Pass the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) LEED-AP-BD+C Questions and answers with CertsForce

Exemplary performance credits are one of the options to earn innovation points under the LEED v4.1 rating system. They are typically awarded for achieving double the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold of an existing LEED v4.1 prerequisite or credit that allows exemplary performance. For example, to earn an exemplary performance point for the Energy and Atmosphere credit Optimize Energy Performance, the project must demonstrate a percentage improvement in the proposed building performance rating compared to the baseline building performance rating per ASHRAE 90.1-2010 by at least 12 percentage points for new construction, or by at least 16 percentage points for major renovations.

The Materials and Resources Credit, Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, rewards projects that reuse existing building structures and envelopes, or salvage materials from off-site or on-site sources. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the project team must calculate the percentage of building being reused by dividing the area of the existing building structure and envelope that is reused by the total area of the completed building structure and envelope1. However, the project team must exclude from the calculation any hazardous materials that are remediated as a part of the project, such as asbestos, lead, mold, or PCBs1. Therefore, the asbestos containing materials found on the perimeter walls will be excluded from the calculation, regardless of the volume.

Increase the number of skylights

Skylights are openings in the roof or ceiling that allow natural light to enter the building. They can improve daylighting by providing more uniform and diffuse illumination, reducing the need for artificial lighting, and enhancing the visual comfort and well-being of occupants. Skylights can also reduce cooling loads by minimizing solar heat gain through the roof. However, skylights must be designed carefully to avoid glare, overheating, and heat loss issues.

Massing and orientation are important factors that affect the energy performance of a building. Massing refers to the shape and size of the building, and orientation refers to the direction that the building faces. By rotating the building 90 degrees, the project team can evaluate how the change in orientation affects the energy loads of the building, such as heating, cooling, and lighting. For example, a building that faces south may receive more solar heat gain and daylight than a building that faces north, which may reduce the need for artificial lighting and heating, but increase the need for cooling and shading. The project team can use the results of the analysis to optimize the massing and orientation of the building to achieve the best energy performance.

Including the material requirements in the project specifications (D) ensures that all project team members are aware of and prioritize materials compliant with the Materials and Resources (MR) Credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization. Clearly defined specifications communicate the importance of sustainability criteria, such as environmental product declarations and sourcing. Whole-building life-cycle analysis (C) is part of separate LEED credits and doesn’t directly influence material prioritization by the team.

Installing a bioretention area is an example of a low-impact development (LID) practice that can reduce runoff volume and improve water quality by replicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the site. This approach will contribute to maintaining compliance with Sustainable Sites Credit, Rainwater Management, which requires designing the site to retain the runoff from the developed site for at least the 80th percentile of rainfall events1. References:

Credit: Rainwater management | U.S. Green Building Council

Achieving SSc Rainwater Management in LEED v4.1

According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, no smoking signage must be placed within 10 feet (3 meters) of every building entrance, except for alarmed emergency exits. This applies to both the main entrance and the service entrances, regardless of their location or frequency of use. The signage is intended to communicate the no-smoking policy to occupants and visitors and prevent environmental tobacco smoke from entering the building. References: EQ Prerequisite Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control, LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction123

This method is recommended when the project occupancy is not known, because it provides the default occupant density values for various space types, such as offices, classrooms, retail, and restaurants1. These values are based on the typical or average occupancy of similar spaces, and can be used to estimate the ventilation requirements and energy performance of the project2.

According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the calculations for Quality Views must include the following variables: window size and configuration, glazing factor, window head height, distance of the window from the floor, permanent interior obstructions, and exterior obstructions. Ceiling heights, building furniture, and movable partitions are not required to be included in the calculations.

In LEED-certified projects, residential buildings (D) are the exception to the rule prohibiting smoking inside buildings. For residential projects, the standard is modified to require designated smoking areas with special ventilation or separation rather than a complete ban, as smoking regulations in residential settings often involve tenant rights and are treated differently than commercial or institutional buildings. LEED requires that precautions be taken to control environmental tobacco smoke migration in multifamily residential projects to protect air quality in common areas.