Free Practice Questions for USGBC LEED-AP-O+M Exam

The LEED AP O+M Reference Guide states that “If a meter fails during the performanceperiod, the project team must extend the performance period to obtain the required three months of data.” Therefore, the best advice is to extend the performance period to gain the full three months of weekly water meter readings.

References:

LEED AP O+M Reference Guide, Water Efficiency Credit, Water Metering, page 114

LEED QUALIFICATION GUIDE - v4 - Sloan, page 2

Building-Level Water Metering and Water Metering | LEEDuser

LEED v4.1 O+M Reference Guide, page 101;LEED AP O+M Exam Guide, page 306.

The Commissioning (Cx) Plan is a foundational document that outlines the scope and activities of the commissioning process. At a minimum, the plan should include an overview of the Cx program, which details the objectives and goals, the roles and responsibilities of the project team members involved in the commissioning process, and the sequence and timing of process activities. This ensures that all stakeholders understand the commissioning process and are aligned with its implementation.

References:

The requirements for the contents of a Commissioning Plan are detailed in the Energy and Atmosphere Credit for Existing Building Commissioning under the LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) reference guide. It is also highlighted in the LEED AP O+M training materials that a comprehensive Cx Plan is integral to documenting the systematic process of ensuring building systems perform interactively and efficiently.

1.Food waste must be diverted from disposal in landfills or incineration facilities by donating, composting, or anaerobic digestion1. The other options are incorrect because they are product recycling requirements that apply to all LEED AP O+M projects, not just Schools and Hospitality.

References: =

LEED v4.1 O+M Reference Guide, page 223

Guide to the LEED AP Operations and Maintenance (O+M) Exam, page 105

LEED v4 AP O+M Mock Exam, page 82 =========================================

Within the LEED AP Operations + Maintenance rating system, particularly for Schools and Hospitality projects, there is a heightened focus on sustainable waste management practices, including the recycling of specific products. One area of particular importance for these project types is the management of food waste due to the significant volumes generated and the opportunities for diversion from landfills through composting, donation, or other sustainable waste management practices.

Recycling requirements for batteries and lamps, electric-powered equipment, and office equipment, appliances, and audiovisual equipment are generally applicable across various project types. However, the specific emphasis on food waste recycling in Schools and Hospitality projects aligns with the operational characteristics of these facilities, where food service and preparation are integral activities. By focusing on food waste recycling, these projects can significantly reduce their environmental impact, contribute to community well-being, and often achieve operational cost savings.

References:The LEED v4 for Building Operations and Maintenance reference guide provides a detailed overview of the Materials and Resources credit category, which includes requirements for waste management. It outlines the specific emphasis on food waste management for Schools and Hospitality projects, recognizing the unique opportunities and challenges these project types face in achieving sustainable waste management practices.

The Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Occupant Comfort Survey is a tool used to assess the performance and success of the design of a space. It gathers accurate and reliable feedback from the building occupants. In a sample survey, approximately 33% of the total building occupants responded1. This suggests that a minimum of 30% of building occupants must respond to the survey.

References: 

https://cbe.berkeley.edu/research/occupant-survey-and-building-benchmarking/

https://leeduser.buildinggreen.com/sites/default/files/credit_documentation/EQc2%201_Occupant-Comfort-Survey%20Results_SAMPLE.pdf

The correct answer is C because the baseline water usage is 150% of the water use for a building with a certificate of occupancy dated 1993 or later, as stated in the LEED v4.1 O+M Reference Guide1.The baseline water usage is determined by calculating the estimated usage assuming Energy Policy Act-compliant fixtures2. The other options are incorrect because they either have the wrong percentage or the wrong year for the baseline water usage.

References: =

LEED v4.1 O+M Reference Guide, page 97

Guide to the LEED AP Operations and Maintenance (O+M) Exam, page 77

LEED v4 AP O+M Mock Exam, page 90 =========================================

Increasing the treatment levels of potable makeup water is an allowable method to increase cooling tower cycles of concentration. This is because treating the makeup water can help control the buildup of minerals and other impurities, allowing the system to operate more cycles before requiring blowdown.

References: The LEED v4.1 O+M reference guide and other LEED resources emphasize the importance of water treatment to manage cycles of concentration in cooling towers.Proper treatment helps maintain water quality and efficiency, which is crucial for achieving higher cycles of concentration without causing scale and corrosion problems1.

The correct answer is B because the transportation surveys must be distributed across all tenants proportionately, according to their populations, as stated in the LEED v4.1 O+M Reference Guide1. This ensures that the survey results are representative of the actual transportation patterns of the building occupants and avoids sampling bias. The other options are incorrect because they either do not account for the population size of each tenant or are not relevant for the survey distribution.

References: =

LEED v4.1 O+M Reference Guide, page 123

Guide to the LEED AP Operations and Maintenance (O+M) Exam, page 83

LEED v4 AP O+M Mock Exam, page 89 =========================================

The correct answer is A because zero occupants should be entered into Portfolio Manager for the vacant office space, as stated in the LEED v4.1 O+M Reference Guide1.Portfolio Manager is an online tool that allows projects to benchmark their energy and water performance and track their greenhouse gas emissions. The number of occupants entered into Portfolio Manager should reflect the actual occupancy of the building, not the potential occupancy. The other options are incorrect because they are arbitrary numbers that do not reflect the reality of the vacant office space.

References: =

LEED v4.1 O+M Reference Guide, page 137

Guide to the LEED AP Operations and Maintenance (O+M) Exam, page 88

LEED v4 AP O+M Mock Exam, page 86 =========================================

When calculating the Water Efficiency Credit for Outdoor Water Use Reduction, the irrigation of athletic fields may be included or excluded based on the project's specific circumstances and goals. This flexibility allows projects to tailor their water efficiency strategies to their unique site conditions, uses, and priorities, ensuring that the approach to outdoor water use reduction is both practical and effective.References:The Water Efficiency section of the LEED O+M Reference Guide provides guidance on calculating outdoor water use, offering options for including or excluding certain areas like athletic fields to meet the project's needs.

The owner is the only person who is required to be listed on the LEED project registration page. The owner is the entity that has the authority to implement the LEED project and sign the certification agreement. The owner’s representative, who can be a LEED AP or another person authorized by the owner, can register the project on behalf of the owner, but must also upload a confirmation of agent authority form. The primary architect, the commissioning agent, and other project team members are not required to be listed on the registration page, but can be added later as team members in LEED Online.

References:

Registering a project in LEED Online

LEED AP O+M Candidate Handbook, page 7