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

The intent of the Sustainable Sites Prerequisite. Construction Activity Pollution Prevention is to reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust generation. The LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction states that "construction activities can have significant negative impacts on the environment, both at the project site and beyond. Erosion and sedimentation can degrade water quality, damage aquatic habitats, and increase flooding risks. Airborne dust can affect air quality, human health, and visibility. Construction vehicles and equipment can generate noise, traffic, and greenhouse gas emissions"1. The project team must implement an erosion and sedimentation control (ESC) plan that conforms to the 2012 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Construction General Permit or local equivalent, whichever is more stringent. The ESC plan must cover all construction activity on the project site, including clearing, grading, excavating, and demolition.

The correct answer is D, provide qualifying electrical vehicle supply equipment in 2% of all parking spaces. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the Location and Transportation Credit, Green Vehicles, requires that projects provide preferred parking for green vehicles for 5% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. Green vehicles are defined as vehicles that achieve a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide1 In addition, projects must provide one of the following:

Install alternative-fuel fueling stations for 3% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. Alternative fuels are defined by the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 1992 and include biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane.

Install electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for 2% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. EVSE must be Level 2 or higher as defined by SAE International’s J1772 standard.

Provide a discounted parking rate of at least 20% for green vehicles. The discounted rate must be available to all customers (not limited by time of day or user groups), publicly posted at the entrance of the parking area, and included in all marketing materials for the parking facility1

In this case, the project team has provided preferred parking for green vehicles for 20% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site (4 out of 20 spaces), which exceeds the minimum requirement of 5%. However, they still need to provide one of the additional options listed above to achieve the credit. The most feasible option for a school project with a small parking lot would be to install EVSE for 2% of all parking spaces, which would be equivalent to one space. Therefore, answer D is correct.

The other answers are incorrect because they do not meet the credit requirements. Answer A is incorrect because providing preferred parking alone is not sufficient to achieve the credit; one of the additional options must also be provided. Answer B is incorrect because providing bike racks is not relevant to this credit, which focuses on green vehicles; bike racks are part of another credit, Location and Transportation Credit, Bicycle Facilities. Answer C is incorrect because providing an additional parking space for a low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicle would not increase the percentage of preferred parking above 20%, which is already more than enough; moreover, low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles are defined differently from green vehicles in LEED v4 and have their own credit, Location and Transportation Credit, Reduced Parking Footprint1 References: 1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Location and Transportation Credit: Green Vehicles, page 467.

According to the LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, the location of CO2 sensors in naturally ventilated spaces to comply with the Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite, Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance is between 3 ft. and 6 ft. (1 m and 2 m) above the floor. This is one of the requirements for Option 2. Naturally Ventilated Spaces, which applies to projects that rely on natural ventilation for all or part of the occupied spaces. The CO2 sensors must be located in each zone with natural ventilation openings, and must be capable of generating an alarm when the CO2 concentration exceeds the design value1.

The other choices are not correct, because:

At least 6 ft. (2 m) above the floor is the location of CO2 sensors in mechanically ventilated spaces, not naturally ventilated spaces1.

At least 3 ft. (1 m) away from windows is a general guideline for locating CO2 sensors, but it does not specify the height above the floor2.

On the ceiling 3 ft. (1 m) away from adjacent walls is not a recommended location for CO2 sensors, as it may not reflect the actual CO2 concentration at the breathing zone of the occupants2.

A charrette is a collaborative design process that involves multiple stakeholders, such as the owner, the design team, the community, and the users. By including the public in a charrette for a new school before the pre-design phase, potential partnerships with the community can be revealed. For example, the school might share facilities or resources with a nearby library, park, or community center. This can enhance the social and environmental benefits of the project, as well as reduce costs and increase efficiency. References: LEED BD+C Reference Guide, Introduction, page 171; LEED BD+C Reference Guide, Integrative Process, page 291

Source control is one of the control measures recommended by the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association (SMACNA) for the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan. Source control means minimizing the generation and emission of indoor air pollutants from the construction activities and materials. Some examples of source control are1:

•Using low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, and flooring systems that comply with the VOC limits of the applicable LEED credit.

•Storing absorptive materials in a protected area and covering them with plastic sheeting to prevent moisture and mold growth.

•Scheduling the installation of finish materials after the completion of wet and dusty work, such as concrete pouring, drywall sanding, and painting.

•Isolating work areas where high levels of contaminants are generated or used, such as welding, cutting, grinding, and solvent cleaning, and providing adequate ventilation and exhaust.

•Prohibiting smoking, eating, and drinking in the work areas, and providing designated areas for these activities.

Average number of occupants standing or seated

To identify the regularly occupied spaces on a project, the LEED consultant should consider the average number of occupants standing or seated in each space, as this is the criterion used by the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction, 20091. Regularly occupied spaces are defined as areas where workers are seated or standing as they work (or perform regular tasks) inside a building2. The typical duration of occupancy in each space per day is not necessarily relevant, as some spaces may be used intermittently but still qualify as regularly occupied2. The rate of outdoor air provided per person and the fire ratings of installed wall and ceiling assemblies are not related to the definition of regularly occupied spaces, but rather to other credits such as Indoor Environmental Quality or Fire and Life Safety.

Source reduction focuses on minimizing waste at its origin.

Prefabrication reduces waste by manufacturing components off-site with optimized material use, leading to less on-site cutting, packaging waste, and construction debris.

Custom design (Option A) and design-build (Option B) do not inherently reduce waste.

Material science (Option C) refers to material properties but does not directly address waste reduction.

Prefabrication is the most effective source reduction strategy, making Option D correct.

(Source: Official LEED BD+C Reference Manual)

A split review is an optional review process that allows project teams to submit the design and construction portions of their projects separately. This can help teams determine if the project is on track to achieve LEED certification at its preferred level, and identify any issues or clarifications needed before the final review. A split review also reduces the documentation burden and review time for the construction review12.

Decreasing lighting power is a strategy that can be used to reduce the internal load of a building. Internal load is the amount of heat generated within a building by its occupants, equipment, and lighting1. Reducing lighting power can lower the internal heat gain and thus decrease the cooling demand and energy consumption of the building2. Other strategies to reduce internal load include using energy-efficient appliances, natural ventilation, daylighting, occupancy sensors, and shading devices3. References:

8.1: Internal Loads - Engineering LibreTexts

Chapter 3: Design Loads for Residential Buildings - HUD User

Internal Heat Gain - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

A vegetated shading structure is an example of a nonroof measure for Sustainable Sites Credit, Heat Island Reduction. The heat island effect is the phenomenon of urban areas having higher air temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to the absorption and emission of heat by human-made surfaces, such as buildings, roads, and pavements. The heat island effect can have negative impacts on the environment, human health, and energy consumption. One of the strategies to reduce the heat island effect is to use nonroof measures that provide shade, reflectivity, or evapotranspiration for at least 50% of the site hardscape, such as parking lots, walkways, plazas, and courtyards1. A vegetated shading structure is a type of nonroof measure that consists of a trellis or pergola that supports climbing plants or vines that provide shade and cooling for the underlying surface. A vegetated shading structure can also enhance the aesthetic and ecological value of the site2.

The other options are not examples of nonroof measures for Sustainable Sites Credit, Heat Island Reduction. A playground with artificial turf is not a nonroof measure, but a roof measure, as it is considered as part of the building envelope. Artificial turf is also not a compliant roof measure, as it does not meet the minimum solar reflectance index (SRI) or vegetated roof requirements1. A shade structure with a three-year aged SRI value of 0.2 is not a compliant nonroof measure, as it does not meet the minimum SRI value of 29 for nonroof surfaces1. A paving material with a three-year aged SRI value of 0.2 is also not a compliant nonroof measure, as it does not meet the minimum SRI value of 29 for nonroof surfaces1.