LEED EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the Minimum Program Requirements for a LEED project? - Answer- 1. Must be in a permanent location on existing land.
2. Must use a reasonable site boundary.
3. Must comply with the project size requirements.
What is ASHRAE 62.1 related to? - Answer- ASHRAE 62.1 is related to ventilation, controlling air contaminant levels, humidity, and temperature within a space.
What is ASHRAE 55 related to? - Answer- ASHRAE 55 is related to the comfort criteria of specific design conditions that take into account temperature, humidity, air speed, outdoor temperature, outdoor humidity, seasonal clothing, and expected activity. These all relate to occupant thermal comfort.
What is ASHRAE 90.1 related to? - Answer- ASHRAE 90.1 relates to HVAC systems. HVAC systems are defined as: equipment, distribution systems, and terminals that provide the processes of heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning.
What does ASHRAE stand for? - Answer- American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
What ASHRAE standards would be used for the Energy and Atmosphere category? - Answer- ASHRAE 90.1
What ASHRAE standards (more than one) would be used for the Indoor Environmental Quality category? - Answer- ASHRAE 62.1, which is related to ventilation, and ASHRAE
55, which is related to the thermal comfort criteria of occupants.
What standard addresses the thermal comfort of building occupants? - Answer- ASHRAE 55
What LEED category would SMACNA standards be used for? - Answer- Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
What LEED category would the Green-e standard be used for? - Answer- Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
What LEED categories contain standards related to VOC emissions? - Answer- Materials & Resourcers (MR) and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ).
What is a MERV rating? - Answer- Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV); Ranges from 1-16; Ratings used to rate the ability of an air conditioning filter to remove dust from the air as it passes through the filter. MERV ratings range from 1 (least efficient) to 16 (most efficient). What is the EPA Act of 1992? - Answer- The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct 1992) covers many products and services related to energy. It also sets standards for toilets and other water fixtures in both commercial and residential models.
What is ISO 14021? - Answer- The ISO 14021 series standards, Environmental Labels and Declaration, are communications tools that convey information on environmental aspects of a product or service to the market. This standard is used for recycled materials to label their pre and/or post-consumer content.
What is IESNA? - Answer- Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). Publisher of lighting design and illumination standards.
What is Green-e? - Answer- Green-e is a program established to promote green electricity products and provide consumers with a nationally recognized method to identify those products.
What does an ENERGY STAR rating refer to? - Answer- The ENERGY STAR rating is a measure of a building's energy performance compared with that of similar buildings, as determined by ENERGY STAR Portfolio manager. A score of 50 represents average building performance.
What does Certification by FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL mean? - Answer- Certification means forest managers have adopted environmentally and socially responsible forest management practices. Certification allows companies to manufacture and sell products made from sustainable wood.
What is Chain-of-Custody (CoC) Certification? - Answer- Chain-of-Custody refers to chronological documentation or paper trail. CoC is important in LEED when dealing with
certified wood. Companies that process, manufacture, and/or sell products made of certified wood can earn CoC certification by having an audit done of their documentation. This certification shows the FSC that the name and logo are being used
correctly.
What are CREDIT INTERPRETATION RULINGS (CIR)? - Answer- They are designed for technical and administrative guidance for MPR, Prerequisities, and Credits. They may be submitted any time after the project is registered and must be completed using LEED Online. Do not write as a letter. Include only the Inquiry and essential information.
CIRs contain max of 600 words and may NOT include attachments, cut-sheets, plans or
drawings.
CIRs can be used for what purpose? - Answer- CIRs are used to ask one clear and concise question for technical and administrative guidance on MPRs, Prerequisites, or Credits.
For multiple building developments, who determines the LEED PROJECT BOUNDARY? - Answer- The project team. What is LEED Online? - Answer- LEED Online is the primary resource for managing the
LEED documentation process.
What are some of the features of LEED Online? - Answer- Through LEED Online, project teams can mange project details, complete documentation requirements for LEED credits and prerequisites, upload supporting files, submit applications for review, receive reviewer feedback, and ultimately earn LEED Certification.
What is the purpose of a LEED SCORECARD? - Answer- The LEED Scorebard is to assist in determining the Total Project Score and achievable Credits at the inception of a LEED Project.
Where can the LEED Score Card be found? - Answer- The USGBC's website.
What are the LEED Reference Guides used for? - Answer- A user's manual that guides a LEED project from registration to certification of the design and construction of a project.
What do the LEED Reference Guides contain? - Answer- Strategies, case studies, and documentation requirements for each credit and prerequisite in a rating system.
Who can access LEED Online? - Answer- Anyone assigned to a project by the project administrator.
What general documentation must be submitted for LEED Certification? - Answer- Project narrative
1) Project photos/drawings
2) Typical floor plans
3) Elevations
What organization is responsible for LEED project registration? - Answer- The Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI)
What is a LEED intent? - Answer- Identifies the main sustainability goal or benefit of the prerequisite or credit. (USGBC)
What does a PREREQUISITE represent? - Answer- Prerequisites represent the key criteria that define green building performance.
Why do projects need to meet prerequisites? - Answer- A prerequisite represents the key criteria that define green building performance. They must be completed for a project to earn certification.
How many CERTIFICATION LEVELS are available to a LEED project? - Answer- 4 What are the different certification levels LEED projects can earn? - Answer- -Certified
-Silver
-Gold
-Platinum
How are CIRs submitted? - Answer- CIRs must be submitted through LEED online.
What are the amount of points a credit can earn (credit weighting) based on? - Answer- How well the credit address environmental and health concerns.
What is environmental sustainability? - Answer- Long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations. (EPA)
What is considered a construction HARD COST? - Answer- Construction hard costs are
considered to be CSI MasterFormat 2004 Edition Divisions 03-10, 31 (Section 31.60.00 Foundations) and 32 (Sections 32.10.100 Praving, 32.30.00 Site Improvements, and 32.90.00 Planting)
What is a construction hard cost? - Answer- By far the largest portion of the expenses in
a construction budget, the hard costs are mostly comprised of the actual construction costs incurred to build the project. Examples of hard costs include masonry, wood, steel, carpet, tile, mechanical systems, and roofing.
What are some examples of construction hard costs? - Answer- Cement, steel, drywall, wood, land
What are CONSTRUCTION SOFT COSTS? - Answer- Soft costs are expense items that are not considered direct construction costs such as legal fees and building permitting.
What is meant by LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT? - Answer- A Life-Cycle assessment is an analysis of the environment aspects and potential impacts associated with a product,
process, or service.
What are some examples of construction SOFT COSTS? - Answer- Architectural, Engineering, Financing, Legal fees, etc.
What factors dictate how much a projects CERTIFICATION fees will cost? - Answer- The rating system in which the project is registered under, the size of the project in square feet, and the date in which the project was registered.
LEED promotes what type of approach to sustainability? - Answer- A whole building approach.
What has the USGBC adatped to establish metrics and rating systems to measure building performance? - Answer- Triple Bottom Line
