a different definition of some terms the LEED exams test on the
USGBC definitions, not on personal experience or beliefs. Therefore the practice tests
include the definitions from USGBC
8- Which factors affect an occupant's thermal comfort?

A. Acoustics, ergonomics, and views

These are all related to occupant comfort and control, but not thermal
comfort.
B. Daylighting, air monitoring, and cleanliness

Cleanliness is not a thermal comfort factor.

C. VOC levels, glare, and acoustics
 VOC levels are unrelated to thermal comfort.

Glare from too much daylight impacts visual comfort rather than thermal
comfort.
D.Temperature, humidity, and air movement

Notes:

Temperature, humidity, and air movement impact a user's thermal comfort. By

providing individual temperature AND ventilation controls, these factors can be
controlled by occupants.
9- What site selection would promote walkability and reduce vehicle distance
traveled?

A. A site with pedestrian access between diverse uses

B. A site near a solar garden
C. A site near public parking

A parking lot or parking garage is not defined by LEED as a diverse use. A

public park is defined by LEED as a diverse use.
D.A site near mass transit

Access to public transportation (mass transit) helps with reducing automobile

use in the LEED Rating Systems, however picking a site near mass transit does
not necessarily promote walkability.
Notes:

A diverse use is a distinct, officially recognized business, nonprofit, civic, religious, or

governmental organization, or dwelling units (residential use) or offices (commercial
office use). It has a stationary postal address and is publicly available. It does not
include automated facilities such as ATMs, vending machines, and touchscreens.

Examples include:

Bank
Church
Supermarket / convenience store
Day care
Dry cleaner / laundry mat
Fire station
Salon
Hardware store
Library
Medical / dental office
Park
Pharmacy
Post office
Restaurant
School
Theatre / museum
Community center
Gym
10- Which of the following materials can be certified under the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC)?

A. Linoleum floor tiles

B. Hardwood cabinets
C. Wheatboard desks
D.Bamboo floors
E. Softwood moulding
F. Leather furniture

Notes:

See the USGBC definition of wood: 'plant-based materials that are eligible for
certification under the Forest Stewardship Council. Examples include bamboo and palm
(monocots), as well as hardwoods (angiosperms) and softwoods (gymnosperms).'
11- What type of plants do the most to help reduce water use for
landscaping?

A. Native plants
 Native (or indigenous) 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.
B. Trees
C. Turf grass
D.Annual flowers

12- Submeters are a strategy to reduce outdoor water use by:

A. Providing water consumption tracking and leak identification

Designing an efficient irrigation system is the first step towards outdoor water
savings. Metering and monitoring allow the operations team to verify the
system is working as it was designed. Overwatering is more typical than under
watering but both can lead to problems. Only through metering and analysis
will the real benefits be realized of the design.
B. Preventing irrigation runoff

A submeter does not prevent irrigation runoff. A submeter only tracks water
use.
C. Billing tenants based on their portion of building occupancy
D.Providing weather-based irrigation control

Submeters do not provide weather based control.

13- Why would a project team use low-emitting materials?

A. These materials reduce the glare from interior finishes.

B. These materials allow more daylight into the core of a building.
C. These materials provide soft surfaces to improve acoustics.
D.These materials protect the health of construction personnel and building
occupants.
Low-emitting should bring low VOC to mind.

VOCs are 'substances that vaporize at room temperature and can cause health
 problems. VOCs off-gas from many materials, including adhesives, sealants,
paints, carpets, and particle board.' - USGBC

While the smell may sometimes be good (New car smell is an example of a
VOC) what is inhaled is not actually good or healthy for individuals.

By eliminating/reducing VOCs and their off-gassing, the health of those

working with the materials and being around the materials is improved.
14- What standard can assist project teams with engaging in a comprehensive
integrative process?

A. ICC
B. Integrative Process (IP) ANSI Consensus National Standard Guide 2.0 for
Design and Construction of Sustainable Buildings and Communities
This standard provides project teams with step-by-step guidance on the
integrative process.
C. ENERGY STAR
D.I-Codes

15- What is NOT a principle that should be followed for a successful green
building project?

A. Committing to green building early in the process

The green building process should begin early instead of being an add-on
later in the project. When green building products or designs are considered
after construction has already started then it becomes more expensive and
less efficient. It's like adding a second story onto a one story house. It's
cheaper to build a two story house to begin with.
B. Looking at long term savings

Often owners consider only the upfront costs and not the long term
operations and maintenance costs. Yes a more efficient HVAC system may
cost 20% more up front, but if it cuts energy bills by 50% the payback may be
only a few years, followed by 30 more years of lower energy bills.
C. Commitment to the process through the life of the project
 The green building process should not end when the occupants are allowed
into the project. Systems will need repair and maintenance for the life of the
building. Strategies that were put in place in the design need to be upheld for
the greatest benefit.
D.Budgeting the planning and design costs separately from the operations costs

By separating costs stakeholders will not realize the long term savings green
buildings have.
E. Multidisciplinary approach

One of the principles of an integrative process is an integrative project team.

Everyone involved in the project or that is impacted by the project such as

neighbors are considered stakeholders
16- What minimum contract length is required for an owner to purchase
renewable energy certificates (RECs) for LEED credit?

A. 10 years
B. 5 years

In LEED v4 5 years is the contract term for purchasing RECs.

C. 1 year
D.3 years

17- If a building owner selected a project site in an existing community with

proximity to existing utility lines and street networks, in which of the following
ways would it save on project costs?

A. By increased opportunities to participate in demand-response programs

The proximity to utility lines has no bearing on whether or not a demand-

response program is available.
B. By reduced infrastructure costs

If a building owner locates the project near existing utilities, they can usually
save on having the utilities connected to the site because the distance and
materials needed to do so would be reduced.

Consider locating a rural house 500 ft. or 50 ft. from the nearest utility pole.
 The electric company frequently charges customers to install the new line
(with the exception of participation in a utility co-op).
C. By reduced costs of electric transmission

The costs of the transmission would be the same.

D.By increased availability of grid-source renewable energy

The proximity to utility lines has no bearing on whether or not the electricity
comes from renewables.

18- What is the maximum number of project administrators that can be

assigned to a LEED project?

A. Unlimited
B. 3
C. 2
D.1

There is only one project administrator per project.

19- What environmental externalities occur when buildings use significant

quantities of potable water indoors?

A. Decreased energy efficiency

The energy efficiency of a building is not an externality.

B. Increased water rates

Water rates would not be an environmental externality.

C. Increased environmental burdens on the water supply

Every company, large or small, has 'externalities' that typically do not show up
in profit and loss reports.

Environmental externalities are transactions in which one or more parties to

the transaction are not compensated and may have little choice in the
transaction.

Air pollution, for example, is a visible externality of manufacturing, the cost of

which is generally paid by others.
 Externalities can be either negative or positive for both parties affected.
Consider the effects of locating an oil refinery adjacent to a residential
neighborhood: air pollution and associated health effects, noise pollution,
light pollution, increased traffic, risk of industrial accident (all negative
externalities) and availability of high-paying jobs, increased tax base for
schools and other infrastructure (positive effect).
D.Increased stormwater runoff

Stormwater runoff would not increase if a building's indoor potable water use
increases.

20- A large home builder is developing a new neighborhood with 200 homes.
What strategies would help the builder save on material costs and conserve
materials?

A. Low VOC paints

B. Structural insulated panels
C. Reducing hallways
D.Select products that ship with less packaging
E. Advanced framing
F. Choose products made in factories that support worker health

Notes:

The three correct choices are examples of source reduction and space-efficient
strategies.
21- What statement is true regarding ChloroFluoroCarbons (CFCs) and
HydroChloroFluoroCarbons (HCFCs)?

A. CFCs have a greater global warming potential (GWP) than HCFCs

CFCs do have a greater global warming potential (GWP) compared to HCFCs.

B. CFCs are being phased-out under the Montreal Protocol while HCFCs are
banned under the Montreal Protocol
 CFCs were banned under the Montreal Protocol in 1995. HCFCs are being
phased-out under the Montreal Protocol with a 90% phase-out in 2015 and a
100% phase-out by 2030.
C. LEED encourages replacing CFC or halon-based fire suppression systems with
HCFCs

LEED promotes using fire-suppression systems that do not contain CFCs,

HCFCs, or halons.
D.The ozone depletion potential (ODP) of HCFCs and CFCs is about the same

HCFCs have much smaller ODP values than CFCs, but their ODP values are not
zero. HCFCs do less than 2% ozone damage compared to CFC-11.

22- What unit of measurement is used for a lavatory faucet?

A. Gallons / liters per minute

Gallons per minute is a measurement of flow fixtures such as faucets.

From the EPAct standard of 1992, the baseline flow rate for a lavatory faucet
is 2.2 gpm (gallons per minute).
B. Process water rate

There is no such term as process water rate in LEED.

C. Design efficiency

There is no such term as design efficiency in LEED.

D.Gallons / liters per flush

From the EPAct standard of 1992, the baseline flush rate for water closets is
1.6 gpf (gallons per flush). For urinals the flush rate is 1.0 gpf.

23- Why should a building have a green cleaning policy?

A. To reduce the costs of cleaning a building

Green cleaning products have comparable costs; they are not more expensive
than non-green alternatives.
B. To reduce the environmental effects of cleaning products
 A green cleaning policy is intended to reduce levels of chemical, biological,
and particulate contaminants that can compromise air quality, human health,
building finishes, building systems, and the environment.
C. To provide the janitorial staff with an opportunity to be part of the integrative
design

The janitors may have valuable input to the cleaning, but the policy is not so
they can be included in the project team.
D.To decrease the time it takes to clean a building

Using green cleaning products does not reduce cleaning time.

24- A bioswale would be used to help earn credit in what LEED category?

A. Energy and Atmosphere

B. Indoor Environmental Quality
C. Sustainable Sites

Bioswales are landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from
surface runoff water during and after construction. They consist of a swaled
drainage course with gently sloped sides and filled with vegetation, compost
and/or riprap.

Bioswales would be used to help capture and improve the quality of runoff.
D.Water Efficiency

25- Commissioning of a building is intended to verify the building and its

systems meet which of the following:

A. HVAC specifications

HVAC is one system that would be reviewed during commissioning.

B. The owner's project requirements

Commissioning is 'the process of verifying and documenting that a building

and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested,
operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements.' - USGBC

The owner's project requirements (OPR) are 'a written document that details
 the ideas, concepts, and criteria determined by the owner to be important to
the success of the project.' - USGBC
C. Occupant preferences

This is not correct.

D.Local building code

A city inspector would verify that local code is met.

26- What strategies will not reduce the use of potable water for irrigation?

A. Installing native plants

Native plants require less irrigation, less fertilizer, and less maintenance than
non-native plants. Native plants thus reduce the need for potable water use
for landscaping, and reducing water use for landscaping in general. Native
plants can be used to restore previously developed sites to increase open
space.
B. Using graywater for irrigation

Graywater can be used in some jurisdictions for non-potable uses such as

irrigation.

Graywater is defined by the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as untreated

house-hold wastewater which has not come into contact with toilet waste or
kitchen sinks.

Graywater includes used water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash

basins, and water from clothes-washer and laundry tubs. It does not include
water from kitchen sinks or dishwashers.
C. Using rainwater for irrigation

Rainwater can be collected and used for irrigation if local codes allow it.
D.Replacing permeable pavement with turf grass

The installation of turf grass will increase the watering needs of the
landscape.

27- Green Seal and Environmental Choice are third party standards for what
products?
 A. Cleaning products

Green cleaning products have several standards depending on the type of

cleaning product. Green Seal, EPA, Environmental Choice, California Code of
Regulations are a few.
B. Flooring
C. Furniture
D.Electronic equipment

28- Which percentage of the Earth's water is fresh water?

A. 10%
B. 7%
C. 5%
D.3%

We have limited water on the planet and a growing population, and drought
conditions are stressing our limited existing water supply.

29- What has ozone depletion potential (ODP)?

A. Paints with high VOCs

B. Runoff from the flooding of a construction site
C. Construction dust
D.CFC-based refrigerants used in HVAC systems

CFCs set the bar for ozone depletion potential against what all other
refrigerants are measured.

30- What project areas would you find CFCs used in?

A. Radiant flooring

Radiant flooring is a method for heating floors by embedding materials in the

subfloor that can transfer heat.
B. Centrifugal chillers

Centrifugal chillers are a building application that uses CFCs.

C. Hot water heating

Hot water heating does not use CFCs.

D.Refrigeration

Refrigeration is a building application that uses CFCs.

31- Reduced emissions are a benefit of purchasing:

A. Recycled water

Recycled water supplied by municipalities helps reduce potable water use.

B. Certified wood

Sustainable forestry is the environmental benefit of certified wood.

C. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)

RECs are a tradable commodity representing the 'greenness' of green power.

They are purchased when a project does not have access to green power
through their utility provider. However, this isn't a way to bypass purchasing
power; when RECs are purchased the project still needs to pay the normal
electricity bills.

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.

RECs cannot be purchased for a project's own on-site renewable energy

systems. For example if a project has a solar array, the building owner could
not issue RECs to themselves.
D.Materials with high SRI

Materials with high SRI help reduce the heat island effect.

32- A healthcare project team in the pre-design phase is discussing ways to

protect patient privacy. Which of the following strategies would help achieve this
goal?

A. Designing waiting areas with views to the outdoors

This does not address privacy.

B. Placing recovery rooms toward the core of the building
 Room placement near the building core does not impact privacy.
C. Reducing the building's footprint

This is not correct.

D.Using sound isolation

Sound isolation is part of acoustic performance. In healthcare, patient privacy

is important - discussions between doctors and patients should be private.
Sound isolation helps achieve this.

33- What is the most likely reason that a LEED project incurred higher
development costs compared to conventional development?

A. New, green building technologies were used

While this can lead to higher costs, it is not the most likely reason.
B. Material costs rose

This is not the primary reason.

C. Green building goals were not set in the pre-design phase

The primary reason that a green or LEED building would be more expensive is
that the green building goals were considered an add-on after the design was
completed. This approach does not involve an integrative process and usually
results in a more expensive building.

The other primary reason is a lack of an integrative design team or team

members not communicating and sharing responsibilities. When the left hand
doesn't talk to the right hand, the process fails-or at least breaks down.

Value engineering some of the green building goals out might cut
development costs, but will almost always result in higher operating costs.
Consider the removal of an on-site wastewater treatment system, which will
lead to lower upfront costs, but higher long-term operating costs.
D.Team members worked together instead of separately

Integrative project teams reduce mistakes and construction costs.

34- Globally, transportation is responsible for what percent of greenhouse

gas emissions?
 A. 30%
B. 20%
C. 35%
D.25%

Selecting sites in dense areas where existing infrastructure exists helps

reduce automobile use, as addressed in the Location and Transportation
credits.

35- Which of the following is the appropriate way to document whether a

bathroom sink qualifies for an indoor water use reduction?

A. By submitting the total quantity of fixtures

B. By fixture cut sheets

Part of the documentation process for water saving fixtures is to include the
manufacturer's cut sheets that describe the water-saving aspects of the
fixture.
C. By occupancy calculations
D.By choosing the product manufacturer in LEED online

36- What impact category most directly helps with the people aspect of the
triple bottom line?

A. Promote sustainable and regenerative material resources cycles

B. Enhance social equity, environmental justice, and community quality of life

This impact category directly emphasizes social equity and community.

C. Protect and restore water resources
D.Protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services

37- A tenant is reviewing cabinets for an office kitchen. One option is

wheatboard cabinets sourced from different areas and compressed together with
glue. A second option is solid oak cabinets extracted and manufactured locally.
How can the environmental attributes of the products be compared?

A. By a review of the manufacturer's corporate sustainability policy

The corporate sustainability policy would be for the entire company, not the
single product being compared.
B. By an air-quality sample
 Air-quality sampling is done to measure indoor air quality.
C. By the product's MSDS

Material safety data sheets would probably not come with kitchen cabinets.
D.By a life-cycle assessment

Life-cycle assessment is 'an evaluation of the environmental effects of a

product from cradle to grave, as defined by ISO 14040�2006 and ISO
14044�2006.' - USGBC

The LCA would indicate attributes to compare between the products

38- What is a strategy for construction activity pollution prevention that
would prevent waterway sedimentation?

A. Protecting on-site materials

B. Reducing fertilization
C. Providing natural buffers around the property

Waterway sedimentation occurs when exposed top soil is washed off a

property during a rain event. Creating buffers between construction activity
and the project boundary traps sediment on-site, thus preventing it from
reaching waterways.
D.Increasing soil compaction

39- Which design strategy allows occupants to actively participate in energy

savings?

A. Smoking away from the building

B. Daylighting
C. Views to the outdoors
D.Task lighting

This is the only choice that an occupant can actively do: turn on or off task
lighting.

Lighting control for occupants helps them see better by controlling the
lighting levels in their area. LEED projects should provide individual occupant
controls and group controls for shared spaces (like a conference room).
40- Which building project supports the triple bottom line?

A. Flooring material with a small carbon footprint extracted from an area that
displaced local people

The small carbon footprint supports the triple bottom line. Displacing people
to get at the materials negatively affects people.
B. Eco-resort built in an area with threatened species

The eco-resort supports the triple bottom line. Building the resort in sensitive
habitat negatively affects the planet.
C. Building renovation in a federal empowerment zone

Reusing a building in a high priority designated area supports all aspects of

the triple bottom line.
D.Energy efficient building that has poor acoustics

Energy efficiency supports the triple bottom line. The poor acoustics do not
because it negatively affect the occupants.

41- Which of the following is NOT an example of on-site generated renewable

energy?

A. Biofuel-based electrical system

Biofuel based technologies use a renewable/recurring supply of organic

material such as plant matter (biomass) to produce electricity. Bio-fuels are
fuels derived from biomass. Bio-fuel systems reduce dependence on fossil
fuels.

For LEED biofuels include:

• untreated wood waste

• agricultural crops or waste
• animal waste
• other organic waste
• landfill gas
B. Solar

Solar power can be generated on-site and is a renewable energy source.

C. Wind

Wind can be generated on-site and is a renewable energy source.

 D.Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)

A REC represents the environmental, social, and other positive attributes of

power generated by renewable resources. These attributes may be sold
separately from the underlying commodity electricity. RECs are not energy
themselves.

42- What is USGBC's vision?

A. Lead and accelerate the transformation to high-performing, healthy green

buildings, homes, and communities throughout the United States
This is CaGBC's mission guide.
B. Transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and
operated
This is part of USGBC's mission.
C. See the transformation of a built environment that leads to a sustainable
future
This is CaGBC's vision.
D.Buildings and communities that will regenerate and sustain the health and
vitality of all life within a generation
This is USGBC's vision.

43- A school building consumes electricity from the grid at night while
contributing energy back to the grid during the day from on-site solar panels,
resulting in the school having no electricity costs. This is an example of:

A. Carbon neutrality

Carbon neutrality is emitting no more carbon emissions than the project can
sequester or offset.
B. Zero waste

Producing zero waste is accomplished by composting, reusing, and recycling.

C. Water balance

Water balance is the use of no more water than which falls on the site as
precipitation
D.Net-zero energy

Net-zero energy projects use no more energy from the electrical grid than can
be produced from on-site renewable energy systems.
44- One way to reduce a building's energy load is to do which of the
following?

A. Reduce a building's thermal mass

Increasing thermal mass provides improved insulation to save energy.

B. Site the building far away from adjacent buildings

Siting buildings close together can help the buildings shade and insulate each
other to reduce energy use.
C. Configure the building to minimize solar gain in summer and maximize it in
winter

This strategy maximizes a building's ability to use natural lighting and natural
heating.
D.Increase the size of the building

A building that is sized appropriately reduces energy demand. Increasing the

size increases energy demands.

45- Which of the following actions are aided by completing a life-cycle

assessment (LCA) of a building during the design process?

A. Determining the materials that best fit the project over the building's life

One reason to do an LCA of a building is to be able to compare different

material choices and see how they impact the project over the building's life.
B. Decreasing the project costs

The project costs may go up or down depending on the results of the LCA and
the influence these results have on the design. Project costs are likely aided by
an LCC (Life-cycle costing).
C. Shortening the construction schedule

An LCA doesn't shorten the construction schedule

D.Reducing the amount of materials used

An LCA provides insight into the building design. Through this process the
materials may be reduced.
E. Reducing change orders

An LCA doesn't reduce change orders

46- The point values of a credit are based on the credit's ability to:
 A. Contribute to a higher certification level
B. Mitigate the environmental harms of a building
C. Be easily implemented
D.Promote beneficial effects
E. Decrease building costs

47- What term refers to a mandatory project characteristic, measurement,

quality, value or function as identified within the LEED rating system?

A. Minimum Program Requirement

A project must adhere to the LEED Minimum Program Requirements, (MPRs) in

order to achieve LEED certification. LEED projects must comply with each
applicable MPR. These requirements define the types of buildings that the
LEED Green Building Rating Systems were designed to evaluate, and taken
together serve three goals:
1. to give clear guidance to customers
2. to protect the integrity of the LEED program
3. and to reduce complications that occur during the LEED Certification process
(GBCI)

B. Exemplary performance

Exemplary performance can help a project earn Innovation credits.

C. Credit

Credits are optional. A minimum number of points must be earned from the
available credits in each rating system to earn certification.
D.Prerequisite

In addition to the Minimum Program Requirements, each version of LEED

contains unique prerequisite requirements that must be satisfied in order to
achieve certification. The term prerequisite refers to a mandatory project
characteristic, measurement, quality, value or function as identified within the
LEED rating system. Prerequisites represent the key criteria that define green
building performance. Each project must satisfy all specified prerequisites
outlined in the LEED rating system under which it is registered. Failure to meet
any prerequisite will render a project ineligible for certification.
48- Which of the following are sources of graywater?
 A. Toilets

Toilet water that is flushed becomes blackwater.

B. Wells

Well water is usually potable water.

C. Municipal potable water supply systems

This is potable water, just like it says.

D.Showers

Shower water that goes down the drain is then classified as graywater,
depending on local code.
E. Washing machines

This is usually classified as graywater depending on local code.

Notes:

Graywater is water from laundry machines or showers that is not suitable for drinking,
but can be used for other purposes such as irrigation and flushing toilets.

Graywater is defined by the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) 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.

49- Which of the following occupants would be classified as an FTE?

A. A full-time cafeteria worker

B. A museum visitor
C. A part-time salesman
D.A full-time telecommuter

Notes:

Another way of posing this question is to ask who is in the building full-time (40 hours
per week)?

A full-time equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant in a project building.

An FTE of 1.0 means that the person is equivalent to a full-time worker, while an FTE of
0.5 signals that the worker is only half-time.
Transient occupants (visitors, guests), along with full-time equivalents, are used when
calculating reductions in water usage and some alternative transportation credits.
50- A material that has met which of the following standards would
contribute to material ingredient optimization?

A. Cradle-to-Cradle Certified
B. GreenScreen
C. Global Reporting Initiative
D.Health Product Declaration

Notes:

With Building Disclosure and Optimization remember there are two parts - the
disclosure and the optimization.

The disclosure is about transparency, which includes environmental product

declarations (life-cycle impacts), material ingredients (health product declarations), and
raw materials sourcing (corporate sustainability reports).

The optimization is about using a certain quantity or percentage of those products that
have disclosure for the project. Optimization usually includes a third party certification
for the product. For material ingredients those certifications are GreenScreen and
Cradle-to-Cradle Certified. Choosing products that have met one of those standards
helps earn the credit.

For international projects REACH Optimization can be used instead.

51- Which of the following is an alternative compliance path to the
International Green Construction Code (IgCC)?

A. ASHRAE 90.1
B. ASHRAE 189.1

An addition to the technical content of the IgCC is the inclusion of

ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High
Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, as an
 alternate path of compliance. Standard 189.1 is a set of technically rigorous
requirements, which like the IgCC, covers criteria including water use
efficiency, indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, materials and
resource use, and the building's impact on its site and its community.
C. BREEAM
D.LEED

52- When would a project team need to consider increasing the ventilation
levels to improve indoor air quality?

A. During building commissioning

B. After the occupants have moved in
C. Pre-design

Increasing ventilation may require a bigger ventilation system. It may also

consume more energy to run the system. By the time the building is being
constructed, these decisions can be too late.
D.Before the occupants move in

53- LEED credit forms must be signed by which person?

A. Local code official

B. Project manager
C. Project owner
D.Declarant

A declarant is 'A LEED project team member who is technically qualified to

verify the content of a LEED credit submittal template, and is authorized by
the project administrator to sign the template and upload it to LEED Online.
The Declarant must have had a significant degree of responsibility for the
credit, i.e., participation with and/or oversight of either implementing the
credit in the project building or of verifying its outcome.' (USGBC)

The declarant is the person who will sign a submittal template. Each template
can have a different declarant.

Each rating system will have its own set of forms that must be completed and
submitted for documentation and verification. These forms are called
 submittals or credit templates, and are accessed with LEED Online.

The project administrator assigns credits/prerequisites to individuals

(declarants) to complete.
54- At a minimum, a project team must successfully do which of the following
to obtain LEED certification?

A. Gather documentation for 40 of the points available

The minimum number of points required for certification is 40.

B. Gather documentation for the prerequisites

Projects must meet all prerequisites to earn LEED certification and submit
documentation for the credits being attempted.
C. Hire a LEED AP

USGBC consultants are not required for projects.

D.Record all vendors used on the project

The product vendors are not needed when submitting documentation on the
project.

55- A new building tenant is leasing 2-stories in an existing 10-story

building. What rating system would be appropriate for the project?

A. LEED Building Design and Construction: Core and Shell

LEED Building Design and Construction: Core and Shell is for the exterior shell
and core mechanical, electrical, and plumbing units, but not a complete
interior fit-out. LEED BD+C: Core and Shell is the appropriate rating system to
use if more than 40% of the gross floor area is incomplete at the time of
certification. (-USGBC)
B. LEED Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings

LEED Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings is for buildings that are
undergoing improvement work or little to no construction. It is typically used
by building owners not tenants that lease a portion of the space. (-USGBC)
C. LEED Building Design and Construction: New Construction

LEED Building Design and Construction: New Construction is for buildings that
do not primarily serve K-12 educational, retail, data centers, warehouses and
 distribution centers, hospitality, or healthcare uses. New construction also
includes high-rise residential buildings 9 stories or more. (-USGBC)
D.LEED Interior Design and Construction: Commercial Interiors

LEED Interior Design and Construction: Commercial Interiors is for interior

spaces that are a complete interior fit-out. (-USGBC)

56- Which of the following exemplify strategies of reducing harm to the

environment over a building's entire life?

A. Conducting a life-cycle assessment to help reduce a building's environmental

footprint
B. Developing a new building on prime farmland

New buildings use more materials than reusing existing structures. If the
building is going on prime farmland, additional resources will be needed to
bring in utilities and roads.
C. Tearing down a building and putting up a more energy-efficient one in its
place
Studies show that most of the time an existing building can be
renovated/reused and achieve the same energy savings as a new building
would have, without demolishing and sending the old building to the landfill.
D.Using salvaged flooring in a new building
E. Restoring a historic building

Notes:

Building reuse, materials reuse and conducting an LCA of a building are three ways to
reduce the harm done to the environment by construction.
57- How would the distance from a building's entrance to the nearest bus
stop be measured?

A. By determining the street network distance, excluding private drives

B. By calculating the street and/or bicycle network distance
C. By calculating the walking distance along infrastructure that is safe and
comfortable for pedestrians
When calculating the walking distance for credits such as Diverse Uses, a
walkable route is used for the measurement. LEED 2009 used a radius to
 calculate the distance, but this did not accurately determine pedestrian
access.
D.By determining the straight-line radius from point to point.

LEED v2009 uses a straight-line radius.

58- Grammatically, what language is the appropriate usage to describe a

project that has been certified at any level?

A. LEED Certified

'LEED Certified' with capital 'C' (and no hyphen) is used to describe a project
that has been certified to the base level: Certified.
B. LEED-certified

'LEED-certified' with lowercase 'c' is used to describe a project that has been
certified.
C. LEED Certified certified

Due to repetition, the wording 'project 'A' is LEED Certified certified' is not
recommended. 'Certified' to reference both certification and level is sufficient.
D.LEED certification

'LEED certification' with lowercase 'c' is used to describe the certification

process.

59- A building owner of a new extended-stay hotel is concerned about the

higher initial costs for ENERGY STAR appliances. Which of the following could
help with the decision-making process?

A. Showing the GHG emissions that would be reduced

B. Reviewing the building's energy use for ways to improve efficiency
C. Using computer modeling to prioritize the owner's project requirements
D.A life cycle costing of the trade-offs between the capital and operating costs

The LCC would help determine the payback period of the higher first costs.

60- Exemplary performance and pilot credits are awarded in what LEED
category?

A. Core and Shell

B. Innovation
 All LEED rating systems award projects for innovative, exemplary
performance, and pilot credits.

Innovative strategies are those that are not addressed in the LEED rating
system.

Exemplary performance strategies are earned when a higher threshold is

achieved beyond that required by the credit.

Pilot credits are experimental credits project teams can pursue.

C. Sustainable Sites
D.Awareness and education

Awareness and education is awarded in the Innovation category.

Notes:

Every LEED rating system has prerequisites and credits. Most of the prerequisites and
credit names are common among the rating systems, though their requirements may
differ.
61- Which of the following must occur before a project team pursues a LEED
Interpretation?

A. The inquiry must first undergo the project CIR process.

All formal inquiries first undergo the project CIR process. Project teams that
want their formal inquiry to be considered for a LEED interpretation must opt
in and pay for the LEED interpretation at the time they submit their inquiry.
B. The project team must contact USGBC customer service.

USGBC customer service can be used for technical issues, such as those that
occur with the website.
C. A committee must review the request.

A committee review may occur after the LEED interpretation has been
submitted.
D.The project must earn a LEED certification.

During the certification process a LEED Interpretation can be pursued.

 62- What are examples of construction hard costs for an office condominium
project?

A. Masonry costs paid to a sub-contractor

Masonry is a hard cost.

B. Cost for installing a green roof

Labor for installing materials is a hard cost.

C. Fees to develop tenant agreements

This fee would be a soft cost.

D.Irrigation fees for water use

Water/electricity are ongoing operating costs.

Notes:

Hard costs: By far the largest portion of the expenses in a construction budget, the hard
costs are mostly comprised of the actual construction costs incurred to build the
project.

Examples include masonry, wood, steel, carpet, tile, mechanical systems, roofing.

A soft construction cost is one that is not directly related to building, construction, etc.
These include building permit fees, architect fees, legal, financing, engineering fees,
commissioning, and other costs incurred before and after construction.
63- An environmentally conscience tenant wants to select flooring that is
environmentally preferable in an effort to plan ahead for when the tenant will
eventually move to a larger office space. Which of the following flooring
products meet the criteria?

A. Ceramic tile that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and recycles
B. Wood flooring that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and
refinishes
C. Linoleum tile that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and sends to
the landfill
D.Carpet that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and burns

Notes:
Environmentally preferable products have known end-of-life scenarios for when the
product needs to be replaced to keep them out of the landfill. These are frequently
called take-back programs.

In LEED credit, the take-back program is a type of extended producer responsibility,

defined as:

'Measures undertaken by the maker of a product to accept its own and sometimes other
manufacturers' products as postconsumer waste at the end of the products' useful life.
Producers recover and recycle the materials for use in new products of the same type.
To count toward credit compliance, a program must be widely available. For carpet,
extended producer responsibility must be consistent with NSF/ANSI 140�2007. Also
known as closed-loop program or product take-back.' - USGBC
64- Protecting human health globally and across the entire built environment
life cycle is part of what impact category?

A. Create a Strong Sense of Place

B. Sustainable Use and Management of Ecosystem Services
C. Enhance Individual Human Health and Well-Being

The components of the impact category Enhance Individual Human Health and
Well-Being are:

Support Occupant Comfort and Well-Being

Protect Human Health from Direct Exposure to Negative Health Impacts
Protect Human Health Globally and Across the Entire Built Environment Life
Cycle
D.Promote Innovation and Integration of Green Building Products and Services

65- The developer of a school project in a sunny region suggests using light
shelves to bring daylight into some of the classrooms. Which of the following
issues would arise as a result of this strategy?

A. Reduction of low-emitting materials

 This is not correct.
B. Decreased acoustic performance

A light shelf would not impact acoustics.

C. Interference with outside views

The height of the light shelves do not interfere with views

D.Glare reduction

Anytime daylight is brought into the building, glare reduction needs to be

considered, no matter what method is used to bring in the daylight

66- Which of the following actions should a project team take to make sure a
building remains efficient during its operation?

A. Ensure that the building systems are functioning as designed and that they
support the owner's project requirements
Operational energy efficiency is the ongoing process of maintaining a
building's systems so that it operates at peak design.
B. Turn on all systems to their maximum output to confirm the building can
handle the load
C. Verify that no issues occur during a demand-response event
D.Run computer simulations to prioritize energy-efficiency opportunities

67- What does the use of light-colored, pervious paving help with?

A. Habitat conservation
B. Heat island reduction

Light colored paving, or paving with a high SRI value, helps reduce the heat
island effect.

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.
C. Rainwater management

Pervious paving helps with reducing runoff by allowing rainwater to percolate

through the pavement.
D.Open space
68- What must be considered in the project budget for a green building
project that would not be part of a conventional project?

A. Additional time in the schedule for construction

'One of the main potential benefits of IPD is the reduction of construction time
due to the extensive planning and changes to project processes.' (AIA IPD
Guide)
B. Added building equipment to make the building more energy efficient

Green building doesn't necessarily require added equipment for efficiency.

C. Selecting only ENERGY STAR appliances

While ENERGY STAR appliances do save more energy compared to non ENERGY
STAR appliances, green buildings do not require ENERGY STAR appliances.
D.Contingencies for research of unconventional techniques or materials

The manual states project teams should determine relevant design fees and
construction costs. Also address:

1. Life-cycle cost analysis

2. Design and cost advice from experienced green building professionals
3. Contingencies for research of unconventional techniques or materials

Life cycle costing is used to evaluate economic performance and takes into
account operational and maintenance costs throughout the life of the product.
69- Which of the following can project teams use to identify a sensitive
habitat?

A. The Natural Heritage Program

People from this agency can assist with determining sensitive habitats on
land.
B. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

Arborists certified by ISA can determine tree conditions on a site.

C. The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations

This defines prime farmland.

D.State fish and wildlife agencies (or local equivalent)
 People from this agency can assist with determining sensitive habitats on
land.

70- What statement is true regarding a facility manager?

A. The facility manager has sole responsibility for designing a building recycling
plan
In an integrative project team more than one person would be involved in the
design of any aspect of the LEED project.
B. A facility manager that is a LEED AP could not earn a project an Innovation
point
If the facility manager were a principal participant then an ID point could be
earned for having a LEED AP on the project.
C. A facility manager would be most involved in the ongoing operations and
maintenance of a building
The people running the day to day activities in an existing building such as
the property or facility manager will have the greatest impact on the
successful operations and maintenance of a building (for LEED O+M).
D.A facility manager would not be part of an integrative project team

A facility manager would be part of the integrative project team.

71- When there are two or more rating systems that might be applicable to a
project, how should the project team decide which rating system to use?

A. Choose the rating system that will result in the lowest certification costs

Most of the time the certification costs will be the same for new construction
projects.
B. Use the 40/60 rule

LEED has a 40/60 rule to help project teams decide on a rating system:

• If a particular rating system is appropriate for 40% or less of a LEED project

building or space, then that rating system should not be used.
• If a particular rating system is appropriate for 60% or more of a LEED project
building or space, then that rating system should be used.
• Project teams with buildings and spaces that do not fall into the scenarios
described in a) and b) must independently assess their situation and decide
which rating system is most applicable.
 C. Choose the rating system that has the most regional priority credits

Regional priority credits are for regions, not for individual rating systems.
Each region (zip code) has six regional priority credits.
D.Check with local code what rating system to use

Local code would not define what LEED rating system to select from.

72- A university client asks about certifying multiple buildings. Which of the
following is an appropriate response?

A. The Neighborhood Development rating system would be used to streamline

the documentation process.
This is not true.
B. The Campus Program is used for certifying multiple buildings if they are
adjacent to each other.
The Campus Program is used when there are less than twenty-five projects
and they are non-uniform in size. The projects do not have to be adjacent.
C. The LEED Volume Program is always used for certifying more than one
building.
This is only true in certain circumstances, such as when there are twenty-five
or more projects.
D.The Campus Program can be used for projects not necessarily uniform in
design or operations but located on a single campus location.
This choice is the correct description of the Campus Program.

LEED volume is for prototype-based projects, usually in different areas.

Campus is for projects located on a single campus. A big university with many
satellite schools building the same classroom in multiple, distant locations
would be LEED Volume. A school classification doesn't automatically indicate a
Campus Program.
73- What is a benefit of increasing the quantity of open space on a project?

A. More habitat for vegetation and wildlife

Increasing open space helps provide habitat for vegetation and wildlife,
rainwater management, and reducing the urban heat island effect.
 B. Increasing rainwater infiltration

Increasing open space helps provide habitat for vegetation and wildlife,
rainwater management, and reducing the urban heat island effect.
C. Reducing potable water use

More open space may increase water needs due to an increase in landscape
size.
D.Increased durability of the overall project

There is no correlation between open space and durability.

74- How are the number of points a credit can earn in LEED determined?

A. The points are set by how difficult the credit is to achieve.

B. The points are assigned by the GHG emissions related to the credit.
C. Member companies vote on which credits should receive the most points.
D.Each credit is independently evaluated by USGBC within the seven impact
categories.
The USGBC LEED Steering Committees determine the credit weighting based
on a point allocation methodology.

The basic approach is that each of the LEED credits are independently
evaluated along each of the seven impact categories, in a matrix style format
with credits as rows, impact categories as columns, and associations between
credits and impact categories as individual cells. For each cell, an association
between credit and impact category is determined and given a weight that
depends on the relative strength of that association (i.e. credit outcome
weighting).
75- What types of water can NOT be used for flushing toilets?

A. Rainwater

Rainwater is a great choice for offsetting potable water use in toilet flushing if
local code permits it.
B. Blackwater

Once a toilet is flushed, the water becomes blackwater. However the water
cannot be cycled back for more flushing unless it has been treated first.
C. Non-potable water
 Non-potable water such as rainwater or graywater is a great choice for
offsetting potable water use in toilet flushing if local code permits it.
D.Graywater

Graywater is defined by the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) 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.

We receive many questions on this graywater issue - does the soap from
showers matter, what if someone washed diapers in the laundry - the main
points to remember are 1) that the definition of graywater includes shower
and laundry water; and 2) that LEED allows graywater use.
76- What accounting methodology is used to evaluate the economic
performance of a product or system over its useful life?

A. Life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the investigation and valuation of the

environmental impacts of a given product or service. LCA evaluates
environmental performance. This view takes into account the whole life of a
product or project (not assessing it from a single point in time).

LCA evaluates a products 'environmental impact'. This differs from life cycle
costing evaluates a product's 'economic performance'.
B. Life cycle costing

Life cycle costing (LCC) is the evaluation of the total cost of a building or
product over its useful life, including initial, maintenance, repair and
replacement costs as well as savings. LCC evaluates economic performance.
C. Cradle-to-cradle
D.Triple bottom line accounting
77- Regularly occupied spaces would include which of the following:

A. Corridor
B. Restroom
C. Dorm room

For LEED only, the dorm room is considered a regularly occupied space.

Read the Space Categorization section of the EQ Overview at

http://www.usgbc.org/guide/bdc for information on space types and
occupied vs. unoccupied spaces.

Further, pay attention to the differences between regularly occupied spaces

vs. nonregularly occupied spaces, and also individual occupant spaces vs.
shared multioccupant spaces.

D.Break room

78- For which of the following reasons is it important to conduct occupant

surveys?

A. Surveys are required for ongoing commissioning.

Occupant surveys are not required for ongoing commissioning.

B. Surveys reduce the ongoing waste stream.

Occupant behavior changes help reduce the ongoing waste stream.

C. Surveys identify areas that need improvement.

A survey will provide facility managers with information on areas of the

building that may be underperforming.
D.Surveys are a Minimum Program Requirement.

One of the goals of a survey is to improve acoustics, lighting, air quality, and
overall building cleanliness, all of which improve employee satisfaction.

79- Which of the following are strategies for conserving potable water?

A. Increasing the infiltration of runoff

Increasing the infiltration of runoff does not reduce potable water use. It only
improves the quality of the runoff.
 B. Installing a dual flush toilet

A dual flush toilet has two different flow rates depending on the type of waste.
These toilets can use less potable water than a standard toilet.
C. Installing a bioretention pond

A bioretention pond helps with rainwater management by slowing the rate at

which rainwater leaves the site.
D.Installing an onsite septic system

A septic system does not reduce potable water use. It reduces the quantity of
wastewater that must be treated by municipal sewage plants.

80- What information is needed to calculate the SRI of a material?

A. Reflectance

SRI is calculated by using emissivity and solar reflectance values.

B. Thickness of the material

The thickness of a material is not part of the SRI calculation.

C. Thermal gradient

This is outside the scope of LEED. Thermal gradient is the rate of temperature
change with distance; for example, its increase with depth below the surface
of the earth.
D.Emissivity

SRI is calculated by using emissivity and solar reflectance values.

Notes:

Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) indicates a material's ability to reject solar heat and is the
combined value of reflectivity and emittance. Measurements vary from 100 (standard
white surface, most reflective) to 0 (standard black surface, least reflective). 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.
81- Where should a project team go for updates and errata for the LEED
BD+C: New Construction rating system?

A. usgbc.org
 Any updates, changes, errata to any LEED rating system are found on USGBC's
website and nowhere else.
B. LEED online
C. GBCI.org
D.LEED reference guides

The reference guides don't always have the most recent updates. Check
USGBC's website instead.

82- What low / no cost structural incentive can a municipality make to a

developer to encourage green building?

A. Fee waivers
B. Allowing increases in the floor area ratio
C. Green building grants
D.Tax credits

Notes:

Make sure you check out the document Green Building Incentive Strategies to learn
about money-saving incentives:

http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/Archive/General/Docs6248.pdf

There are different incentives for rewarding developers or homeowners who practice
green building techniques spurs innovation and demand for green building
technologies.

Structural incentives include:

Expedited review / permitting process
Density and height bonuses

Financial incentives include:

Tax credits
Fee reductions / waivers
Grants
Revolving loan funds (low-interest loans)

Non-finanical incentives include:

Technical assistance
Marketing assistance
83- Which of the following strategies can a project team combine to mimic
natural systems and manage rainwater?

A. Xeriscaping and monitoring yearly rainfall

Monitoring rainfall isn't a design strategy, it is just an observation.

B. Piping and conveyance

This conventional approach tries to move rainwater into centralized large

facilities at the base of drainage areas.
C. Submetering irrigation systems and replacing potable water with non-potable
water
D.Green infrastructure (GI) and low-impact development (LID)

Green infrastructure is 'a soil- and vegetation-based approach to wet-weather

management that is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.
Green infrastructure management approaches and technologies infiltrate,
evapotranspire, capture and reuse stormwater to maintain or restore natural
hydrologies.' - USGBC

Low-impact development is 'an approach to managing rainwater runoff that

emphasizes on-site natural features to protect water quality by replicating the
natural land cover hydrologic regime of watersheds and addressing runoff
close to its source. Examples include better site design principles (e.g.,
minimizing land disturbance, preserving vegetation, minimizing impervious
cover) and design practices (e.g., rain gardens, vegetated swales and buffers,
permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting, soil amendments). These are
engineered practices that may require specialized design assistance.' - USGBC

Notes:
Note the differences in low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure (GI).
84- An additional cost that a green building project may have compared to a
conventional project is:

A. Increased prices for selecting a sustainable site

The price of the lot is a fixed price regardless of what you build on it. A site
may cost more or less depending on the size and location.
B. Permit fees for plumbing

All projects require plumbing permits.

C. Consultant fees for green building experts

The manual states project teams should determine relevant design fees and
construction costs. Also address:

1. Life-cycle cost analysis

2. Design and cost advice from experienced green building professionals
3. Contingencies for research of unconventional techniques or materials

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

LEED buildings are supposed to have lower utility costs because the LEED
prerequisites require using a percentage less energy and water than
conventional buildings.

85- What benefit does purchasing off-site renewable energy (Green Power)
have?

A. Off-site renewable energy costs less than off-site non-renewable energy

There is usually a price premium for renewable energy sources.

B. The building will avoid electricity blackouts

If the project gets the electricity from the grid it is susceptible to the same
frequency of blackouts.
 C. Less emissions will be generated

The environmental benefits of green power are emissions reductions.

D.The building design will be more efficient

The efficiency remains unchanged. The same amount of electricity will be

required to run it. The difference is the electricity is coming from a different
source.

86- At which point during the project schedule would a flush-out occur?

A. Prior to occupants moving in

A flush-out runs the mechanical systems with 100% outside air to remove
contaminants. Flush-outs are usually done after construction is complete and
prior occupants moving in.
B. After the building envelope is weather-tight

This is not correct.

C. Prior to the building water being turned on

A flush-out is unrelated to water.

D.After HVAC ducts have been sealed and protected

Since the flush-out uses the mechanical systems, the HVAC ducts need to be
available and not sealed.

87- Which of the following is aided by locating a project within a dense area?

A. Promoting vehicles with alternative fuels

Alternative fuel vehicles are unrelated to dense neighborhoods.

B. Preserving historic districts

A dense area may or may not have historic districts.

C. Increased diversity

A dense area does not translate into an area with a wide range of housing
types, incomes, and abilities.
D.Promoting walkability

A dense area with services close by promotes walking.

88- For solid waste management, which of the following ranks the highest by
the EPA to reduce waste?
 A. Recycling
B. Source reduction

Source reduction, also known as waste prevention or pollution prevention, is

the elimination of waste before it is created. It involves the design,
manufacture, purchase or use of materials and products to reduce the amount
or toxicity of what is thrown away.

An example of source reduction is using less packaging to ship a product or

material or using dimensional lumber of the exact size needed.

The four preferred strategies of the EPA for reducing waste are, in order:

Source reduction
Reuse
Recycling
Waste to energy
C. Waste to energy

Waste-to-energy, or energy-from-waste, is the process of generating energy

in the form of electricity and/or heat from the incineration of waste.

D.Reuse

89- A building owner and general contractor are creating a construction plan
to improve the air quality during the construction process. What should the plan
address?

A. Use low VOC materials, monitor carbon dioxide, monitor outdoor airflow

These choices all improve occupant health after construction.

B. Conduct custodial training, use fans to blow out construction dust, orient the
building properly

Custodian training helps with green cleaning (after construction).

Using fans to blow out dust is not a recommended strategy.

Building orientation helps reduce energy demand.

 C. Keep dust and dirt out of the building, protect materials from moisture
damage, flush-out the building before occupancy

Housekeeping during the construction process keeps dust and dirt from
collecting in the building and it's installed systems.

Protecting materials from moisture damage can prevent rot and mold.
Protecting equipment from dust and dirt by capping cand covering intakes
and openings protects the systems.

A flush-out runs the mechanical systems with 100% outside air to remove
contaminants. Flush-outs are usually done after construction is complete and
prior occupants moving in.
D.Increase ventilation, calibrate sensors and monitors, conduct an occupant
survey
These choices all improve occupant health after construction.

90- What helps a project take advantage of the environmental assets of the
area they live in?

A. Local building code

Local building codes represent the minimum codes that a project must adhere
to.

State and local jurisdictions may develop their own regulations or adopt
building codes based on national model codes. State and local codes are
typically based on national model codes published by the International Code
Council (ICC)
B. Regional Priority credits

Regional priority credits are bonus points projects can earn by addressing
environmental concerns (water shortages) and environmental assets
(abundant sunlight) in their areas.
C. Minimum Program Requirements

MPRs are the minimum characteristics or conditions that make a project

appropriate to pursue LEED certification. These requirements are foundational
 to all LEED projects and define the types of buildings, spaces, and
neighborhoods that the LEED rating system is designed to evaluate.
D.Prerequisites

In addition to the Minimum Program Requirements, each version of LEED

contains unique prerequisite requirements that must be satisfied in order to
achieve certification. The term prerequisite refers to a mandatory project
characteristic, measurement, quality, value or function as identified within the
LEED rating system. Prerequisites represent the key criteria that define green
building performance. Each project must satisfy all specified prerequisites
outlined in the LEED rating system under which it is registered. Failure to meet
any prerequisite will render a project ineligible for certification.
91- What is a brownfield?

A. A site that has been graded

A graded site is previously developed, but not a brownfield.

B. An infill site

Infill development occurs within established urban areas where the site or area
either is a vacant place between other developments or has previously been
used for another urban purpose.
C. Previously used or redeveloped land that may be contaminated with
hazardous waste or pollution
Brownfields are previously used or redeveloped land that may be
contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution (-USGBC). The land has the
potential to be reused once any hazardous substances, pollutants, or
contaminants are remediated.

Projects may get special deals on developing on these sites if the owner cleans
them up first.
D.Gaps between existing infrastructure

This is also infill.

92- What is true if a building code official finds an issue between a proposed
energy efficiency strategy and the city's building electrical code?

A. The project administrator should re-run the energy model

 B. The project team must alter the design

The strategy will need to be reworked to fit with the local electrical code.
C. The electrical contractor can proceed with the design
D.A LEED reviewer must approve the existing strategy

93- What design strategy would promote biodiversity the most?

A. Planting a variety of indigenous plants

Native (or indigenous) 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.
B. Increasing open space and covering it with turf grass

Maximizing open space is the starting point to promote biodiversity. However

planting turf grass or a single species (monoculture) is not diverse.
C. Installing a rock garden

A rock garden does not promote biodiversity.

D.Installing a dry pond planted with invasive plants

A dry pond with invasive plants would not promote biodiversity as much as
indigenous plants.

94- If a project owner locates a building close to a bicycle network, which of

the following project elements could decrease?

A. Surrounding density
B. The number of diverse uses
C. Rainwater runoff
D.Parking

Reducing parking is a LEED strategy for encouraging alternative

transportation. Likewise, locating a project near a bicycle network is intended
to reduce vehicle miles traveled and thus the parking required for those
vehicles (local code permitting).
95- WaterSense labels apply to what products?

A. Irrigation submeters
B. Private lavatory faucets
C. Showerheads
D.Washing machines
E. Toilets

96- Selecting products that have been developed with a sustainable design is
an example of:

A. Reuse
B. Source reduction

Source reduction reduces the materials brought into a building. This includes
products that have reduced packaging and products developed with
sustainable design principles.
C. Recycling
D.Waste diversion

97- What design strategy would reduce the light trespass from a site to help
prevent light pollution?

A. Up-lighting
B. Install lamp posts every 20 feet (6 meters) around the entire property line

This is not a strategic design. Putting lamps on the property line will result in
light trespass past the property line.
C. Paint all hardscapes white

This would increase glare and increase light pollution.

D.Install shielded fixtures

Light pollution is 'waste light from building sites that produces glare, is
directed upward to the sky, or is directed off the site. Waste light does not
increase nighttime safety, utility, or security and needlessly consumes energy.'
- USGBC

Light pollution also negatively impacts animals that are nocturnal. There are
several strategies to reduce light trespass from a site:
 Design to avoid over-lighting
Avoid up-lighting
Reduce glare
Direct full cutoff fixtures downward
Reduce the contrast between light and dark areas
Use shielded fixtures
98- A demand response (DR) event is triggered by the ____.

A. Building owner
B. Building occupants
C. Utility company
D.Facility manager

99- A project that earns 65 points would earn what level of certification?

A. Gold

At least 40 points must be earned for a building to be LEED Certified at the

base level (Certified).

Certified 40-49 points

Silver 50-59 points
Gold 60-79 points
Platinum 80+ points

B. Silver
C. Platinum
D.Certified

100- A construction waste management plan should address what items?

A. Where onsite waste can be incinerated and where certified wood can be
procured
The use of certified wood is a design decision related to sustainable materials
selection.

Waste should not be incinerated onsite

B. A target diversion rate and what materials should be diverted from the waste
stream

A construction waste management plan should address what materials will be

diverted from the landfill, as well as how they will be diverted and how the
plan will be policed. For example:

Will we recycle cardboard? What types of bins will we need? Where will they be
stored? How will we protect the material from rain?

Only your actual construction and demolition debris are included - wood
scraps, metal, drywall, cardboard boxes, etc. Construction waste is calculated
by weight or volume.
C. The disposal of hazardous materials and corporate sustainability reporting

CSRs are used for material selection.

The plan would include information on the disposal of hazardous materials

D.A community recycling program and source reduction

Source reduction is the process of reducing product size and packaging needs
that occur at the point of manufacturing, not at the construction site.

Community recycling is not part of a construction waste management

program