Pass the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) LEED-Green-Associate Questions and answers with CertsForce

The LEED for Schools rating system includes specific requirements not found in other BD+C categories:

“Minimum Acoustical Performance – Schools ONLY – EQp3 + EQc9… This prerequisite is for school projects only to provide a quiet environment to facilitate the teacher-to-student and student-to-student communication.”

This makes "Minimum Acoustic Performance" a required prerequisite for schools.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are tradable, non-tangible energy commodities that represent the environmental attributes of one megawatt-hour of electricity generated from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, hydro, or biomass1. RECs can be purchased by anyone, regardless of their location or utility provider, to support the development of renewable energy and reduce their carbon footprint2. RECs can also help projects earn points for the LEED v4 Innovation credit for Green Power and Carbon Offsets,which requires the purchase of at least 50% of the total building energy use from renewable sources or offsets for a minimum of five years3.

Using Renewable Energy for LEED Certification

Renewable Energy Certificates For Green Building Explained

LEED v4, Renewable Energy, and Carbon Offsets

According to a study completed by the Heschong Mahone Group, providing increased daylighting in schools can improve student test scores by 7%-18%. Daylighting is the practice of placing windows, skylights, other openings, and reflective surfaces so that sunlight (direct or indirect) can provideeffective internal lighting. Particular attention is given to daylighting while designing a building when the aim is to maximize visual comfort or to reduce energy use. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

The USGBC administers the LEED credentialing programs, which include the LEED Green Associate and the LEED AP with specialty credentials. The USGBC does not administer the LEED exams, the LEED rating systems development, or the LEED project certification.

The LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook states that “The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) administers the LEED credentialing programs related to green building practice” 1, page 3.

The same handbook also states that “The Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) administers the LEED professional credential exams” 1, page 3.

The LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook states that “The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is responsible for the development of the LEED rating systems” 2, page 3.

The same handbook also states that “The Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) administers project certification for all commercial and institutional projects pursuing LEED certification under any of the current rating systems” 2, page 3.

Increasing the amount of ventilation in an occupied space affects the Indoor Environmental Quality credit category. Ventilation is the process of supplying fresh outdoor air and removing stale indoor air from a building. Ventilation can improve the indoor environmental quality by diluting or removing indoor pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, or particulate matter, and enhancing the thermal comfort and well-being of the occupants. The LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook states that one of the strategies for achieving indoor environmental quality is to “increase ventilation rates” [1, p. 16]. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, [Ventilation | U.S. Department of Energy]

The USGBC member logo may be displayed by an organization that is a member of the USGBC. Membership in the USGBC is organizational, not individual, so the logo represents the organization’s commitment to sustainability and green building practices. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

Water closets, also known as toilets, are fixtures that use water to flush human waste into a sewer or septic system. The unit of measure for water closets is gallons (liters) per flush, which indicates the amount of water used for each flushing cycle. The water efficiency of water closets can vary depending on the design, technology, and regulation of the fixture. The LEED rating system encourages the use of water-efficient fixtures that reduce water consumption and wastewater generation12. References: LEED v4 Green Associate Candidate Handbook1, EPA’s WaterSense Toilets2

According to LEED, one of the factors that should be considered when locating a site for a project is the infrastructure context. The infrastructure context refers to the existing physical systems that support a site, such as roads, utilities, transit networks, water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and waste disposal. Choosing a site that has access to adequate infrastructure can reduce the environmental impacts of developing new infrastructure, such as land disturbance, resource consumption, energy use, emissions, and pollution. The LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook states that one of the intents of the Location and Transportation category is to “reduce environmental harm from transportation infrastructure” [1, p. 12]. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, [Location and Transportation | U.S. Green Building Council]

This scenario would potentially help a project earn the most LEED points because it aligns with the goals and criteria of the LEED v4 Location and Transportation category,which aims to reduce the environmental and human health impacts of transportation and promote sustainable site selection1. By renovating a large building in a diverse, walkable business district and central transit connectivity, the project can:

Preserve existing buildings and reduce the demand for new construction materials and land development2

Enhance the livability, vitality, and diversity of the urban area and support mixed-use development3

Provide access to quality transit options and reduce the reliance on private vehicles, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage alternative modes of travel4

Support walkability and connectivity to various amenities and services within walking distance5

Avoid locating on sensitive lands or prime farmland that could support open space, habitat, or agriculture

These strategies can help the project earn points for various credits under theLocation and Transportation category, such as LEED for Neighborhood Development Location, Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses, Access to Quality Transit, Bicycle Facilities, Reduced Parking Footprint, High Priority Site and Equitable Development1.

A scorecard rule for LEED Credit Point Allocation is that there is a maximum of 100 base points available for each rating system. These points are distributed among the different credit categories based on their relative contribution to the overall environmental impact and human health benefits of a project. The point allocation process is informed by a weighting methodology that uses life cycle assessment and expert judgment to assign weights to each of the LEED impact categories. The impact categories reflect the goals and priorities of LEED, such as reversing climate change, enhancing human health, protecting water resources, and promoting social equity. References: LEED v4 Impact Category and Point Allocation Process Overview1; LEED scorecard5