USGBC LEED AP BD+C Exam Questions

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81.

What does the LEED Accredited Professional need to qualify for IN Credit–LEED Accredited Professional? 

  • A specialty appropriate for the project 

  • At least ten years of experience 

  • Two or more LEED specialties 

  • Accreditation in at least one certification system other than LEED 

Correct answer: A specialty appropriate for the project 

To encourage a project team to bring in a LEED Accredited Professional who has a specialty that could be most helpful to their project, this credit requires them to have an appropriate specialty. 

The LEED Accredited Professional does not have to have a certain number of years of experience, more than one specialty, or accreditation in any certification system besides LEED. 

82.

The commissioning authority should have experience on at least how many building projects?

  • Two

  • Three

  • Four

  • One

Correct answer: Two

The commissioning authority must have experience working on at least two projects of a similar scope to be used by a LEED project team. 

Experience on three or four projects is enough to qualify, but this is not the minimum requirement. Experience on one project is not enough to meet the requirements. 

83.

Which of the following projects is allowed to include a vegetated roof in SS Credit–Site Development Protect or Restore Habitat, Option 1: On-Site Restoration? 

  • A project with a density of 1.5 floor-area ratio

  • A project that's being built on a brownfield

  • A healthcare project

  • A project that is less than 20,000 SF  (1,858 square meters)

Correct answer: A project with a density of 1.5 floor-area ratio

To achieve SS Credit–Site Development Protect or Restore Habitat, Option 1: On-Site Restoration, projects must restore 30% of all previously developed land on the site. Projects with a density of 1.5 floor-area ratio are permitted to include a vegetated roof for this credit as long as the plants on the roof are native or adapted species. 

This option does not specify projects that are on a brownfield, only healthcare projects, or projects of any specific size. If the project has a 1.5 floor-area ratio, then it is eligible. 

84.

When putting together a team to fulfill the requirements in IP Prerequisite–Integrative Project Planning and Design, what is the minimum number of professionals that must be included? 

  • Four in addition to the owner or the owner's representative 

  • Four including the owner or the owner's representative

  • Ten in addition to the owner or the owner's representative 

  • Ten including the owner or the owner's representative

Correct answer: Four in addition to the owner or the owner's representative 

Healthcare projects are required to put together an integrative team of at least four different professionals in addition to the owner or the owner's representative. 

Ten would be an acceptable number but is not the minimum. 

85.

What can be reused or salvaged for Option 3 of MR Credit–Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction?

  • Building materials

  • Electronics

  • Furniture

  • Plants

Correct answer: Building materials

For Option 3: Building and Material Reuse, project teams must reuse or salvage building materials. Points are awarded based on what percentage of the surface area was reused or salvaged. 

Electronics, furniture, and plants are not included in the calculation of points for this option. 

86.

For EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance, what is required for all projects, regardless of the option the project uses? 

  • All projects must determine their climate zone

  • All projects must develop an energy model

  • All projects must calculate their average energy usage

  • All projects must determine their anticipated energy savings

Correct answer: All projects must determine their climate zone 

Projects must first determine their climate zone for EA Prerequisite–Minimum Energy Performance because the requirements of ASHRAE 90.1 differ based on zones. 

Not all projects need to develop an energy model, calculate their average energy usage, or determine their anticipated energy savings. These requirements depend on what option the project team chooses for the prerequisite. 

87.

A healthcare project is working on fulfilling the requirements for IP Prerequisite–Integrative Project Planning and Design. They are planning their required charrette; what is the minimum length of time the charrette needs to be? 

  • Four hours 

  • 12 hours 

  • Six hours 

  • Three hours

Correct answer: Four hours 

To fulfill the requirements of IP Prerequisite–Integrative Project Planning and Design, healthcare projects must carry out a four-hour minimum charrette with at least four members of the design team. 

The charrette can be more than four hours, but 12 hours and six hours are not the minimum required length of time. Three hours is not long enough to fulfill the requirements. 

88.

If a team is using the Group Approach, which of the following would most likely describe the project? 

  • The project includes multiple similar buildings in the same location that are all owned by the same entity

  • The project includes multiple different buildings in the same location that are all owned by the same entity

  • The project includes multiple similar buildings in different locations that are all owned by the same entity

  • The project includes multiple similar buildings in the same location that are all owned by different entities

Correct answer: This project includes multiple similar buildings in the same location that are all owned by the same entity

The Group Approach should be used by teams that are trying to certify multiple similar buildings under one rating system. 

The Group Approach should not be used by projects with multiple different buildings, with buildings in different locations, or with buildings that are owned by different entities because it is available only to projects with multiple similar buildings that are within the same location and are owned by the same owner or entity. Projects with multiple different buildings should use the LEED Campus Program, but these projects are also required to be owned by the same entity and to be located within the same site. 

89.

Which of the following is not an acceptable CSR framework for MR Credit–Building Product Disclosure and Optimization–Sourcing of Raw Materials?

  • Industry-wide (generic) EPD

  • USGBC-approved program

  • UN Global Compact

  • Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Report

Correct answer: Industry-wide (generic) EPD

Industry-wide (generic) EPD is one of the environmental product declarations, not a CSR framework. 

A USGBC-approved program, the UN Global Compact, and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Report are all acceptable CSR frameworks. 

90.

Which ASHRAE guide can be followed for K–12 school buildings?

  • ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for K–12 School Buildings

  • ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Large Hospitals

  • ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small to Medium Office Buildings

  • ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Medium to Large Box Retail Buildings

Correct answer: ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for K–12 School Buildings

Projects using Prescriptive Compliance: ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide must choose the appropriate guide for their building. 

For K–12 School Buildings, the guides for Small to Medium Office Buildings, Large Hospitals, or Medium to Large Box Retail Buildings are not appropriate. 

91.

What is the recommended maximum background noise level from HVAC systems in classrooms?

  • 40 dBA

  • 30 dBA

  • 60 dBA

  • 50 dBA

Correct answer: 40 dBA

EQ Prerequisite–Minimum Acoustic Performance requires that the maximum background noise level from HVAC systems in classrooms is 40 dBA. 

Levels of 60 dBA and 50 dBA are too high to meet the maximum; 30 dBA is within the acceptable range but is not the maximum. 

92.

Your project team wants to achieve LEED Gold. What is the range of points you should aim for to achieve this goal? 

  • 60–79 points 

  • 60–69 points 

  • 70–79 points 

  • 70–89 points 

Correct answer: 60–79 points 

LEED Gold is the second highest certification level a project can achieve. Projects hoping to earn this certification must earn between 60 and 79 points. Projects earning 80 or more points qualify for the Platinum certification.

93.

A green building educational outreach program would count as a strategy in which of the following credit categories? 

  • Innovation 

  • Regional Priority 

  • Integrative Process 

  • Sustainable Sites 

Correct answer: Innovation 

Providing an educational program, website, or newsletter on topics related to the environmental and human health benefits of green buildings can earn project points in the Innovation credit category. 

This strategy is not used in the Regional Priority, Integrative Process, and Sustainable Sites categories. 

94.

What is the purpose of the preliminary water budget analysis required by IP Credit–Integrative Process?

  • To explore how to reduce potable water loads in the building

  • To analyze potential building sites for a tenant improvement project 

  • To assess transportation for building occupants 

  • To evaluate massing and orientation 

Correct answer: To explore how to reduce potable water loads in the building

It is hard to reduce water usage without first understanding water usage. This is where the water budget analysis comes in and provides project teams with the information they need to detect where the team can reduce their potable water loads. 

A water budget analysis would not be useful to analyze potential building sites for a tenant improvement project, assess transportation for building occupants, or evaluate massing and orientation. 

95.

Which types of products are valued as one half of a product when calculating credit achievement?

  • Industry-wide (generic) EPD

  • Product-specific Type III EPD

  • USGBC-approved program

  • Product-specific declaration

Correct answer: Industry-wide (generic) EPD

For Option 1 of MR Credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization–Environmental Product Declarations, project teams must use at least 20 different permanently installed products that have been sourced from at least five different manufacturers and must show that they meet one of the approved disclosure criteria. Of the options, industry-wide (generic) EPD products are valued as one half of a product. 

Product-specific Type III EPD products are valued as one whole product. USGBC-approved program and product-specific declaration are different disclosure criteria. 

96.

A new apartment building project is hoping to earn points in LT Credit–Bicycle Facilities. The project has a functional entrance that is within a 200-yard (180-meter) bicycling distance from a bicycle network that connects to an employment center. To be eligible, the employment center needs to be within what distance of the project boundary? 

  • A 3-mile (4,800-meter) bicycling distance 

  • A 4-mile (6,437-meter) walking distance 

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

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

Correct answer: A 3-mile (4,800-meter) bicycling distance 

All destinations on the bicycle network must be within a 3-mile (4,800-meter) bicycling distance of the project boundary. 

A 4-mile (6,437-meter) bicycling distance would be too far to meet this requirement, and the distance is measured in bicycling distance, not walking distance. A 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance is used for LT Credit–Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses, not for LT Credit–Bicycle Facilities. A 200-yard (180-meter) bicycling distance is how far the project's functional entry needs to be from a bicycle network. 

97.

What is the purpose of including sound-absorptive finishes in classrooms and core learning spaces?

  • To comply with sound reverberation time requirements

  • To reduce energy consumption

  • To improve air quality in the room

  • To increase aesthetic appeal of the space

Correct answer: To comply with sound reverberation time requirements

The intent of EQ Prerequisite–Minimum Acoustic Performance is to provide classrooms with effective acoustic design. One way to fulfill this intent is to use sound-absorptive finishes that comply with sound reverberation time requirements. 

Sound-absorptive finishes do not reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, or increase the aesthetic appeal of the room. 

98.

The roof of a project building has a slope of 6:12. Based on this information, which of the following options should the project take to achieve SS Credit–Heat Island Reduction? 

  • Use materials with a minimum initial SRI of 39 or a minimum three-year aged SRI of 32

  • Use materials with a minimum initial SR of 0.28 or a minimum three-year aged SR of 0.33

  • Use materials with a minimum initial SRI of 82 or a minimum three-year aged SRI of 64

  • Use materials with a minimum initial SR of 0.69 or a minimum three-year aged SR of 0.47

Correct answer: Use materials with a minimum initial SRI of 39 or a minimum three-year aged SRI of 32

This project's roof is considered steep-sloped because it is greater than 2:12. Projects with steep slopes should use materials that have an initial SRI of 39 or a three-year aged SRI of 32. 

Roofing materials use Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) rather than Solar Reflectance (SR). Roof materials with a minimum initial SRI of 82 or a minimum three-year aged SRI of 64 would earn points, but they are not necessary for steeped roofs. These index minimums are required for low-sloped roofs. 

99.

Your project team has chosen to assess transportation for IP Credit–Integrative Process. Which of the following should be considered when assessing transportation? 

  • Convenient access to alternative transportation that meets occupants' needs 

  • Proximity to restaurants and grocery stores 

  • Availability of free parking 

  • Adjacency to a bicycling network 

Correct answer: Convenient access to alternative transportation that meets occupants' needs 

Project teams must choose to assess at least two potential strategies. One of these options is transportation, for which convenient access to alternative transportation that meets occupants' needs should be considered.

Proximity to restaurants and grocery stores, availability of free parking, and adjacency to a bicycling network are not priorities for this option of IP Credit–Integrative Process. 

100.

How many potential points can projects earn in the Innovation credit category? 

  • Six

  • Four

  • One

  • Five

Correct answer: Six

Five points are available in IN Credit–Innovation, and one additional point is available in IN Credit–LEED Accredited Professional. 

Four is the number of potential points for the Regional Priority credit category.