USGBC LEED-AP-O+M Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

USGBC LEED-AP-O+M Online Questions & Answers

• Question 111:

  Which survey is required to document Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Occupant Comfort Survey?

  A. Annual energy survey
  B. Thermal comfort and satisfaction survey
  C. Transportation mode survey
  D. Custodial effectiveness survey
  B. Thermal comfort and satisfaction survey

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  The Occupant Comfort Survey gathers feedback on thermal comfort, lighting, acoustics, and air quality to assess building performance from the occupants' perspective.

• Question 112:

  A project is using an on-site captured rainwater system and municipally treated wastewater for both flush fixtures and irrigation. To which of the following Water Efficiency prerequisites or credits can these alternative water sources be applied?

  A. Both alternative water sources may only be applied towards the credits for both Indoor Water Use Reduction and Outdoor Water Use Reduction
  B. Both alternative water sources may only be applied towards the prerequisites for both Indoor Water Use Reduction and Outdoor Water Use Reduction
  C. The on-site captured rainwater may only be applied to Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction while the municipally treated wastewater may only be applied to Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Outdoor Water Use Reduction
  D. The on-site captured rainwater system may only be applied to Water Efficiency Credit, Indoor Water Use Reduction, while the municipally treated wastewater may only be applied to Water Efficiency Credit, Outdoor Water Use Reduction
  A. Both alternative water sources may only be applied towards the credits for both Indoor Water Use Reduction and Outdoor Water Use Reduction

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  Using on-site captured rainwater and municipally treated wastewater for both flush fixtures and irrigation can be applied towards the credits for both Indoor Water Use Reduction and Outdoor Water Use Reduction in LEED. These alternative water sources contribute to the overall water efficiency of the project by reducing the reliance on potable water sources for indoor and outdoor uses.

• Question 113:

  A new office building was LEED Gold certified, and the tenants have occupied the space for one month. The property manager would like to certify the building under LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings.

  What program requirements apply?

  A. The project is already certified and it is not eligible
  B. The building is immediately eligible because of the previous certification
  C. The project needs to be occupied for one year prior to pursuing this certification
  D. The project needs to be occupied for two years prior to pursuing this certification
  B. The building is immediately eligible because of the previous certification

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  A new office building that has been LEED Gold certified and occupied for one month is immediately eligible to certify the building under LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings. The previous certification provides a baseline for sustainability performance, allowing the property manager to pursue further certification under the Operations and Maintenance category without any mandatory waiting period.References:LEED v5 O+M: Existing Buildings beta version

• Question 114:

  At what point is it appropriate for the LEED AP to administer an alternative transportation survey to those that visit the building?

  A. When 50% of visitors utilize alternative transportation modes to visit the building
  B. When 80% of visitors utilize alternative transportation modes to visit the building
  C. When the daily average or typical peak number of visitors is at least 50% of the regular building occupants
  D. When the daily average or typical peak number of visitors is greater than the number of regular buildingoccupants
  C. When the daily average or typical peak number of visitors is at least 50% of the regular building occupants

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  The LEED AP Operations + Maintenance (LEED AP O+M) V4.1 focuses on improving the sustainability of existing buildings that are fully operational and have been occupied for at least a year12. Administering an alternative transportation survey is appropriate when the daily average or typical peak number of visitors is at least 50% of the regular building occupants. This is because the survey aims to understand and improve the transportation habits of a significant portion of the people interacting with the building, which includes both regular occupants and visitors. By focusing on this group, the LEED AP can identify opportunities to encourage alternative transportation modes, thereby reducing the building's overall environmental impact.

  References: LEED v4: Building Operations + Maintenance Guide | U.S. Green Building Council LEED AP with specialty | U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification for existing buildings and spaces LEED O+M Certification and Credentials | Existing Buildings | GBES

• Question 115:

  A building is certified in LEED EB v2.0. Upon recertification, which LEED Operations and Maintenance version should be used?

  A. LEED EB v2.0
  B. Whichever version the team designates
  C. The version that is current at the time of registration for recertification
  D. The version subsequent to the version under which the project initially certified
  C. The version that is current at the time of registration for recertification

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  When a building is recertified in LEED Operations and Maintenance, it should use the LEED version that is current at the time of registration for recertification. This approach ensures that the building is being assessed under the most recent standards and requirements, reflecting the latest advancements and best practices in green building.References:LEED Operations and Maintenance Reference Guide, Introduction and Overview section.

  When a building initially certified under LEED EB v2.0 seeks recertification, the appropriate version to use is the one that is current at the time of registration for recertification. LEED rating systems go through updates and revisions, and at any given point, they can be either open for registration and certification, closed for registration but open for certification, or completely closed for both registration and certification (sunset). The deadlines for these phases are published by the USGBC. Therefore, a building pursuing recertification must align with the most current version available at the time of its registration for recertification.

• Question 116:

  A LEED project is considering converting 75% of its existing composite roof to a vegetated roof. The project's landscape architect also suggests an open-grid pavement system for 30% of the site paving, and colored concrete for 25% of the site paving. Which of the following factors must be considered when selecting the materials for these strategies?

  A. The Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of the colored concrete, and the unbound percentage of the open-grid pavement system
  B. The SRI of the vegetated roof system, and the unbound percentage of the open-grid pavement system
  C. The SRI of the vegetated roof system, and the SRI of the colored concrete
  D. The SRI of the colored concrete, and the SRI of the open-grid pavement system
  A. The Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of the colored concrete, and the unbound percentage of the open-grid pavement system

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  This answer is correct because these are the two factors that affect the heat island reduction potential of the materials. The SRI is a measure of how well a material reflects solar radiation and stays cool in the sun. The higher the SRI, the lower the surface temperature and the less heat absorbed by the material. The unbound percentage of the open-grid pavement system is the ratio of the area that is not covered by the paving material to the total area of the system. The higher the unbound percentage, the more permeable the system and the more water infiltration and evaporation, which also reduce the surface temperature. The vegetated roof system does not need to have a specific SRI value, as long as it uses native or adapted plant species that provide shade and evapotranspiration. The open-grid pavement system does not need to have a specific SRI value, as long as it has at least 50% unbound area.

  References: LEED v4.1 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE - WAP Sustainability Consulting, page 26;SpecTopics: Heat Island Reduction Credit and LEED V4/V4.1 - Carlisle SynTec;LEED AP O+M - Heat Island Reduction - GBES

• Question 117:

  A benefit of recommending LED lamps in an environmentally preferable purchasing policy is that they

  A. are rapidly renewable
  B. have no mercury content
  C. are adaptable to all existing fixtures have lower up front costs than fluorescent lamps
  B. have no mercury content

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  Recommending LED lamps in an environmentally preferable purchasing policy is beneficial because LED lamps contain no mercury. Unlike some other lighting options, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) which can contain mercury, LEDs offer a safer alternative in terms of toxic substances. This makes LED lamps an environmentally friendly choice, reducing the risk of mercury pollution and facilitating easier, safer disposal or recycling of lamps at the end of their life cycle. References:The LEED AP Operations + Maintenance documentation highlights the environmental and health benefits of selecting LED lighting, including the absence of mercury, which aligns with the goals of reducing hazardous substances in building environments.

• Question 118:

  Which of the following is a low impact development (LID) technique for rainwater management?

  A. Storm inlet
  B. Rain garden
  C. Detention basin
  D. Impervious pavement
  B. Rain garden

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  Low Impact Development (LID) practices manage stormwater by using natural or man-made systems to filter and recharge stormwater into the ground12. A rain garden is an example of a LID technique for rainwater management3. It is a planted depression that allows rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas, like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas, to be absorbed. This reduces rain runoff by allowing stormwater to soak into the ground (as opposed to flowing into storm drains and surface waters which causes erosion, water pollution, flooding, and diminished groundwater).

  References: Low Impact Development (LID) Practices: A Review on Recent Developments, Challenges and Prospects | Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Enhancing stormwater management with low impact development (LID): a review of the rain barrel, bioretention, and permeable pavement applicability in Indonesia | Water Science and Technology | IWA Publishing Managing Rainwater with Low-Impact Development (LID) for LEED Credits

• Question 119:

  Which of the following systems is typically excluded from scope under Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Existing Building Commissioning ?Implementation?

  A. Lighting controls
  B. Domestic hot water systems
  C. Plug load equipment
  D. HVAC systems
  C. Plug load equipment

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  Existing Building Commissioning focuses on base building systems such as HVAC, lighting, and domestic hot water. Plug load equipment is generally excluded because it is tenant-controlled and not considered a base building system.

• Question 120:

  How long should a commercial kitchen prep sink be metered to establish a baseline when pursuing the Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction, Option 2?

  A. Six months
  B. 12 months
  C. 18 months
  D. This type of fixture should not be metered
  B. 12 months

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  For establishing a baseline in the context of the Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction, Option 2, it's critical to have an accurate understanding of the current water usage patterns. This involves metering various water fixtures, including those in commercial kitchens. The goal is to determine the potential for water savings by comparing the baseline data to reduced usage scenarios through efficiency measures.

  A 12-month metering period is typically recommended for a few key reasons:

  Seasonal Variability:A year-long period captures the seasonal variations in water use, providing a comprehensive understanding of usage patterns. Commercial kitchens might have fluctuating usage based on seasonal menus, events, and peak times, which shorter periods might not fully capture.

  Data Reliability:A longer data collection period enhances the reliability of the data. It mitigates the impact of any anomalies or outliers that could skew the results in shorter metering durations.

  Consistency with LEED Requirements:LEED guidelines emphasize the importance of thorough and accurate baseline measurements to inform effective water reduction strategies. A 12-month period aligns with the comprehensive approach LEED encourages for sustainable practices.

  Operational Changes:A year gives enough time to observe the effects of any operational changes, special events, or other factors that might influence water usage. This ensures that the baseline is representative of typical operations.

  References:The approach aligns with the general LEED principles for establishing baselines for water and energy use, which advocate for capturing data over significant periods to ensure accuracy and reliability. Although the specific LEED BD+C or O+M documentation does not detail the metering period for each specific fixture type, the 12-month period is a widely accepted standard for establishing baselines in building operations, including water usage in commercial kitchens. This duration provides a

  comprehensive view of water use, accommodating seasonal changes and varying operational activities, which is essential for setting realistic and achievable water reduction goals in line with LEED's sustainability objectives.