LEED Study Guide Quiz

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.

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.

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.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are volatile at room temperature. Many of them are harmful to humans.

Graywater is wastewater that does not contain fecal matter, such as water from showers, sinks, and laundry. It can be reused for various purposes, and one of the most common uses is irrigation. Graywater is typically rich in nutrients and can provide a source of water for plants and gardens. By using graywater for irrigation, it reduces the demand for freshwater and promotes sustainable water management practices.

Zoning is the correct answer because it is a legal instrument that regulates current land use. Zoning is a system implemented by local governments to divide land into different zones or districts, each with specific regulations and restrictions on how the land can be used. These regulations can include restrictions on the type of buildings allowed, the height of structures, the density of development, and the activities permitted in each zone. Zoning helps to ensure that land use is organized and controlled in a way that promotes public safety, environmental protection, and the overall well-being of the community.

A green project should be located in an existing community because it allows for a connection to basic community resources. By being in an existing community, the project can benefit from the infrastructure and services that are already in place, such as schools, hospitals, public transportation, and utilities. This not only reduces the need for new infrastructure development but also promotes a sense of community and collaboration. Additionally, being located in an existing community can help to ensure that the project is accessible to a wider range of people and can have a positive impact on the local economy.

Blackwater doesn't have a single definition that is accepted nationwide, although in all cases, water containing human waste is considered blackwater.

Decreasing impervious surfaces permits an increase in pervious surfaces. Pervious surfaces allow water to infiltrate the ground, thereby reducing stormwater runoff.

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

The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) establishes the baseline of 1.6 gallons per flush for all water closets

The EPA estimates that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, where concentrations of harmful contaminants may be dangerously high

Light trespass is the unwanted spillage of light onto adjacent properties. To minimize its impact on nocturnal environs, light trespass must be controlled.

Post-consumer recycled content comes from consumer waste, contrasted with pre-consumer recycled content, which comes from manufacturing processes

Smoking near building entrances or near building air intakes allows infiltration of environmental tobacco smoke into the building interior, thereby exposing occupants to harmful airborne chemicals

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

LEED has established 500 miles as the threshold for a regionally sourced material

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%.

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

A refrigerant is weighted by its global warming potential and its ozone depletion potential

Operable windows allow occupants to make adjustments to the air speed and temperature within the building, thereby controlling multiple environmental conditions of thermal comfort

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.

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

Studies show that improved daylight in classroom increases student learning, with one study showing 20% faster progression in math and 26% faster progression in reading. High-performance acoustics foster effective teacher-student and student-student communication

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.

Innovative strategies expand the breadth of green building practices and introduce new ideas. They are distinct from exemplary performance innovation credits in that they address environmental issues not addressed elsewhere within the LEED rating system. Education outreach programs are intended to educate building occupants about the building's features and the benefits of green building in general.. These concepts aren't addressed elsewhere within the LEED rating system, so this strategy is a likely candidate for an Innovation in Design credit for innovative strategies

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

ASHRAE Standard 55 defines the environmental factors of thermal comfort as humidity, air speed, and temperature (air temperature and radiant temperature).

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).

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.

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

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.

Rapidly renewable resources, defined by LEED as having a planting/harvest cycle of 10 years or less, are replenished more quickly than conventional materials

Life-cycle cost analysis considers the long-term costs of building materials and design strategies.

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.

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.

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.

The general contractor should list only the portion of the product that is manufactured within the required radius. This means that they should provide information about the local or regional materials used in the product, but not include any materials that are outside of the required radius. By doing so, the general contractor can still earn credit for using local or regional materials, even if only a portion of the product meets the requirement.

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.

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

USGBC maintains a listing of all regional priority credits by ZIP code, which can be downloaded from the organization's website free of charge

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.

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

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.

Eligible innovative strategies aren't addressed within the LEED rating system or reference guides, but are instead evaluated via the CIR process. If the issue in question has never been addressed, a CIR is typically required to evaluate the strategy

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.