USGBC LEED AP BD+C Exam Questions

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181.

Which materials must be included as recyclable materials for MR Prerequisite–Storage and Collection of Recyclables?

  • Mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals

  • Electronics, construction debris, batteries

  • Wood, concrete, oil

  • Food waste, styrofoam, textiles

Correct answer: Mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals

To comply with MR Prerequisite–Storage and Collection of Recyclables, projects must provide dedicated areas to collect waste and recycling. They must provide recycling for at least mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals. 

Electronics, construction debris, batteries, wood, concrete, oil, food waste, Styrofoam, and textiles are not required to be included in recyclables. 

182.

Which of the following is not an appropriate alternative for potable water? 

  • Black water

  • Used process water

  • Gray water

  • Rainwater

Correct answer: Black water

Black water is water that has come into contact with human waste. It's not safe to use as an alternative water source without extensive treatments. 

Used process water is water that is used in manufacturing processes. Gray water is water from laundry machines, bathroom sinks, showers, and bathtubs. Rainwater, gray water, and used process water are all excellent alternatives to potable water use. 

183.

When should measurements of indoor air quality be taken? 

  • Before occupancy but during normal occupied hours

  • During weekends and holidays

  • After occupancy and outside of peak hours

  • At random times throughout the day

Correct answer: Before occupancy but during normal occupied hours

Option 2 of EQ Credit–Indoor Air Quality Assessment requires project teams to conduct air testing. This testing must occur after construction ends and before occupancy. 

Performing air tests during weekends and holidays or at random times throughout the day is not necessary. Air testing after occupancy does not meet this credit's requirements. 

184.

A project team has decided to use separate residential and nonresidential density averages for Option 1: Density of LT Credit–Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses. What is the minimum average needed for residential and nonresidential density to meet the requirements for this credit? 

  • Residential density must be 7 DU/acre (17.5 DU/hectare) and nonresidential density must be 0.5 FAR

  • Residential density must be 0.5 DU/acre (1.25 DU/hectare) and nonresidential density must be 7 FAR

  • Residential density must be 22,000 DU/acre (55,000 DU/hectare) and nonresidential density must be 35,000 FAR

  • Residential density must be 12 DU/acre (30 DU/hectare) and nonresidential density must be 0.8 FAR

Correct answer: Residential density must be 7 DU/acre (17.5 DU/hectare) and nonresidential density must be 0.5 FAR

Projects wanting to achieve Option 1: Density of LT Credit–Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses can calculate the density of the 1/4-mile (400-meter) radius around the project boundary using combined density or by using separate residential and nonresidential densities. The minimum requirement for residential density is 7 DU/acre (17.5 DU/hectare), and the minimum nonresidential density is 0.5 FAR. 

The next threshold for residential density, not the minimum, is 12 DU/acre. The next threshold for nonresidential density is 0.8 FAR. Projects that meet the next threshold get more points than those that meet the minimum.

185.

What types of lamps should not be specified or installed in any healthcare project according to MR Prerequisite–PBT Source Reduction–Mercury?

  • Preheat, T-9, T-10, or T-12 fluorescents

  • UV LEDs

  • Light-Emitting Diodes

  • Surface-Mounted Diode (SMD) LEDs

Correct answer: Preheat, T-9, T-10, or T-12 fluorescents

Healthcare projects should not specify or install preheat, T-9, T-10, or T-12 fluorescents, or mercury vapor High-Intensity Discharge (HID), or probe-start metal halide HID lamps. 

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are an excellent replacement for mercury-containing products. 

186.

How many different permanently installed products should be used for Raw Material Source and Extraction Reporting?

  • 20

  • 50

  • 30

  • Ten

Correct answer: 20

To comply with Option 1: Raw Material Source and Extraction Reporting of MR Credit–Building Product Disclosure and Optimization–Sourcing of Raw Materials, project teams must use at least 20 permanently installed products from at least five different manufacturers that have released reports from their raw material suppliers. 

Using 50 or 30 applicable products would be excellent but is not required. Ten applicable products would not meet the minimum requirements. 

187.

Which of the following must be excluded from the calculations for Option 3: Building and Material Reuse of MR Credit–Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction?  

  • Window assemblies, hazardous materials

  • Floors, roof decking

  • Enclosure and framing materials 

  • Walls, floor coverings 

Correct answer: Window assemblies, hazardous materials

For Option 3: Building and Material Reuse, project teams must reuse or salvage building materials. Window assemblies and hazardous materials must be excluded from calculations. 

Structural elements (floors, roof decking), enclosure materials (skin, framing), and permanently installed interior elements (walls, doors, floor coverings, ceiling systems) should be included in calculations. 

188.

When is it acceptable to demolish a part of a historic building or contributing building in a historic district?

  • When it is deemed structurally unsound or hazardous

  • To update the building's design

  • Anytime

  • When the building is too small for the project team's needs

Correct answer: When it is deemed structurally unsound or hazardous

Projects using Option 1: Historic Building Reuse of MR Credit–Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction must not demolish any part of a historic building unless it is deemed structurally unsound or hazardous. No other reason is acceptable.

Demolishing a historic building to update the building's design or because the building is not big enough is not an appropriate reason.

189.

Which of the following projects is ineligible for Option 3: Prescriptive Compliance: Advanced Buildings Core Performance Guide of EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance? 

  • Healthcare projects 

  • Small office buildings 

  • Retail buildings less than 100,000 SF

  • Core and shell projects 

Correct answer: Healthcare 

Healthcare, warehouses, laboratory projects and any project over 100,000 SF (9,290 m2) are ineligible for Option 3 of this prerequisite. 

Core and shell projects, small office buildings, and retail buildings less than 100,000 SF are eligible for Option 3. 

190.

Which of the following is the second prerequisite in the Sustainable Sites category that applies only to schools and healthcare projects?

  • SS Prerequisite–Environmental Site Assessment 

  • SS Prerequisite–Open Space

  • SS Prerequisite–Site Development: Protect or Restore Habitat

  • SS Prerequisite–Rainwater Management

Correct answer: SS Prerequisite–Environmental Site Assessment

Healthcare and School projects are required to perform a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. If the assessment concludes that contamination is suspected, the project must then perform Phase II. 

Open Space, Site Development: Protect or Restore Habitat, and Rainwater Management are not prerequisites but credits in the Sustainable Sites category. 

191.

Projects hoping to earn SS Credit–Rainwater Management must use which of the following, regardless of what path they choose? 

  • Low-impact development and green infrastructure

  • Reclaimed rainwater for one building process

  • A bioswale

  • The use of sediment fences around the project

Correct answer: Low-impact development and green infrastructure 

Low-impact development and green infrastructure must be used no matter which path within Option 1 project teams choose for SS Credit–Rainwater Management. This encourages project teams to find solutions that are environmentally friendly. 

Using reclaimed rainwater, bioswales, and sediment fences are all wonderful practices, but these are not specifically required for this credit. 

192.

Before choosing a historic site to build on, what should a project confirm first?

  • The site's infill status 

  • The site's priority development designation

  • The existence of any contamination

  • The location of any sensitive areas within the project boundary 

Correct answer: The site's infill status 

The first step before choosing to build in a historic district is to ensure that the site is an infill site. If the percentage of previously developed land within 1/2 mile of the project boundary is greater than or equal to 75%, then the site is an infill site. 

Confirming the site's priority designation, the location of any contamination, and the existence of any sensitive areas are not steps for the historic district option of LT Credit–High Priority Site. 

193.

A project team is pursuing EA Credit–Optimize Energy Performance. They want to use Option 2 of the credit and used Option 1 for EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance. Are they eligible? 

  •  No, only projects that chose Option 2 for EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance can pursue Option 2 of EA Credit–Optimize Energy Performance

  • Yes, when it comes to choosing an option for EA Credit–Optimize Energy Performance, it doesn't matter which option projects choose for EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance

  • No, projects that chose Option 1 are ineligible for EA Credit–Optimize Energy Performance

  • Yes, Projects that used Option 1 for EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance must use Option 2 for EA Credit–Optimize Energy Performance

Correct answer: No, only projects that chose Option 2 for EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance can pursue Option 2 of EA Credit–Optimize Energy Performance

EA Credit–Optimize Energy Performance Option 2: Prescriptive Compliance: ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide is available only to projects that used Option 2 for EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance. 

Projects can't use any option they want for the credits, regardless of the option they choose for the prerequisite. Projects that chose Option 1 for the prerequisite are not ineligible for the credit. Projects that used Option 1 for the prerequisite cannot use Option 2 for the credit. 

194.

Which of the following products is required to be Energy Star labeled or equivalent in WE Prerequisite–Indoor Water Use Reduction? 

  • Ice machines

  • Private lavatory faucets

  • Toilets

  • Showerheads 

Correct answer: Ice machines 

Ice machines, residential dishwashers, and residential clothes washers are required by WE Prerequisite–Indoor Water Use Reduction to be Energy Star labeled or equivalent. 

Private lavatory faucets, toilets, and showerheads must meet the required 20% water consumption reduction but do not need to be Energy Star labeled. They are required to be WaterSense labeled. 

195.

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

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

  • Within a 1/3-mile (530-meter) walking distance 

  • Within a 1-mile (1,600-meter) walking distance 

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

Correct answer: Within a 1/4-mile (400-meter) walking distance 

To earn points in LT Credit–Access to Quality Transit, projects must be within a 1/4-mile (400-meter) walking distance of an existing or planned bus, streetcar, or rideshare stop or within a 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance of an existing or planned bus rapid transit stop, light or heavy rail station, commuter rail station, or a commuter ferry terminal. 

Streetcars need to be within a 1/4-mile (400-meter) walking distance; heavier modes of transportation can be within a 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance. A 1-mile walking distance would be too far to be counted, and a 1/3-mile walking distance is not used in this credit.

196.

In which of the following credit categories is the Owner's Project Requirements document required for healthcare projects? 

  • Integrative Process

  • Iterative Process

  • Innovation

  • Materials and Resources 

Correct answer: Integrative Process 

Healthcare projects must fulfill the Integrative Process prerequisite, which requires developing an Owner's Project Requirements (OPR) document, a four-hour charrette, and a health mission statement. 

The Iterative Process is not a prerequisite or even a credit category in LEED. The Innovation and Materials and Resources categories do not require the OPR. 

197.

Which of the following can be assessed for IP Credit–Integrative Process? 

  • Building site attributes, transportation, building features, and occupants' well-being

  • Transportation, historical designation, building features, and landscaping 

  • Population density, occupants' well-being, recreational facilities, and building materials

  • Building features, landscaping, demographics, and local population 

Correct answer: Building site attributes, transportation, building features, and occupants' well-being

Before site selection, a project team must assess at least two of the following: 

  • Building site attributes
  • Transportation
  • Building features
  • Occupants' well-being

Historical designation, landscaping, build materials, local population, demographics, recreational facilities and population density are not among the options for IP Credit– Integrative Process. 

198.

For projects that are aiming to achieve LT Credit–Bicycle Facilities, a functional entry or bicycle storage must be within what distance from a bicycle network? 

  • A 200-yard (180-meter) walking or bicycling distance 

  • A 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking or bicycling distance 

  • A 300-yard (274-meter) walking or bicycling distance 

  • A 1/4-mile (400-meter) walking or bicycling distance 

Correct answer: A 200-yard (180-meter) walking or bicycling distance 

LT Credit–Bicycle Facilities requires projects to have at least one functional entrance or bicycle storage located within 200 yards (180 meter) from a bicycle network by walking or biking. This network must also connect with 10 or more diverse uses, a school or employment center, or a bus rapid transit stop, as well as with a light or heavy rail station, a commuter rail station, or a ferry terminal. 

A 1/2-mile (800-meter) and 1/4-mile (400-meter) walking distance apply in LT Credit–Access to Quality Transit, not in LT Credit–Bicycle Facilities. A distance of 300 yards (274 meters) is too far to qualify for LT Credit–Bicycle Facilities. 

199.

Project teams can earn one point by having a LEED Accredited Professional on the project team in what credit category? 

  • Innovation

  • Regional Priority 

  • Integrative Process

  • Neighborhood Development 

Correct answer: Innovation 

Innovation Credit–LEED Accredited Professional provides projects one point for having at least one LEED Accredited Professional with an appropriate specialty on the project team. 

Neighborhood Development is not a credit category. 

200.

A project team is pursuing EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance: Prescriptive Compliance: Advanced Buildings Core Performance Guide. Their Target Finder score is 90. Which of the following statements is true?

  • They have not achieved this credit

  • The project team has achieved this requirement for the credit

  • There is no minimum target score a project has to achieve

  • The minimum score needed to achieve this credit is 90

Correct answer: They have not achieved this credit 

Projects pursuing this path must achieve a Target Finder Score greater than 90. Achieving a score of 90 puts the project just under the requirement. 

The minimum is not 90 but any score greater than 90. The team has not achieved this requirement.