Free Practice Questions for USGBC LEED-Green-Associate Exam

This collaboration is an example of the integrative process. LEED encourages project teams to work across disciplines early so they can identify synergies, avoid conflicts, and improve whole-building performance. Reducing stormwater runoff may involve landscape design, grading, civil engineering, soils, vegetation, open space, hardscape selection, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and local planning requirements. Because these decisions affect multiple systems, collaboration among the landscape architect, civil engineer, and city planner can produce better outcomes than isolated decision-making. Siloed design is the opposite approach, where disciplines work separately and may miss opportunities. Rainwater management is the specific performance goal, but the question asks what strategy the collaboration represents. A life-cycle approach evaluates impacts over time but does not directly describe team collaboration.

According to the LeadingGreen Guide:

“Individual controls for lighting have a significant effect on occupants’ comfort. Meeting the unique needs of each occupant can be accomplished through effective design of lighting controls…”

LEED credits under EQc6 emphasize providing lighting comfort and energy savings through such controls.

The Sustainable Sites (SS) category addresses the site selection, design, construction, and operation of a project, as well as its impacts on the natural and built environment. One of the goals of this category is to reduce light pollution and discourage the development of previously undeveloped land. Light pollution is the excessive or inappropriate use of artificial lighting that can have adverse effects on human health, wildlife, ecosystems, and astronomy. Previously undeveloped land is land that has not been graded, cleared, or built upon prior to the current project and remains in a natural state. Developingpreviouslyundeveloped land can result in habitat loss, soil erosion, stormwater runoff, and increased infrastructure costs13. References: LEED v4 Green Associate Candidate Handbook1, LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide3

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) administers the LEED rating systems development. The LEED rating systems are frameworks that provide guidance and criteria for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining green buildings. The USGBC is responsible for developing, maintaining, and updating the LEED rating systems through a consensus-based process that involves various stakeholders, such as technical experts, industry leaders, government representatives, and public comments. The LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook states that “USGBC is committed to transforming the way our buildings are designed, constructed and operated through LEED” [1, p. 7]. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, [LEED Rating Systems | U.S. Green Building Council]

Unless mitigated, resource consumption over the life of a conventional building incrementally increases the total emissions footprint. This is because conventional buildings often use non-renewable resources for energy and materials, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions during extraction, production, use, and disposal. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

Sustainable landscape design aims to create landscapes that are in harmony with the local environment, conserve natural resources, and provide ecological benefits. One of the outcomes of sustainable landscape design is restoring and regenerating habitat for native plants and animals, which enhances biodiversity and ecosystem services.

LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction, p. 582

LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, p. 11

Should non-design team stakeholders be included in design charrettes?

No, because it may increase legal liability

Yes, because it may help to reduce future litigation

No, because they lack the expertise to contribute design ideas

Yes, because they enhance understanding of community concerns

Answer: D

Design charrettes are collaborative sessions where stakeholders brainstorm and generate design solutions for a project. Non-design team stakeholders, such as community members, clients, users, and regulators, can provide valuable input and feedback on the project goals, needs, challenges, and opportunities. Including them in design charrettes can help to create more sustainable, inclusive, and responsive design outcomes that meet the expectations and requirements of all parties involved. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, page 14; LEED Green Associate | U.S. Green Building Council, section “LEED v4 Rating Systems”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, space heating accounted for about 32% of energy use for all U.S. commercial buildings in 2018, followed by ventilation and lighting, each at about 10%1. Space heating is the largest single energy end use in U.S. office buildings as well2.

Use of energy in commercial buildings - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)1

DataTrends: Energy Use in Office Buildings | ENERGY STAR2

Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions are direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the organization. On-site landfills are an example of a source of Scope 1 emissions, as they release methane and carbon dioxide from the decomposition of organic waste12.

Business travel, purchased electricity, and employee commuting are examples of sources of Scope 2 or Scope 3 emissions, which are indirect emissions from sources that are not owned or controlled by the organization. Business travel and employee commuting are Scope 3 emissions, as they occur from the activities of the organization’s value chain, such as suppliers and customers12. Purchased electricity is a Scope 2 emission, as it occurs from the generation of electricity that the organization consumes

ASHRAE 90.1-2010, Appendix G is the referenced standard for defining the baseline building performance for energy simulation modeling in LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction. The baseline building is a hypothetical building that represents the minimum energy performance required by ASHRAE 90.1-2010, which is a standard for energy efficiency in buildings. The baseline building is used as a benchmark to compare the proposed design of the project and to calculate the percentage of energy cost savings achieved by the project. The baseline building performance is evaluated by following the procedures and assumptions specified in Appendix G of ASHRAE 90.1-2010, such as building envelope, lighting, HVAC systems, service water heating, and renewable energy.

The other options are not relevant to the question, as they are standards for different aspects of green building, such as thermal comfort (ASHRAE 55-2010), air filtration (ASHRAE 52.2-2007), and ventilation (ASHRAE 62.1-2010).