USGBC LEED AP BD+C Exam Questions

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1.

What information must be included in the sustainability report from the raw material suppliers?

  • A commitment to reducing environmental harms 

  • A list of other products manufactured in the same facility

  • A commitment to the recycling and reuse of materials 

  • A list of any and all sustainability certifications their buildings have received

Correct answer: A commitment to reducing environmental harms 

Raw material suppliers with a publicly released report must have a commitment to engaging in long-term ecologically responsible land use, reducing environmental harms from extraction and/or manufacturing processes, and meeting applicable standards. 

Suppliers are not required to provide a list of other products manufactured in the same facility, a commitment to the recycling and reuse of materials, or a list of any and all sustainability certifications their buildings have received. 

2.

A project team is looking at the surrounding transportation and at occupant and community well-being. Which of the following are they working on? 

  • Selecting a site 

  • Performing a preliminary simple box energy modeling analysis 

  • Performing a preliminary water budget analysis 

  • Assessing occupant satisfaction

Correct answer: Selecting a site 

The surrounding transportation, occupant and community well-being, and transportation are the minimum aspects that teams should look into before selecting a site. 

This scenario does not describe performing a preliminary simple box energy modeling analysis, performing a preliminary water budget analysis, or assessing occupant satisfaction, none of which consider surrounding transportation or community well-being. 

3.

Which of the following would be the best time for a healthcare project to carry out the required charrette? 

  • Before the schematic design phase

  • After the schematic design phase

  • There is no preferred time

  • At the end of the project

Correct answer: Before the schematic design phase

While projects can decide for themselves the best time to perform the charrette, it is preferable that they carry out this requirement before the schematic design phase. The earlier they do this, the more useful the charrette can be. 

After the schematic design phase and at the end of the project are not the most preferable times because the charrette is less useful at these times.

4.

What is the purpose of a construction and demolition waste management plan?

  • To establish waste diversion goals and strategies for a project

  • To provide a final disposal report

  • To separate and commingle materials

  • To determine the overall project waste percentage

Correct answer: To establish waste diversion goals and strategies for a project

To reduce construction and demolition waste sent to landfills, projects must have a plan to handle the waste created by building construction and major renovations. 

This prerequisite is for construction waste, so the project waste percentage would not be useful. The final disposal report will be created after the plan is put into practice. Materials can be separated or commingled for this prerequisite, so this is not a concern. 

5.

Where should the collection and storage bins for recyclable waste be located?

  • Close to the source of waste

  • In a public area

  • On the lowest floor of the building

  • Just outside a functional entrance 

Correct answer: Close to the source of waste

Occupants are more likely to recycle waste if the location of the bins is convenient. Placing the bins close to the source of the waste will encourage use. 

A public area is too broad a location. Only on the lowest floor of the building or even just outside a functional entrance would not be convenient for all occupants. 

6.

Teams performing a water budget analysis for IP Prerequisite–Integrative Project Planning and Design must assess all of the following, except:

  • Site conditions 

  • Indoor water demand

  • Process water demand

  • Supply sources 

Correct answer: Site conditions 

The assessment of site conditions is one of the options for the simple box energy modeling analysis. The water budget analysis covers indoor and outdoor water demand, process water demand, and supply sources. 

Indoor water demand, process water demand, and supply sources are some of the factors that are assessed in the water budget analysis. 

7.

Which of the following is the required documentation for MR Prerequisite–Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning? 

  • Construction waste management plan and total construction waste 

  • Verification of recycled material types 

  • Narrative describing recycling storage and collection strategies 

  • Methodology and results of waste stream study 

Correct answer: Construction waste management plan and total construction waste 

Project teams are required to submit the construction waste management plan and total construction waste for MR Prerequisite–Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning. 

Verification of recycled material types, a narrative describing recycling storage and collection strategies, and the methodology and results of a waste stream study are documentation required by MR Prerequisite–Storage and Collection of Recyclables. 

8.

There is a heavy rail station near the site where a team is building their project. To earn points in LT Credit–Access to Quality Transit, how far can that heavy rail station be from the project? 

  • Within a 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance 

  • Within a 1/4-mile (400-meter) walking distance 

  • Within a 1-mile (1,609-meter) walking distance 

  • Within a 1 1/2-mile (2,414-meter) walking distance 

Correct answer: Within a 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance 

The project in this scenario can earn points in LT Credit–Access to Quality Transit if the heavy rail station is within a 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance from a functional entrance. 

If the heavy rail station was a 1/4-mile (400-meter) walking distance from a main entrance, it would count, but this is not the maximum distance for this type of public transportation. Any distance greater than 1/2 mile is too far to earn points for LT Credit–Access to Quality Transit. 

9.

For the Sustainable Sites credit category, all projects are required to do which of the following? 

  • Create and implement an erosion and sedimentation control plan during construction

  • Perform an in-depth site assessment that includes topography, hydrology, soils, and more

  • Restore 30% of all previously developed land on the site

  • Install BUG lighting fixtures to reduce light pollution

Correct answer: Create and implement an erosion and sedimentation control plan during construction 

Projects are required by SS Prerequisite–Construction Activity Pollution Prevention to create and implement a plan to control and reduce erosion and sedimentation during construction. 

The other options are for credits, which are not required. Projects can choose the credits they wish to attempt. Performing an in-depth site assessment that includes topography, hydrology, soils, and so on is for SS Credit–Site Assessment. Restoring 30% of all of the previously developed land on the project site is for SS Credit–Open Space. Installing BUG lighting fixtures to reduce light pollution is connected to SS Credit–Light Pollution Reduction. 

10.

Which of the following would not be required documentation for all BD+C projects aiming to comply with WE Prerequisite–Indoor Water Use Reduction? 

  • Tenant lease agreement 

  • Product cutsheets 

  • Manufacturer's information 

  • Indoor water use calculator 

Correct answer: Tenant lease agreement 

Only core and shell projects can require a tenant lease agreement and a tenant scope of work narratives as documentation for WE Prerequisite–Indoor Water Use Reduction. 

Product cutsheets, manufacturer's information, and an indoor water use calculator are required documentation for all projects. 

11.

For Option 4: Whole Building Life-Cycle Assessment of MR Credit–Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, in which impact category must project teams show a reduction of at least 10% compared to a baseline building?

  • Global warming potential

  • Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer

  • Acidification of land and water sources

  • Formation of tropospheric ozone

Correct answer: Global warming potential

To comply with this option, project teams must show a minimum of 10% reduction in at least three of the six impact categories. Of these three, global warming potential must be included. 

Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, acidification of land and water sources, and formation of tropospheric ozone are options among the six impact categories but are not required. 

12.

Which credit's or prerequisite's goal is to encourage teams to perform early analysis on their projects? 

  • IP Credit–Integrative Process 

  •  IP Prerequisite–Integrative Project Planning and Design

  • IN Credit–Innovation

  • SS Prerequisite–Site Assessment 

Correct answer: IP Credit–Integrative Process

The purpose of IP Credit–Integrative Process is to encourage projects to perform analyses early in their process and to document how they will use their knowledge to inform the design of the building. 

IP Prerequisite–Integrative Project Planning and Design, IN Credit–Innovation, and SS Prerequisite–Site Assessment do not have the goal of encouraging teams to perform early analysis on their projects.

13.

When pursuing EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance Option 1: Whole-Building Energy Simulation, what percentage of improvement does a new construction project need to demonstrate? 

  • 5% 

  • 10%

  • 2%

  • 3%

Correct answer: 5% 

Using ASHRAE 90.1 standards and the project’s design case, new construction projects must demonstrate a 5% or more improvement in energy performance. 

Core and shell projects need to demonstrate 2% improvement. Major renovations need to demonstrate 3% improvement. Improvement of 10% is not required for any types of projects.

14.

A project is working to fulfill WE Prerequisite–Indoor Water Use. They are installing all new fixtures and fittings in the private bathrooms. Which of the following products would best fulfill the requirements of the prerequisite? 

  • Toilets that have a WaterSense label

  • Private restroom faucets that are not WaterSense labeled but have an aerator

  • Urinals with a water consumption of 1.0 gpf (3.8 lpf)

  • Submeters that report water usage hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly

Correct answer: Toilets that have a WaterSense label

This prerequisite requires projects to reduce their water consumption by 20% from the baseline. The requirements also state that all newly installed toilets, urinals, private lavatory faucets, and showerheads must be WaterSense labeled (or a local equivalent for international projects). 

Aerators are great tools for indoor water efficiency, but newly installed private lavatory faucets must be WaterSense labeled. The baseline water consumption of urinals is 1.0 gpf (3.8 lpf), so this would not meet the requirements for this prerequisite. Submeters are not covered in this prerequisite but in WE Prerequisite–Building-Level Water Metering and WE Credit–Water Metering. 

15.

Option 2: Reduced Irrigation of WE Prerequisite–Outdoor Water Use Reduction requires project teams to reduce their outdoor water use from the baseline by what percentage? 

  • At least 30% 

  • At least 20% 

  • At least 16% 

  • At least 4% 

Correct answer: At least 30% 

Project teams attempting Option 2: Reduced Irrigation of WE Prerequisite–Outdoor Water Use Reduction must reduce their outdoor water use by 30% from the baseline. 

Reducing outdoor water use by 20% is the requirement of Option 2: Reduced Irrigation of WE Credit–Outdoor Water Use Reduction. Lower percentages, such as 16% and 4%, would not be enough to meet the requirements of Option 2. 

16.

To document SS Credit–Places of Respite, project teams must include documentation of their work. Which of the following is not a required part of that documentation? 

  • Native or adapted vegetation calculations 

  • Drawings or photographs of wayfinding signage 

  • The site plan highlighting places of respite 

  • Area, patient, visitor, shading, and vegetation calculations 

Correct answer: Native or adapted vegetation calculations 

Native or adapted vegetation calculations are a documentation requirement of Option 1 in SS Credit–Site Development: Protect or Restore Habitat. Places of Respite are not required to use native or adaptive vegetation, so it is not necessary to document these calculations for SS Credit–Places of Respite. 

To document SS Credit–Places of Respite, projects are required to submit drawings or photographs of wayfinding signage, the site plan with places of respite highlighted, and area, patient, visitor, shading, and vegetation calculations. 

17.

Which of the following should be maintained throughout the commissioning (Cx) process?

  • Issues and benefits log

  • OPR

  • Final Cx report

  • System test procedure 

Correct answer: Issues and benefits log

While most documents are usually developed by the end of the commissioning process, the issues and benefits log should be maintained throughout the process. 

The OPR is developed by the owner, not the CxA. The final Cx report and the system test procedure are developed at the end of the commissioning process. 

18.

How many Regional Priority credits can a project earn?

  • Up to four

  • Up to eight

  • Up to six

  • Up to ten

Correct answer: Up to four

Project teams can earn up to four points in this credit category, which offers one point for each Regional Priority credit achieved. 

19.

A project hopes to earn one point in WE Credit–Outdoor Water Use Reduction. What is the minimum percentage of irrigation water use reduction they need to achieve from the baseline? 

  • 50% 

  • 100%

  • 60%

  • 70%

Correct answer: 50% 

Projects that reach a 50% reduction from the baseline will earn one point in WE Credit–Outdoor Water Use Reduction. 

Projects that achieve a 100% reduction in irrigation water use from the baseline will earn two points (except for healthcare projects, which cannot earn more than one point). Reductions of 60% and 70% are not enough to earn two points but would earn one point. However, neither of these percentages is the minimum for WE Credit–Outdoor Water Use Reduction. 

20.

What is the maximum internal temperature allowed for occupancy before flush-out is completed?

  • 80°F (27°C)

  • 90°F (32°C)

  • 60°F (15°C)

  • 70°F (21°C)

Correct answer: 80°F (27°C)

Projects can choose between two paths within EQ Credit–Indoor Air Quality Assessment, Option 1: Flush-Out, but both options require the internal temperature of the building to be maintained at a minimum of 60°F (15°C) but no higher than 80°F (27°C). 

A temperature of 70°F (21°C) is within the acceptable range but is not the maximum for this credit. A temperature of 90°F (32°C) exceeds the required maximum.