USGBC LEED-GA Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

USGBC LEED-GA Online Questions & Answers

• Question 241:

  Which of the following options does the triple bottom line entail?

  A. Time, cost and quality
  B. People, planet and profit
  C. Energy, water and materials
  D. Health, safety and environment
  B. People, planet and profit

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  The triple bottom line is a business concept that states firms should commit to measuring their social and environmental impact-in addition to their financial performance-rather than solely focusing on generating profit, or the standard "bottom line"1..The triple bottom line can be broken down into "three P's": profit, people, and the planet2..Firms can use these categories to conceptualize their environmental responsibility and determine any negative social impacts to which they might be contributing.

• Question 242:

  Which of the following Is a source of green power?

  A. Clean coal
  B. Wind turbine
  C. Nuclear fission
  D. Natural gas captured by hydraulic fracturing
  B. Wind turbine

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  A wind turbine is a source of green power, which is electricity generated from renewable sources that have low or zero greenhouse gas emissions. A wind turbine converts the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical power, which can then be used to generate electricity. Wind power is a clean, abundant, and sustainable form of energy that does not produce air pollution or contribute to climate change. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind power accounted for about 8.4% of the total U.S.

  electricity generation in 2020. The other options are not sources of green power, as they either rely on fossil fuels or nuclear energy, which have significant environmental and social impacts. Clean coal is a term used to describe technologies that aim to reduce the emissions and waste from burning coal, but it is still a carbon-intensive and polluting source of energy. Nuclear fission is a process that splits atoms to release energy, but it also produces radioactive waste that poses long-term health and safety

  risks. Natural gas captured by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process that injects water, chemicals, and sand into underground rock formations to release natural gas, but it also causes water contamination, air pollution, and seismic activity..

  References: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, p..347.1; [U.S. Department of Energy website]

• Question 243:

  EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is used for measuring

  A. embodied energy
  B. only ongoing water performance
  C. only ongoing energy performance
  D. ongoing energy and water performance
  D. ongoing energy and water performance

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  EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is a no-cost, interactive energy management tool that allows you to securely track and assess energy and water consumption across your building portfolio12..You can use Portfolio Manager to benchmark your building's performance, set investment priorities, verify savings, and apply for ENERGY STAR certification23. Portfolio Manager does not measure embodied energy, which is the total amount of energy required to produce, transport, and install building materials.

• Question 244:

  In a large site that has a short, intense rainy season and a long, dry season, what component of a collected rainwater irrigation system is most likely to make it cost prohibitive over a conventional system?

  A. Irrigation piping systems
  B. Irrigation control systems
  C. Rainwater storage cisterns
  D. Landscaping plant selection
  C. Rainwater storage cisterns

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  Rainwater storage cisterns are components of a collected rainwater irrigation system that are most likely to make it cost prohibitive over a conventional system in a large site that has a short, intense rainy season and a long, dry season. A collected rainwater irrigation system is a system that collects, stores, and distributes rainwater for irrigation purposes. Rainwater storage cisterns are containers that store the collected rainwater until it is needed for irrigation. In a large site that has a short, intense rainy season and a long, dry season, the rainwater storage cisterns would need to be very large and durable to capture and store enough rainwater for the dry season..This would increase the initial cost and maintenance cost of the system compared to a conventional system that uses potable water or groundwater for irrigation1...

  References: LEED v4 Green Associate Candidate Handbook1, EPA's Rainwater Harvesting

• Question 245:

  If a project has achieved 53 points and six of eight prerequisites, for what level of certification does the project qualify?

  A. None
  B. Gold
  C. Silver
  D. Certified
  A. None

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  To qualify for any level of LEED certification, a project must meet all the prerequisites and achieve a minimum number of points based on the ratingsystem and the certification level1..The prerequisites are mandatory requirements that must be met before a project can earn any points2..The points are awarded for achieving optional credits that demonstrate environmental performance and innovation2..The LEED rating system consists of five broad categories: Building Design and Construction (BD+C),

  Interior Designand Construction (ID+C), Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M), Neighborhood Development (ND), and Homes3..Each category has different adaptations for specific project types and scopes, such as Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Data Centers, Warehouses and Distribution Centers, Healthcare, etc3..Each adaptation has a different number of prerequisites and credits, and a different point scale for each certification level4..The certification levels are: Certified, Silver, Gold, and

  Platinum1..The minimumpoints required for each level vary depending on the rating system and the adaptation, but generally range from 40 to 80 points1.

  In this question, the project has achieved 53 points and six of eight prerequisites. This means that the project has failed to meet two prerequisites, which are mandatory requirements. Therefore, the project does not qualify for any level of LEED certification, regardless of the rating system or the adaptation. The answer is A. None.

  The 4 Levels of LEED Certification and How to Achieve Them

  LEED credits, prerequisites and points: How are they different?

  LEED rating system

  LEED rating system selection

• Question 246:

  Which of the following is a strategy that can help projects meet on site sustainability goals during construction?

  A. Update the LEED checklist
  B. Perform a value engineering exercise
  C. Purchase Renewable Energy Certificates
  D. Implement a stormwater pollution prevention plan
  D. Implement a stormwater pollution prevention plan

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  Implementing a stormwater pollution prevention plan during construction can help projects meet on-site sustainability goals. This plan outlines measures to control runoff and prevent soil erosion, which can carry pollutants into nearby water bodies. By managing stormwater on-site, projects can protect local water quality while also recharging groundwater supplies..

  References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

• Question 247:

  Which of the following water types is suitable for drinking?

  A. Graywater
  B. Greenwater
  C. Stormwater
  D. Potable water
  D. Potable water

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  Potable water is water that is suitable for drinking. Potable water meets or exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) drinking water quality standards and is free of contaminants that are harmful to human health. The other options are not suitable for drinking. Graywater is wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry that can be reused for non-potable purposes such as toilet flushing and irrigation. Greenwater is rainwater that is collected and stored for non-potable uses. Stormwater is runoff

  from precipitation that can carry pollutants and sediments into waterways..

  References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, page 26; USGBC, [Water Efficiency], page 2.

• Question 248:

  Which is an example of regenerative design?

  A. Passive house energy building
  B. A building with a recycling program
  C. A project that uses sustainable materials
  D. A building that generates electricity and sends the excess to the grid
  D. A building that generates electricity and sends the excess to the grid

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  Regenerative design is a type of design that goes beyond sustainability and aims to restore or enhance the natural systems that support life. Regenerative design projects not only minimize their environmental impact, but also contribute positively to the environment and society. An example of regenerative design is a building that generates electricity from renewable sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, and sends the excess electricity to the grid, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the transition to a clean energy economy.

  References: What Is Regenerative Design?| LEED Blog1 LEED v5 | U.S.Green Building Council2 The Future of LEED Will Be Positive | BuildingGreen3

• Question 249:

  A building owner has set a goal of reducing water use by 20% for the upcoming year. Which of the following strategies will aid in reducing indoor water demand to achieve the water reduction goal set by the owner?

  A. Installing dual-flush toilets
  B. Collecting rainwater in cisterns
  C. Installing building-level water meters
  D. Using potable water for flush functions
  A. Installing dual-flush toilets

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  Installing dual-flush toilets can significantly reduce indoor water demand. Dual-flush toilets have two flush options: a half flush for liquid waste and a full flush for solid waste. By using less water for liquid waste, these toilets can reduce overall water consumption by up to 30%, helping to achieve the owner's water reduction goal..

  References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

• Question 250:

  Approximately what percentage of the Earth's water is fresh water?

  A. 3%
  B. 4%
  C. 1%
  D. 2%
  A. 3%

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  Only 3% of the Earth's water is fresh, and a significant portion is locked in glaciers and ice caps. LEED emphasizes water conservation strategies to protect this finite resource.