USGBC LEED AP BD+C Exam Questions

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141.

In which of the following credit categories can projects earn up to six points? 

  • Innovation 

  • Integrative Process 

  • Regional Priority 

  • Water Efficiency 

Correct answer: Innovation 

The Innovation category offers up to six points for projects. There are many ways to achieve these points, including having a LEED professional on the project, creating innovative strategies that are not touched on anywhere else in LEED, and trying a pilot credit. 

The Integrative Process category can earn projects up to one point. The Regional Priority category can earn projects up to four points. The Water Efficiency category can earn projects up to 11 points. 

142.

Which of the following is not a requirement of the Integrative Process credit? 

  • Establish a project team

  • Perform a simple box energy modeling analysis

  • Conduct a water budget analysis

  • Document how findings will be implemented in the design

Correct answer: Establish a project team 

The Integrative Process credit aims to encourage projects to perform analysis on the project early to find interrelationships (or synergies) between systems. Establishing a project team does not support this aim. This is part of the Integrative Project Planning and Design Prerequisite requirements applicable to healthcare projects.

Requirements for the Integrative Process credit include performing a simple box energy modeling analysis, conducting a water budget analysis, and then documenting how the results of these analyses will be implemented in the design. 

143.

Who must the CxA report their findings to?

  • The owner 

  • The construction firm

  • The head architect 

  • The LEED project team 

Correct answer: The owner 

The commissioning authority must report directly to the owner. 

The CxA is not required to report to the construction firm, the head architect, or the LEED project team. 

144.

Qualifying school projects must develop a site master plan in collaboration with which of the following? 

  • School authorities 

  • A LEED-accredited professional 

  • An architect 

  • A commissioning authority 

Correct answer: School authorities 

One of the requirements for SS Credit–Site Master Plan is that the site master plan for a qualifying school project must be developed in collaboration with school authorities. 

LEED-accredited professionals, architects, and commissioning authorities are valuable additions to a LEED project team, but they are not required.  

145.

A warehouse project is paving a large portion of their site and has chosen not to use shading structures. To comply with SS Credit–Heat Island Reduction, which of the following materials should the project team select? 

  • Paving materials with a three-year aged SR value of 0.28 or higher 

  • Paving materials with a three-year aged SR value of 0.12 or lower 

  • Paving materials with an initial SR value of 0.28 or lower 

  • Project teams hoping to achieve SS Credit–Heat Island Reduction must include shading structures around or over pavement

Correct answer: Paving materials with a three-year aged SR value of 0.28 or higher 

Project teams hoping to earn points in SS Credit–Heat Island Reduction should use paving materials with a three-year aged Solar Reflectance (SR) value of at least 0.28. If the three-year aged SR information is not available, then pavement materials with an initial SR of at least 0.33 are also acceptable. 

An SR of 0.12 is too low even if it's an initial or three-year SR. The minimum initial SR is 0.33, so an initial SR of 0.28 is not acceptable. Project teams are not required to have shading devices for SS Credit–Heat Island Reduction. 

146.

In material ingredient optimization, product ingredients assessed with the GreenScreen List Translator are valued at what percentage? 

  • 100%

  • 50%

  • 125%

  • 75%

Correct answer: 100%

For material ingredient optimization, any ingredients assessed with the GreenScreen List Translator are valued at 100% of cost for MR Credit–Building Product Disclosure and Optimization Material Ingredients. 

147.

A project team wants to build in a LEED Neighborhood Development to earn points in the Locations and Transportation category. Which of the following should they avoid to be eligible for points? 

  • LEED ND Pilot Stage 1 for Neighborhood Development Pre-reviewed Plan

  • LEED 2009 Stage 2 Pre-certified LEED for Neighborhood Development Plan

  • LEED ND Pilot Stage 3 LEED for Neighborhood Development Certified Project 

  • LEED v4 Neighborhood Development Certified Built Project 

Correct answer: LEED ND Pilot Stage 1 for Neighborhood Development Pre-reviewed Plan

Not all LEED Neighborhood Developments will earn project points in the Location and Transportation credit category. LEED ND Pilot Stage 1 for Neighborhood Development Pre-reviewed Plan, LEED 2009 Stage 1 Conditional Approval at LEED ND Plan, and LEED v4 LEED for Neighborhood Development Conditional Approval are not eligible locations for points in the LT credit category. 

Building in locations with the LEED 2009 Stage 2 Pre-certified LEED for Neighborhood Development Plan, LEED ND Pilot Stage 3 LEED for Neighborhood Development Certified Project, or LEED v4 Neighborhood Development Certified Built Project provides opportunities to earn points in the Location and Transportation category. 

148.

A project team is familiarizing themselves with the ANSI Consensus National Standard Guide. Based on this fact, which of the following credit categories are they working on? 

  • Integrative Process 

  • Sustainable Sites 

  • Location and Transportation 

  • Regional Priority 

Correct answer: Integrative Process 

The ANSI Consensus National Standard Guide is the standard used for both IP Prerequisite–Integrative Project Planning and Design and IP Credit–Integrative Process. 

The ANSI Consensus National Standard Guide is not used in Sustainable Sites, Location and Transportation, and Regional Priority. 

149.

In which type of project are pressurized entryway vestibules required in addition to entryway systems? 

  • Healthcare projects 

  • Hospitality projects 

  • Warehouses and distribution centers

  • Schools

Correct answer: Healthcare projects 

EQ Credit–Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies requires healthcare projects to install pressurized entryway vestibules as well as entryway systems. 

This is not a requirement for hospitality projects, warehouses and distribution centers, or schools.  

150.

Projects can receive points in Option 2: Diverse Uses of LT Credit–Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses for being within a 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance from the main entrance of the project to diverse uses. However, there are restrictions. Which of the following is not one of the restrictions for counting diverse uses for this credit? 

  • A use must be beneficial to at least 30% of all project occupants

  • A use can't count as multiple types

  • A team can count only two uses per type

  • The uses counted must represent at least three of the five types

Correct answer: A use must be beneficial to at least 30% of all project occupants

A use does not have to be beneficial to any percentage of the project building's occupants. What matters to LEED is that projects are being built on sites that encourage people to walk rather than drive. With a variety of easily accessible uses, people don't need to rely on cars or even public transit to accomplish daily tasks. 

The restrictions that apply include:

  • A use must be beneficial to at least 30% of all project occupants
  • A use can't count as multiple types
  • The uses counted must represent at least three of the five types 

151.

A commercial project, based on calculations of 2.5% of their peak visitors, has provided two short-term bicycle storage spaces. Which of the following is true? 

  • This project has not met the requirements

  • This project has met the requirements

  • Commercial projects are not required to provide short-term bicycle storage spaces

  • Commercial projects are required to provide storage for 5% of all peak visitors, not 2.5%

Correct answer: This project has not met the requirements 

No fewer than four short-term storage spaces are required. Even though this project calculated that only two short-term storage spaces are required, they need to provide at least four. 

The figure 5% is the percentage used to calculate long-term bicycle storage for commercial projects; commercial or institutional projects are required to have long-term storage for 5% of all regular building occupants. Commercial projects are required to provide short-term bicycle storage for LT Credit–Bicycle Facilities. 

152.

What should be implemented for high-noise sites during school hours?

  • Acoustic treatment and other measures

  • Loud instructional games

  • Extra recess time

  • Quiet self-study time 

Correct answer: Acoustic treatment and other measures

LEED encourages the use of various strategies to minimize noise intrusion and create a better learning environment. 

More recess time, quiet self-study time, and loud instructional games are not useful strategies to eliminate environmental noise. 

153.

Which criteria are valued at 50% of their cost for the purposes of earning Option 2: Leadership Extraction Practices of MR Credit–Building Product Disclosure and Optimization–Sourcing of Raw Materials?

  • Products meeting extended producer responsibility criteria

  • Products meeting materials reuse criteria

  • Products meeting bio-based materials criteria

  • Products meeting recycled content criteria

Correct answer: Products meeting extended producer responsibility criteria

Products meeting extended producer responsibility criteria are valued at 50% of their cost. 

Products meeting materials reuse criteria, bio-based materials criteria, and recycled content criteria are all valued at 100% of their cost.

154.

A project team is working to reduce indoor water use by 20% from the baseline. Which of the following is this team aiming to achieve?

  • WE Prerequisite–Indoor Water Use Reduction 

  • WE Credit–Indoor Water Use Reduction 

  • WE Credit–Outdoor Water Use Reduction 

  • WE Prerequisite–Outdoor Water Use Reduction 

Correct answer: WE Prerequisite–Indoor Water Use Reduction 

To achieve the required WE Prerequisite–Indoor Water Use Reduction, project teams must reduce their indoor water use by at least 20%. 

WE Prerequisite–Outdoor Water Use Reduction requires at least a 30% reduction. WE Credit–Outdoor Water Use Reduction has two options: projects can either choose not to have any irrigation or reduce their irrigation by at least 50% from the baseline. WE Credit–Indoor Water Use Reduction must lower their indoor water use from the baseline; the minimum reduction is 25% for one point. 

155.

A new school is being built in a densely populated area, so the project team is hoping to achieve Option 1: Surrounding Density in LT Credit–Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses. To confirm that they can achieve this credit, the project team should confirm that the surrounding density within what distance meets the requirements? 

  • 1/4-mile radius 

  • 1/2-mile walking distance 

  • 1/4-mile walking distance 

  • 1/2-mile radius 

Correct answer: 1/4-mile radius 

To be eligible for Option 1: Density for LT Credit–Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses, the density within a 1/4-mile radius of the project boundary must meet the required value. 

Walking distance is not used for this option of the credit. A 1/2-mile radius is not the required distance for this option of the credit. 

156.

Which ASHRAE guide can be followed for retail buildings of 20,000 to 100,000 SF (1,860 to 9,290 m2)?

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

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

  • ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Large Hospitals

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

Correct answer: ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small to Medium Office Buildings

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

For retail buildings of 20,000 to 100,000 SF (1,860 to 9,290 m2), the guides for Small to Medium Office Buildings, Large Hospitals, or K–12 School Buildings are not appropriate. 

157.

To achieve SS Credit–Places of Respite, healthcare projects must set aside what percentage of the net usable program area of the building as places of respite for patients and visitors? 

  • 5% 

  • 2% 

  • 4% 

  • 3% 

Correct answer: 5% 

SS Credit–Places of Respite requires healthcare projects to set aside 5% of the net usable program area of the building to provide places of respite for patients and visitors. 

Project teams must set aside 2% of the net usable program area of the building for places of respite for staff. However, 4% and 3% are not large enough percentages to meet the requirement for places of respite for patients and visitors. 

158.

Other than a site survey, assessment plan, or map, what documentation is required for SS Credit–Site Assessment? 

  • Site assessment worksheet or equivalent narrative 

  • Description of disturbed or compacted soils 

  • Phase 1 ESA or local equivalent assessment 

  • Description of contamination and remediation 

Correct answer: Site assessment worksheet or equivalent narrative 

Only two pieces of documentation are required for all projects hoping to earn points in SS Credit–Site Assessment: a site survey, assessment plan, or map and a site assessment worksheet or equivalent narrative. 

Description of disturbed or compacted soils is required documentation for SS Credit–Site Development: Protect or Restore Habitat. A Phase 1 ESA or local equivalent assessment and a description of contamination and remediation are both required documentation if contamination is confirmed in SS Prerequisite–Environmental Site Assessment. 

159.

What is the purpose of the Regional Priority credit category?

  • To encourage project teams to focus on their local environmental priorities

  • To promote international collaboration

  • To decrease project costs 

  • To support local building standards 

Correct answer: To encourage project teams to focus on their local environmental priorities 

The Regional Priority credit category encourages project teams to focus on their local environmental needs and address them with relevant strategies. For example, projects in locations with water shortages could earn points in this category by implementing water efficiency strategies. 

The Regional Priority credit category's focus is on local issues, not international ones. Strategies used may lower project costs, but this is not a goal. Local building standards should be met regardless of whether the project team aims to earn points in the Regional Priority credit category. 

160.

If a project is aiming to earn two points in Option 2: Diverse Uses of LT Credit–Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses, then that project's main entrance must be within a 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance from how many diverse uses? 

  • Eight or more

  • Seven or more

  • Six or more

  • Five or more

Correct answer: Eight or more

Projects whose main entrance is a 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance from eight or more diverse uses earn two points from Option 2: Diverse Uses of LT Credit–Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses. 

Five to seven diverse uses would earn a project one point, not two. The threshold has to start at eight to be correct.