1.
Green building emphasizes using what type of design process?
Correct Answer
C. Integrative
Explanation
In a conventional linear design, disciplinary boundaries can lead to inefficient solutions. Integrative design, conversely, brings together owners, operators, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders to identify cross-disciplinary opportunities to improve the environmental performance of building projects.
2.
The installaiton of low-flow faucet aerators at hand washing stations will result in which of the following (select two)?
Correct Answer(s)
B. Reduced energy use
C. Reduced water use
Explanation
Reducing the flow of water at hand-washing stations results in less water used per minute, thereby decreasing the total water used when washing hands. This in turn results in less hot water use, thereby decreasing the energy used to heat water.
3.
Credit weightins are based on ___?
Correct Answer
B. Environmental impacts and human benefits
Explanation
LEED credits are weighted based on their relative importance. Credits that most directly address the most important environmental impacts and human benefits are given the greatest weight.
4.
Life-cycle assessment is used to determine the _____?
Correct Answer
B. Environmental aspects and potential impacts of a given product
Explanation
Life-cycle assessment is a method used to analyze the environment aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service.
5.
When is the best time to incorporate an integrative approach for a building project?
Correct Answer
A. Predesign
Explanation
The predesign period of an environmentally responsive design process is the first phase in the development of a project. Bringing professionals together as early as possible in the process decreases the barriers to implementing innovative strategies such as passive thermal comfort and links between the site and the building.
6.
What constitutes the largest use of energy in buildings in the United States?
Correct Answer
B. Space heating
Explanation
According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration, 38% of all energy used within building is used for space heating. Lighting is the second largest user, at 20%.
7.
Implementation of green building strategies such as daylighting, passive cooling, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and stack ventilation contributes to what type of cost savings?
Correct Answer
C. Reduced life-cycle costs
Explanation
Life-cycle cost analysis considers the long-term costs of building materials and design strategies.
8.
What are the three dimensions of sustainability often described as the triple bottom line or the three-legged stool?
Correct Answer
A. Economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility
Explanation
The conventional bottom line evaluates only economic prosperity. The triple bottom line, in contrast, is a was to evaluate performance relative to overall impact, including the human and environmental effects associated with performance.
9.
How many levels of LEED Professional Accreditation are available?
Correct Answer
D. 3
Explanation
GBCI recognizes three tiers of professional accreditation. Green Associate is the first level, followed by LEED AP with a specialty. Beyond LEED AP with a specialty, professionals can achieve the LEED Fellow designation.
10.
Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the U.S. Green Building Council?
Correct Answer
D. Providing and developing LEED-based education and research programs
Explanation
USGBC is a nonprofit, member-driven body whose mission is "to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life." Its primary responsibilities are to develop and maintain technically robust building certification programs and educational offerings.
11.
A development company is designing a seven-story, 100,000-square-foot condominium building. The developers will be responsible for completing the interior finishes, but will not be supplying furniture or appliances. What LEED rating system would be most relevant for this project type?
Correct Answer
A. LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation
Explanation
LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation addresses buildings, and although furniture and appliances can be included within the scope of the program, it is not required to do so.
12.
The carbon overlay in LEED is used for what purpose?
Correct Answer
A. To prioritize the relative impact of credits on greenhouse gas emissions.
Explanation
The carbon overlay is used to weight LEED credits based on the carbon footprint impact within a "typical" LEED building. The carbon overlay considers the impact of direct energy use, transportation, and the embodied emissions of water, solid waste, and materials
13.
What is the procedure required to achieve LEED certification?
Correct Answer
A. Register a project with GBCI, pay applicable review fees, and submit documentation.
Explanation
Projects must first register with GBCI and pay the registration fee. Then, the LEED submittal documentation is compiled and submitted along with the certification fee. Once the review process is completed for both the design and construction credits, a final point tally (and achievement of all prerequisites) dictates the final LEED rating.
14.
What is the earliest point at which a LEED for Schools project can be certified?
Correct Answer
D. After building completion and once all submittals and clarifications are reviewed.
Explanation
Once construction is complete, the project team can submit its construction phase credits (design phase credits may be submitted earlier). Only once the certification review is complete, and the project achieves the minimum number of points and all prerequisites, is the project certified.
15.
The licensed-professional exemption is used by a project team to do what?
Correct Answer
C. Bypass otherwise required submittals.
Explanation
The licensed-professional exemption allows registered professionals to forgo some of the documentation requirements.
16.
A team is unclear wether a proposed project strategy will achieve a specific LEED credit the team is pursuing. The team decides it should submit a Credit Interpretation Request (CIR). Prior to submitting the CIR for review, which strategies should the project team consider (select three)?
Correct Answer(s)
A. Review the credit intent and self-evaluate whether the strategy meets that intent.
C. Review past CIRs to see whether this issue has been addressed in the past.
D. Consult the appropriate LEED reference guide for a more detailed explanation.
Explanation
From the Guidelines for CIR Customers, the three correct answers should be tried before submitting a CIR. While LEED customer service representatives may be able to assist users in determining whether an issue is of appropriate technical complexity to be a CIR, they do not advise applicants as to whether a CIR is likely to be successful. Likewise, local chapters do not play a role in the CIR process. Finally, only one concise question or a set of related questions may be addressed within a single CIR, so it is not appropriate to include other issues within the same CIR.
17.
What metric is trhe best indicator of transportation impacts associated with a building project?
Correct Answer
C. Vehicle miles traveled
Explanation
Vehicle miles traveled is a measure of transportation demand that estimates the travel miles associated with a project
18.
Decreasing impervious surfaces on a project site will ____?
Correct Answer
C. Reduce stormwater runoff
Explanation
Decreasing impervious surfaces permits an increase in pervious surfaces. Pervious surfaces allow water to infiltrate the ground, thereby reducing stormwater runoff.
19.
What is acknowledged as one of the greatest threats to surface-water quality?
Correct Answer
D. Nonpoint-source pollution
Explanation
Nonpoint source pollution is caused by many sources, such as oil leaks in cars or fertilized landscape plantings, and is exacerbated by impervious hardscapes during heavy rainfall.
20.
A project that specifies exterior surfaces with high solar reflectance index (SRI) values is contributing to which environmental benefit?
Correct Answer
A. Reduced heat island effect
Explanation
The solar reflectance index represents how well a surface rejects solar heat. Using materials with high solar reflectance indexes reduces the trapping of heat in site hardscape, in turn reducing the heat island effect.
21.
A project is in the pre-design phase and the site has already been selected. The team wants to increase the open space on the project site. Which strategies should it consider (select two)?
Correct Answer(s)
A. Increase the floor-to-area ratio of the building
D. Locate parking underground
Explanation
Increasing the floor-to-area ratio results in a smaller building footprint, thereby increasing the available site area to use as open space. Additionally, locating parking underground eliminates surface parking, likewise increasing the available site area that can be dedicated to open space.
22.
An industrial facility is located in an area with no public transportation. In which ways can the project team reduce the project's transportation impact (select two)?
Correct Answer(s)
A. Provide a carpooling incentive to building occupants
B. Upgrade the company cars to hybrids
Explanation
Providing a carpooling incentive increases the percentage of occupants who co-commute, thereby reducing the total vehicle miles of traveled. Upgrading the company fleet to hybrids or other low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicles reduces the transportation impact per mile traveled, further lessening the environmental harm associated with automobile use.
23.
A project adjacent to protected forestland that is home to a variety of plant and animal life wants to reduce the impact of its site lighting. To achieve this, the project team installs exterior lighting that ____?
Correct Answer
D. Does not trespass onto adjacent properties
Explanation
Light trespass is the unwanted spillage of light onto adjacent properties. To minimize its impact on nocturnal environs, light trespass must be controlled.
24.
Prior to final selection of the project site, the owner and design team should confirm that the site is ____?
Correct Answer
A. Compliant with the green design criteria
Explanation
The Sustainable Building Technical Manual: Part II recommends developing green design criteria before selecting the project site, in order to use the criteria to evaluate potential sites and guide the overall design effort.
25.
What is the primary standard used to establish the baseline case for indoor water use?
Correct Answer
B. Energy Policy Act of 1992
Explanation
Many water-using fixtures follow the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) requirements for baseline water use. Other water-using fixtures adheres to standards such as the Universal Plumbing Code (UPC).
26.
What is reduced when a project uses reclaimed water in its cooling towers?
Correct Answer
A. Potable water use
Explanation
Projects that use reclaimed water for process uses reduce their demand on municipally supplied potable water
27.
How can potable water use for irrigation be reduced or eliminated (select two)?
Correct Answer(s)
A. Install submeters
B. Select locally adapted plants
Explanation
Submeters and locally adapted plantings both contribute to water use reduction. Submeters ensure that water use can be tracked and leaks or overwatering quickly mitigated. The use of locally adapted plantings allow further reduction, because these plants are suited to the local climate and, once established, can be sustained with little or no ongoing irrigation.
28.
Wastewater from toilets and urinals is known as ____?
Correct Answer
C. Blackwater
Explanation
Blackwater doesn't have a single definition that is accepted nationwide, although in all cases, water containing human waste is considered blackwater.
29.
Nonpotable water is typically suitable for which of the following uses (select two)?
Correct Answer(s)
D. Toilet flushing
E. Irrigation
Explanation
Nonpotable water is, by definition, not suitable for consumption, so although it is often acceptable to use for plant watering and waste transport, it is not usable for drinking, ice making, or bathing
30.
What is the baseline water use for water closets?
Correct Answer
C. 1.6 gallons per flush
Explanation
The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) establishes the baseline of 1.6 gallons per flush for all water closets
31.
Municipally supplied reclaimed water is considered _____?
Correct Answer
B. Nonpotable water
Explanation
Many municipalities supply both potable water (treated for human consumption) and nonpotable water (typically treated, but not to the same standard as potable water). This nonpotable water is often reclaimed from sources such as stormwater.
32.
Process water use can be reduced by _____ (select two)?
Correct Answer(s)
A. Installing submeters
D. Using ENERGY STAR-certified clothes washers
Explanation
Process water is used for industrial systems such as HVAC, as well as for certain business operation, such as clothes washing and dish washing. Submetering can track consumption and allow for the early identification of inefficiencies or leaks. ENERGY STAR-certified clothes washers have low water factors, thereby ensuring that they use water efficiently.
33.
What is the first step a project team should consider when trying to save energy?
Correct Answer
B. Reduce energy demand
Explanation
To reduce energy use, project teams should first reduce energy demand, followed by implementing energy efficiency measures such as installing high-performance equipment. Only then should renewable energy systems be considered. Finally, submetering equipment is used to maintain building performance.
34.
What strategy is being used for a project design that orients windows to allow the building to be warm in the winter, stay cool in the summer, and capture daylight?
Correct Answer
D. Passive design concepts
Explanation
Passive design strategies are used to reduce energy consumption by utilizing natural thermal processes (convection, absorption, radiation, and conduction) and sunlight to condition and light spaces
35.
To what do renewable energy certificates (RECs) refer?
Correct Answer
B. Off-site renewable energy purchases
Explanation
RECs are tradable environmental commodities representing proof that a unit of electricity was generated from a renewable energy source. RECs are sold separately from the electricity itself
36.
One of the most cost-effective ways to ensure optimal ongoing energy performance is to _____?
Correct Answer
A. Commission building systems
Explanation
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study found that commissioning for existing buildings has a median cost of $0.27 per square foot and an average simple payback of 0.7 years. For new construction, the study found that the median cost was $1 per square foot and had a payback of 4.8 years based on energy savings alone
37.
Refrigerents are necessary as part of the refrigeration cycle often used to cool buildings. However, the benefits of their use should be condsidered against their potential for adverse environmental impacts. These direct impacts are quantified by which metrics (select two)?
Correct Answer(s)
A. Global warming potential
C. Ozone depletion potential
Explanation
A refrigerant is weighted by its global warming potential and its ozone depletion potential
38.
A project team is selecting the HVAC system for the tenant space. Which primary factors should be considered to minimize the environmental impact of the system (select two)?
Correct Answer(s)
B. Expected life
C. Energy performance
Explanation
Energy performance is a primary factor in determining how much energy is used per unit of cooling, thereby influencing the environmental impact of the HVAC system. Expected life is also a large driver of environmental impact, as systems that last longer need to be replaced less often, thereby decreasing the impacts associated with system replacement over the life of the building.
39.
Energy use associated with office equipment, kitchen cooking, and escalators is known as _____?
Correct Answer
C. Process energy
Explanation
Process energy is defined as energy used to run office equipment, computers, elevators and escalators, kitchen cooking and refrigeration units, laundry washing and drying units, lighting that is exempt from the lighting power allowance, and miscellaneous items
40.
Which are considered renewable energy sources (select two)?
Correct Answer(s)
B. Solar
C. Wave
Explanation
Renewable energy comes from sources that are not depleted by use. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, and small (low-impact) hydropower, plus geothermal energy and wave and tidal systems
41.
How many years can an agricultural product grow or be raised to be considered as rapidly renewable by LEED?
Correct Answer
B. 10
Explanation
Rapidly renewable resources, defined by LEED as having a planting/harvest cycle of 10 years or less, are replenished more quickly than conventional materials
42.
What is the first step in a successful waste management policy?
Correct Answer
C. Reduce the total quantity of waste
Explanation
Waste reduction should be the first consideration of a waste management policy, followed by exploring opportunities for reuse. Recycling should then be considered for waste streams that can't be eliminated or repurposed.
43.
A project generates 100 tons of waste throughout construction. 50 tons are collected on-site and sent to a sorting facility with a facility-wide diversion rate of 60%. 40 tons are separated on-site and sent directly to recyclers. The final 10 tons are incinerated off-site. What percentage of waste does LEED consider to have been recycled?
Correct Answer
C. 70%
Explanation
The 50 tons sorted 0ff-site are 60% diverted, resulting in 30 tons recycled. The 40 tons separated on-site are 100% diverted, resulting in 40 tons recycled. The remaining 10 tons are incinerated, resulting in 0 tons recycled. The total recycled is 70 tons, which is 70% of 100 tons.
44.
LEED defines regional materials as originating with ____?
Correct Answer
C. 500 miles of the project site
Explanation
LEED has established 500 miles as the threshold for a regionally sourced material
45.
According to the EPA, what percentage of solid waste is currently recycled in the United States?
Correct Answer
B. 32%
Explanation
The EPA estimated greenhouse gas emissions from waste materials and found that the United States currently recycles approximately 32% of its solid waste. Even a small increase in the overall recycling percentage could have enormous environmental benefits
46.
A building material that is made from recycled soda bottles contains ____?
Correct Answer
B. Post-consumer recycled content
Explanation
Post-consumer recycled content comes from consumer waste, contrasted with pre-consumer recycled content, which comes from manufacturing processes
47.
Ongoing consumables are consumed during which of the following?
Correct Answer
C. Occupancy only
Explanation
Ongoing consumables are goods with a low cost per unit that are regularly used and replaced in the course of business (for example, paper, batteries, and soap)
48.
Which environmentally preferable attributes of materials does LEED recognize (select three)?
Correct Answer(s)
A. Are harvested and manufactured regionally
B. Contain recycled content
D. Are salvaged
Explanation
LEED addresses many environmental attributes of building materials, including their recycled content, regional harvest and manufacture, and reuse. LEED doesn't currently recognize materials based on their nation of origin or potential customizability
49.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, what pertentage of time do Americans spend indoors?
Correct Answer
C. 90%
Explanation
The EPA estimates that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, where concentrations of harmful contaminants may be dangerously high
50.
Thermal comfort is typically attributed to what environmental factors?
Correct Answer
A. Temperature, humidity, and air speed
Explanation
ASHRAE Standard 55 defines the environmental factors of thermal comfort as humidity, air speed, and temperature (air temperature and radiant temperature).