USGBC LEED-GA Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

USGBC LEED-GA Online Questions & Answers

• Question 21:

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

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

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  From the Project Surroundings guide:

  "Only about 3% of Earth's water is freshwater."

  This limited availability emphasizes the importance of water conservation in LEED.

• Question 22:

  The LEED Project team performs an initial review that indicates 34 credit points can be achieved from the credit categories. How many additional points would result in the project achieving LEED Silver?

  A. 10 additional points
  B. 15 additional points
  C. 20 additional points
  D. 30 additional points
  C. 20 additional points

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  LEED certification is awarded based on the number of points a project earns across several categories of green building performance. The range of points required to achieve LEED Silver is 50-59, out of a possible 110 points..The other levels of LEED certification are: Certified (40-49 points), Gold (60-79 points), and Platinum (80 or more points)12..Therefore, if a project initially has 34 credit points,it would need 20 additional points to reach the minimum threshold for LEED Silver..

  References: LEED v4 Green Associate Candidate Handbook1, LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide2

• Question 23:

  A project team is pursuing LEED certification for an existing commercial office building to certify ongoing sustainability performance. Which LEED rating system should be used for this project?

  A. LEED for Neighborhood Development
  B. LEED for Building Design and Construction
  C. LEED for Interior Design and Construction
  D. LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance
  D. LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance

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  LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) is the rating system that applies to existing buildings and interior spaces that have been fully operational and occupied for at least one year1..It focuses on performance-oriented sustainable strategies and outcomes, such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, indoor environmental quality, and transportation2..LEED O+M can help existing buildings reduce their environmental impacts and improve their operations. .2.LEED rating system | U.S..Green Building Council1.LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) | Harvard Energy and Facilities.

• Question 24:

  A project plans to build a campus of buildings. Which of the following strategies should the project team consider to reduce energy demand?

  A. Purchase carbon offsets
  B. Design buildings to shade each other
  C. Enroll in a demand response program
  D. Select HVAC equipment without refrigerants
  B. Design buildings to shade each other

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  Designing buildings to shade each other can help reduce energy demand by decreasing cooling loads. By strategically positioning buildings on a site, it's possible to use the buildings themselves to block solar heat gain, reducing the need for air conditioning..

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

• Question 25:

  The general contractor for a project located in a dense urban area attempts to gain a credit in Materials and Resources. Which of the following is considered a local material?

  A. Quarry tile that is extracted 370 mi (595 km) away and manufactured in a city 1.600 mi (2 575 km) away
  B. Stone that is harvested and processed 80 mi (128.7 km) from the project site and purchased 75 mi. (121 km) away
  C. Vinyl flooring manufactured 500 mi (805 km) away but is sold at a warehouse 2 mi (3.2 km) from the project site
  D. Bamboo flooring that is harvested 2.350 mi. (3 782 km) away and manufactured 200 mi. (322 km) away from the project site
  B. Stone that is harvested and processed 80 mi (128.7 km) from the project site and purchased 75 mi. (121 km) away

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  Stone that is harvested and processed 80 mi (128.7 km) from the project site and purchased 75 mi (121 km) away is considered a local material because it meets the criteria of being extracted, harvested, recovered, or manufactured within 100 mi (160 km) of the project site. Local materials can help reduce environmental impacts associated with transportation, such as greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and energy consumption. Local materials can also support the local economy and community..LEED projects can earn credits for using local materials under the Materials and Resources category..

  References: Local Materialsin India3; LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Materials and Resources, page 65

• Question 26:

  Which of the following strategies contributes to reducing heat island effect and managing rainwater runoff?

  A. A vegetated roof
  B. White cement roof pavers
  C. A rainwater collection system
  D. Shading structures that include photovoltaic panels
  A. A vegetated roof

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  A vegetated roof, also known as a green roof, is a roof that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, such as soil or compost..A vegetated roof can help reduce the heat island effect and manage rainwater runoff by providing the following benefits12:

  It reduces the surface temperature of the roof by reflecting solar radiation and cooling the air through evapotranspiration, which is the process of plants releasing water vapor from their leaves. This can lower the ambient temperature of the surrounding area and improve thermal comfort for occupants and pedestrians. It reduces the amount and speed of stormwater runoff by retaining and filtering rainwater in the vegetation and growing medium. This can prevent flooding, erosion, and pollution of downstream

  water bodies, as well as reduce the demand for potable water for irrigation or other purposes. It enhances the biodiversity and habitat of the urban environment by providing a space for plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms to thrive. This can improve the ecological health and resilience of the ecosystem and provide aesthetic and recreational benefits for humans.

  Other strategies that can contribute to reducing the heat island effect and managing rainwater runoff are:

  White cement roof pavers: These are tiles made of concrete that have a high solar reflectance index (SRI), which measures how well a surface reflects solar radiation. White cement roof pavers can help reduce the surface temperature of the roof by reflecting more solar radiation than darker or less reflective materials..However, they do not provide any benefits for stormwater management, as they are impervious surfaces that do not retain or filter rainwater34. A rainwater collection system: This is a system

  that captures and stores rainwater from roofs or other surfaces for reuse. A rainwater collection system can help reduce stormwater runoff by diverting rainwater from landfills or incinerators to other destinations, such as irrigation, toilet flushing, or cooling..However, it does not provide any benefits for reducing the heat island effect, as it does not affect the surface temperature of the roof or the surrounding air5.. Shading structures that include photovoltaic panels: These are structures that provide shade for

  roofs or other surfaces by blocking direct sunlight. Shading structures that include photovoltaic panels can help reduce the heat island effect by lowering the surface temperature of the roof or the shaded area. They can also help generate renewable energy from solar power, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. However, they do not provide any benefits for stormwater management, as they do not retain or filter rainwater.

• Question 27:

  In addition to the temperature and air movement, what is another factor to consider when implementing Thermal Comfort strategies?

  A. Humidity
  B. Methane off-gassing
  C. Carbon dioxide concentrations
  D. Combustion processes from vehicles
  A. Humidity

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  In addition to temperature and air movement, humidity is another factor to consider when implementing thermal comfort strategies. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air, which affects how warm or cool people feel. High humidity can make people feel hotter and more uncomfortable, while low humidity can cause dryness and irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. Thermal comfort strategies should aim to maintain an optimal level of humidity that balances human comfort and health with energy

  efficiency and moisture control. The other options are not factors to consider when implementing thermal comfort strategies. Methane off-gassing is the release of methane gas from organic matter decomposition or anaerobic digestion, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Carbon dioxide concentrations are a measure of indoor air quality that indicates the level of ventilation and fresh air supply in a space. Combustion processes from vehicles are sources of outdoor air

  pollution that emit carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and other harmful substances..

  References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, page 29; USGBC, [Indoor Environmental Quality], page 2.

• Question 28:

  A civil engineer would like to incorporate strategies for rainwater management in order to prevent the flooding occurring at the project site. Which design technique should be used to help prevent stormwater damage to the building and surrounding site?

  A. Install a bioswale
  B. Direct runoff into a stream
  C. Pave the site with high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) material
  D. Pave the site with impervious material
  A. Install a bioswale

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  Installing a bioswale is a design technique that should be used to help prevent stormwater damage to the building and surrounding site. A bioswale is a vegetated channel that conveys stormwater runoff while filtering pollutants, reducing peak flow rates, increasing infiltration, and providing habitat. A bioswale can help prevent stormwater damage by reducing erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and contamination of waterways. The other options are not design techniques that should be used to help prevent

  stormwater damage to the building and surrounding site. Directing runoff into a stream is a design technique that can cause stormwater damage by increasing the volume and velocity of water entering the stream, resulting in erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and contamination of the stream. Paving the site with high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) material is a design technique that can reduce the heat island effect by reflecting more solar radiation than conventional paving materials, but it does not prevent

  stormwater damage as it does not reduce runoff or improve water quality. Paving the site with impervious material is a design technique that can cause stormwater damage by preventing infiltration and increasing runoff, resulting in erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and contamination of waterways..

  References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, page 32; USGBC [Sustainable Sites], page 4-5.

• Question 29:

  What does the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) administer?

  A. LEED Green Associate exams
  B. LEED rating systems development
  C. LEED Credentialing Programs related to Green Building practice
  D. LEED Project Certification through third-party certification bodies accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
  B. LEED rating systems development

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  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]

• Question 30:

  Which LEED category focuses on reducing building energy consumption?

  A. Sustainable Sites
  B. Energy and Atmosphere
  C. Materials and Resources
  D. Water Efficiency
  B. Energy and Atmosphere

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  EA addresses energy efficiency, commissioning, and on-site or off-site renewable energy.