LEED GA QUESTIONS

1- LEED PROCESS:
1-For which of the following would a LEED Green Associate use the Green
Building Information Gateway (GBIG)?
D. Exploring and comparing the green dimensions of the built environment.
2-What factor impacts the cost of earning LEED-certification?

D. Square footage of the building.

3-A university client asks about certifying multiple buildings. Which of the

following is an appropriate response?

B. The Campus Program can be used for projects not necessarily uniform in design or operations
but located on a single campus location.
4-Who is responsible for ensuring the use of the consensus process to evolve

LEED in accordance with the mission, guiding principles, and strategic plan of
USGBC?
C. LEED Steering Committee.
5-What is the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) intended to

replace?
D. Traditional building codes.
6-Which of the following is NOT a component of the impact category Enhance

Social Equity, Environmental Justice, Community Health and Quality of Life?

E. Support Occupant Comfort and Well-Being.
7-When there are two or more rating systems that might be applicable to a

project, how should the project team decide which rating system to use?
A. Use the 40/60 rule.
8-A multi-family building that is 3 stories tall would be certified under what

rating system?
D. LEED BD+C: Homes.
9-A project that earns 65 points would earn what level of certification?

A. Gold.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

10-What LEED rating system helps create better, more sustainable, well-

connected neighborhoods?
B. LEED ND.
11-Which of the following defines the types of buildings, spaces, and

neighborhoods that the LEED rating system is designed to evaluate?

D. Minimum Program Requirements.
12-Promoting the triple bottom line is a part of USGBC's:

D. Guiding principles.
13-The area of a project site that is used by the building structure, defined by

the perimeter of the building plan is the:

B. Building footprint.
14-What is true about a project that earns 38 points towards certification?

B. The project would not earn certification.

15-What LEED credit category rewards projects within relatively dense areas,

near diverse uses, with access to a variety of transportation options, or on

sites with development constraints?
B. Location and Transportation.
16-Which of the following determines the level of certification a project

earns?
C. The number of points a project earns.
17-What LEED developments address specific space types and international

requirements?
C. LEED Rating System adaptations.
18-What is the point range for a project to earn LEED Gold?

A. 60-79.
19-What statement is true regarding the LEED Scorecard?

C. The LEED Scorecard is organized by LEED category.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

20-Where should a project team go for updates and errata for the LEED

BD+C: New Construction rating system?

C. usgbc.org.
21-What are the basic types of LEED improvements that are updated through

revisions on a regular development cycle?

A. Errata and Addenda.
B. Next version of LEED.
C. Adaptations.
22-Exemplary performance and pilot credits are awarded in what LEED

category?
D. Innovation.
23-Which of the following are mandatory for LEED certification?
A. Meeting the Minimum Program Requirements.
E. Meeting all prerequisites.
24-What is the minimum certification level in LEED?

D. Certified.
25-Which of the following statements regarding LEED Interpretations is NOT

true?
B. LEED interpretations are used to add new requirements to the LEED Rating System.
26-What is the scope of the Protect and Restore Water Resources impact

category?
B. Water Conservation, Water Quality Protection, and Protection and Restoration of Water
Regimes and Natural Hydrological Cycles.
27-What best defines the property area?

D. Total area within the legal property boundaries of the site; it encompasses all areas of the site,
including constructed and non-constructed areas.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

28-How are LEED credits that significantly contribute to accomplishing the

system goals of the seven impact categories given more emphasis?

A. They can earn more points.
29-Which of the following is not a credit category for LEED for Neighborhood

Development?
D. Awareness and Education.
30-What are the key criteria that define green building performance?

C. Prerequisites.
31-Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs) are most likely used for what part of

the LEED process?

D. Technical guidance for LEED credits.
32-Which of the following is NOT a minimum program requirement (MPR)?

B. Commitment to sharing whole-building energy and water usage data.

33-An office has a small pantry with a kitchen sink. The sink is used to wash

dishes by hand and fill coffee pots. What is the type of water called that
comes out of the kitchen faucet?
A. Potable water.
34-The LEED Green Building Rating System is all of the following EXCEPT:

C. Privately funded.
35-What part of LEED Online can be used to obtain a real-time snapshot of

the project's progress?

A. The project timeline.
36-Which of the following instances of documentation is an acceptable form

when the name of the organization is appearing in a press release for the
first time?
B. U.S. Green Building Council.
37-For a project to be LEED Platinum a minimum of how many points must be

earned?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

C. 80.
38-What should be used during all project phases to verify the green building

goals are being met?

D. LEED Project Checklist.
39-A telecom company is building a new ten-story office and data center. The
office space will be on the top seven floors and the data center on the first
three floors. Which of the following rating system would be best suited for
the project?
B. LEED BD+C: New Construction.
40-What is each LEED rating system made up of?

B. A combination of credit categories.

41-What is the proper designation for a project that has earned 80 points and

met all prerequisites?

D. LEED Platinum.
42-What does LEED stand for?

D. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

43-How are the number of points a credit can earn in LEED determined?

A. Each credit is independently evaluated by USGBC within the seven impact categories.
44-What must a project do to earn LEED certification after selecting a rating

system?
A. Satisfy all prerequisites for the selected rating system and earn a minimum number of points.
45-What is the exterior surface of the building referred to as?

B. Envelope.
46-What is USGBC's vision?

C. Buildings and communities that will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life
within a generation.
47-Performance periods are part of which LEED rating system family?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

C. LEED O+M.
48-How does USGBC support achievement of its mission 'to transform the

way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling
an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous
environment that improves the quality of life'?
B. Local chapters.
C. LEED green building program.
49-Which of the following are enforceable within the building industry?

B. International Green Construction Code (IgCC).

50-If a building has already earned LEED BD+C: New Construction

certification what additional certifications could the building earn in the

future?
A. LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors.
D. LEED O+M: Existing Buildings.
51-LEED requires which of the following to be done in order for a project to

earn certification?
B. Meet the Minimum Program Requirements.
D. Achieve all prerequisites for the rating system.
52-What impact category addresses reducing negative environmental

impacts throughout the materials life-cycle?

D. Promote Sustainable and Regenerative Material Resources Cycles.
53-What does the LEED Volume Program help with?

B. Cost-effective LEED certification on a volume scale.

54-Which of the following are credit categories found in the LEED scorecard?

A. Water Efficiency.
B. Sustainable Sites.
E. Materials and Resources.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

55-What is submitted to document that the requirements of a credit or

prerequisite were met?

A. LEED credit form.
56-A building owner's project includes a major HVAC renovation, significant

envelope modifications, and core plumbing renovation. An interior fit-out is

not part of the project. What LEED rating system would be most appropriate
for this project?
C. LEED BD+C: Core and Shell.
57-What is the intent of the Indoor Environmental Quality credits?

C. Promote better indoor air quality and access to daylight and views.
58-How does LEED evaluate the environmental performance of a building?

C. From a whole building perspective over a building's life cycle.

59-Which of the following impact categories are given the greatest weight in

LEED?
B. Reverse Contribution to Global Climate Change and Enhance Individual Human Health and
Well-Being.
60-What is required of all new LEED buildings?

D. Must be a permanent structure, use a reasonable site boundary, and have a minimum floor
area.
61-Which of the following are LEED impact categories?

B. Build a Greener Economy and Protect and Restore Water Resources.

62-What is the maximum number of project administrators that can be

assigned to a LEED project?

D. 1.
63-Which LEED rating system has pre-certification?

B. LEED BD+C: Core and Shell.

64-A member company wants to display its USGBC member logo. What

would be an appropriate use for the USGBC member logo?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

A. On company letterhead.
65-Which of the following documents establishes the terms and conditions of

the LEED Certification Program to which the building owner is bound?

A. Certification agreement.
66-What are the roles of USGBC?

A. Administering and creating the LEED rating systems and issuing LEED building
certifications.
67-The total land area of a project site covered by buildings, streets, parking

areas, and other typically impermeable surfaces constructed as part of the

project is the:
C. Development footprint.
68-Which of the following are green building rating systems that exist in

addition to LEED?
B. Green Globes.
C. BREEAM.
E. Green Star.
69-A project team is shrinking the building footprint to increase the amount

of open space on a project. What impact category does this design decision
support?
A. Protect, Enhance and Restore Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
70-What are three important factors of the LEED Green Building Rating

System?
A. It is voluntary.
B. It is consensus-based.
D. It is market-driven.
71-A hamburger franchise is planning on building thirty new restaurants

across the country in the next two years. Each restaurant is based on the
same prototype. How should the multiple buildings be certified?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

C. Using the LEED Volume Program.

72-What tool is used to determine the target certification level?

D. LEED Scorecard.
73-What impact category most directly helps with the people aspect of the

triple bottom line?

D. Enhance social equity, environmental justice, and community quality of life.
74-At a minimum, a project team must successfully do which of the following

to obtain LEED certification?

A. Gather documentation for the prerequisites.
C. Gather documentation for 40 points of the 110 points available.
75-Which of the following actions can NOT be performed by a project team

member using LEED Online?

A. Accessing web-based reference guides.
76-What best defines the project boundary?

A. Platted property line of the project defining land and water within it.
77-What term refers to a mandatory project characteristic, measurement,

quality, value or function as identified within the LEED rating system?

C. Prerequisite.
78-Each LEED credit and prerequisite includes the intent of the

credit/prerequisite. What is the 'intent' of a credit/prerequisite?

B. Identifies the main sustainability goal or benefit of the prerequisite or credit.
79-The point values of a credit are based on the credit's ability to:

A. Promote beneficial effects.

E. Mitigate the environmental harms of a building.
80-'To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and

operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and

LEED GA QUESTIONS

prosperous environment that improves the quality of life' denotes which of

the following:
B. USGBC's mission.
81-Which of the following must occur before a project team pursues a LEED

Interpretation?
C. The inquiry must first undergo the project CIR process.
82-A new building tenant is leasing 2-stories in an existing 10-story building.

What rating system would be appropriate for the project?

D. LEED Interior Design and Construction: Commercial Interiors.
83-Grammatically, what language is the appropriate usage to describe a

project that has been certified at any level?

B. LEED-certified.
84-What LEED rating system addresses exterior site maintenance programs?

D. LEED O+M: Existing Buildings.

85-Who develops ongoing improvements to LEED?
C. USGBC member-based volunteer committees in conjunction with USGBC staff.
86-Which of the following LEED rating systems would the project team of a

planned new three-story apartment building choose?

C. The LEED Homes rating system that corresponds to the ENERGY STAR program in which
they are participating.
87-What components are included in the impact category for Reverse

Contribution to Global Climate Change?

D. GHG Emissions Reduction from Building Operations Energy Use and GHG Emissions
Reduction from a Cleaner Energy Supply.
88-If an error is found in the LEED rating system, which of the following would USGBC use to
address the error?
D. LEED Addenda.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

89-How many of the 110 possible LEED points can be earned for addressing

regionally specific environmental issues?

D. 4.
90-What is the point range for a project to earn LEED Silver?

C. 50-59.
91-What is one difference between LEED Interpretations and project CIRs?

B. LEED interpretations are precedent-setting.

92-Protecting human health globally and across the entire built environment

life cycle is part of what impact category?

B. Enhance Individual Human Health and Well-Being.
93-Which of the following appropriately refers to LEED's system goals?

A. Impact Categories.
94-Which of the following helps reinforce the open consensus process of new

LEED versions?
C.Is technically qualified to verify the information on the LEED credit forms and is authorized
by the project administrator to sign the form.
95-What are the roles of GBCI?

D. Administration of the LEED exams.

E. Overseeing LEED credential maintenance.
F. Third-party technical reviews of registered LEED projects.
96-What is the purpose of the LEED Pilot Credit Library?

C. To allow credits to be refined through LEED project evaluations before they complete the
balloting process for introduction into LEED.
97-In what instances would a project team submit a Credit Interpretation

Request (CIR)?
B. When a conflict in a credit or prerequisite requires resolution.
D. When the reference guide does not address a specific issue.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

98-What are the goals of the Minimum Program Requirements?

A. Protect the integrity of the LEED program.

C. Reduce certification process challenges.
D. Give clear guidance to customers.
99-Which of the following impact categories is given the greatest weight in

LEED?
E. Reverse Contribution to Global Climate Change.
100-What additional LEED certification would a project team likely pursue for

an office building that has already earned LEED BD+C: Core and Shell if the
offices will be leased out to tenants?
A.LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors.
101-Some credits have an LPE option. What does LPE mean?

A. That the credit has a Licensed Professional Exemption.

102-An architect is designing a mixed use building that will have retail space

on the lower floors and residential condominiums on the upper floors. The
building will also include space for a pre-kindergarten learning facility. What
LEED rating system would be most appropriate?
B. LEED BD+C: New Construction.
103-What LEED credit category encourages strategies that minimize the

impact on ecosystems and water resources?

B. Sustainable Sites.
104-A LEED credit that supports local economies and strengthens the green

building industry and supply chains supports what impact category?

A. Build a Greener Economy.
105-What rating system has a credit category named Smart Location and

Linkage?
C. LEED ND.
106-What describes a project that has been certified to the base level?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

A. LEED Certified.
107-Which of the following is an alternative compliance path to the

International Green Construction Code (IgCC)?

C. ASHRAE 189.1.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

2- Integrative Strategies:
1-Which of the following assess environmental performance of products and
services and provide guidance on improving their environmental
performance?
B. ISO 14000.
2-What stakeholders would likely be involved in a building operations project?
B. Cleaning contractors.
3-Products that meet ISO 14000 standards are:
B. Environmentally preferable.
4-What would be the result of specifying more costly, high-performance windows during
the Construction phase?
C. Increased building costs.
5-The Green Label Plus certification is used for what material?
D. Carpets.
6-What is the purpose of having a LEED AP on a project?
A. To streamline the LEED process.
7-What does ASHRAE 62.1 specify?
A. Indoor air quality.
8-What is an example of a negative feedback loop?
D. A thermostat whose temperature feedback indicates to the system when to turn off .
9-What standard can assist project teams with engaging in a comprehensive integrative
process?
A. Integrative Process (IP) ANSI Consensus National Standard Guide 2.0 for Design and
Construction of Sustainable Buildings and Communities.
10-Which of the following are phases of a LEED integrative process?
A. Occupancy, Operations, and Performance Feedback.
D. Discovery.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

E. Design and Construction (Implementation).

11-An architectural firm is meeting with a building owner that has never done a LEED
project before. What are some of the obstacles the firm may encounter with the owner?
C. The use of new technologies.
D. The additional time for the integrative process.
12-What intense workshop is used to establish green building goals across all aspects of
the building design, drawing on the expertise of all participants?
D. Charrette.
13-What statement is true regarding a facility manager?
A. A facility manager would be most involved in the ongoing operations and
maintenance of a building.
14-For international projects aiming to achieve indoor water reductions, which of the
following standards should be followed if WaterSense labeled fixtures are not available?
C. A local equivalent.
15-Which integrative project team members bring the most experience to the Discovery
phase regarding post-occupancy behavior?
C. Facility managers.
16-LEED credit forms must be signed by which person?
C. Declarant.
17-SMACNA guidelines should be followed for what reason?
A. To minimize indoor air quality issues caused by construction.
18-What steps would be included in the pre-design phase of a green building project?
B. Develop a project schedule.
C. Review laws and standards.
19-What is at the core of the integrative process?
D. Collaborative team members.
20-A building owner in a hot climate wants to include a green roof for insulation and an
air-tight building for energy efficiency. During the integrative process what would need
to be discussed as part of this strategy?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

B. Bringing in additional fresh air for indoor air quality.

21-What promotes reaching across disciplines to incorporate diverse team members
during the pre-design period?
D. Integrative process.
22-What major concepts are integral to green building and sustainability?
B. Systems thinking.
C. Life cycle approach.
D. Integrative process.
23-Success in LEED and green building design is best accomplished through an
integrative design process that prioritizes which of the following:
D. Cost-effectiveness over both the short and long term.
24-What does ASHRAE 55 specify?
B. Thermal comfort.
25-Who should be present at a project's goal-setting workshop?
A. All principal project team members.
26-What is true about an integrative process?
C. The integrative process is applicable to any phase in the life cycle of a building or
land-use project.
27-What stakeholders help the project team understand the local context, culture, and
history of a project site?
D. Local residents.
28-In LEED BD+C: Homes which standard is used to measure minimum energy
performance?
A. ENERGY STAR for Homes.
29-When would a project team member use the HERS Index?
C. When determining the minimum energy performance of a two-story residential
project.
30-What type of products would carry a Green Seal label?
D. Paints.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

31-As part of the integrative process, which of the following team members would be
the most important for providing information about how the building will be used?

B. Building users.
32-By identifying synergies between systems during the integrative process, teams will
save time and money in both the short and the long term while optimizing resource
usage. Which of the following are also true of the integrative process?
A. The integrative process reduces change orders during construction.

B. The integrative process can avoid delays and costs resulting from design changes
during the Construction Documents phase.
33-Which of the following identifies the biggest difference in the integrative process
compared to a conventional building process?
D. The integrative process is iterative.
34-What has the greatest long-term impact on building performance and on the
environment?

D. Site selection.
35-What standard might need to be used to measure building energy performance?

D. ASHRAE 90.1.
36-What is the primary reason that a LEED project can have higher development costs
compared to conventional development?

D. Green building goals were not set in the pre-design phase.

37-A developer is reviewing potential sites for a new office building in an urban area.
What is one of the first steps towards LEED certification?

A. Convening a goal-setting workshop.

38-What is the primary benefit of an integrative process?

B. Maximizing opportunities for integrative, cost-effective adoption of green design and

construction strategies.
39-What can be used to compare the energy performance of two buildings?
B. ENERGY STAR.
40-What is an example of systems thinking?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

B. Considering how occupants will get to the project building.

41-What is a stakeholder meeting?

C. A meeting with everyone that has a vested interest in the outcome of a project.
42-What statement is true regarding the evaluation process if a project team is
considering a new technology to bring more sunlight into a building?

C. Adequate time for research and testing will be needed for evaluation.
43-LEED projects located outside of the United States may use green cleaning products
that adhere to which of the following standards?
C. Global Ecolabeling Network.
44-What is an example of a project team applying systems thinking and integrative
process?

C. Establishing water saving metrics for measuring success.

45-Which of the following best describes systems thinking?

B. An understanding of the built environment as a series of relationships in which all

parts influence many other parts.
46-What is NOT true about a closed system in the built environment?

A. Used resources are released outside the system.

47-What type of system is more sustainable?

D. Closed system.
48-Which of the following aid in the identification of sensitive habitats?

A. The NatureServe Heritage Program.

D. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
49-Which of the following is one of the tasks that integrative project team members
complete together?
A. Identifying opportunities for synergy.
50-The design charrette is at least one full-day workshop to integrate green strategies
________________:

B. across all aspects of the building design.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

51-Green Seal and Environmental Choice are third party standards for what products?
B. Cleaning products.
52-The process of green building begins with the idea of the project and continues until:
A. The project is reused or recycled.
53-What standard applies to natural ventilation?

C. ASHRAE 62.1.
54-What is NOT a principle that should be followed for a successful green building
project?
C. Budgeting the planning and design costs separately from the operations costs .
55-Which of the following best describes the LEED charrette?

B. An intensive, multiparty workshop that brings people from different disciplines and
backgrounds together to produce specific deliverables.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

3- Location and transportation:

1-What is a benefit of selecting a project location surrounded by existing built
density?
A. Protection of undeveloped land.
2-What site selection would promote walkability and reduce vehicle distance
traveled?
D. A site with pedestrian access between diverse uses.

3-If a project owner locates a building close to a bicycle network, which of

the following project elements could decrease?
B. Parking.
4-A project team wants to reuse a building in a historic district for a project.
Which of the following credit areas will this aid?
C. High-priority sites.
D. Building reuse
5-The use of a brownfield site can enhance a community. What must occur
for a brownfield site to be developed?
B. The site must be remediated.
6-How would the distance from a building's entrance to the nearest bus stop
be measured?
D. by calculating the walking distance along infrastructure that is safe and comfortable for
pedestrians.
7-How could a remote project located away from public transportation
reduce it transportation effects?
D. Encourage carpooling.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

8- Decreasing the parking footprint of a project can be accomplished by

which of the following actions?
A. Locating projects in high-density, mixed-use areas.
D. Building in places well served by transit.
E. Instituting transportation demand management strategies.
9-Selecting which of the following sites would have the greatest positive
environmental impact?
D. An old building.
10-Developments located within walking distance of diverse uses reduce:
A. Air pollution.
D. Greenhouse gas emissions.
11-A project team decides to reduce the project's parking footprint. Which of
the following additional areas of the project could this also aid?
C. Protecting sensitive land.
12- Which of the following helps encourage building users to take alternative
transportation?
A. Limiting parking.
13-What are the environmental benefits of selecting a previously developed
site for a project?
B. Preserving open space.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

14-Which of the following is NOT a type of diverse use?

D. An ATM.
15-A health-conscious business owner wants to consider design selections
that would encourage employee health. Which of the following strategies
meet this goal?
A. Build within walking distance of a bicycle network.
E. Site the project near a city's downtown area

16-What is NOT an example of smart growth?

A. Development of a site that is far from existing development and infrastructure.

17- Locating a project in any of the high-priority site types can increase the
likelihood of which of the following:
C. The project being in a dense area served by transit and diverse uses.
18-Which of the following can project teams use to identify a sensitive
habitat?
A. The Natural Heritage Program.
B. State fish and wildlife agencies (or local equivalent).
19-If a building owner selected a project site in an existing community with
proximity to existing utility lines and street networks, in which of the
following ways would it save on project costs?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

C. By reduced infrastructure costs.

20- Which of the following use-type categories determine diverse uses?
A. Civic and community facilities.
B. Food retail.
21- Which of the following site types is considered high-priority?
B. Historic district.
22-LEED rewards projects for all of the following design strategies EXCEPT

which of the following:

D. Locating the project near existing utilities.
23-A project team is reviewing potential sites for a new office building. Which
of the following sites would be preferred?
C. Choosing a site in a LEED for Neighborhood Development location.
24- A vehicle meeting which standard would be considered a green vehicle?
D. Vehicle with a minimum green score of 45 on the ACEEE annual vehicle guide.
25-Which of the following are reasons an owner should build a new
construction project in a LEED for Neighborhood Development location?
B. The certification process would be easier.
C. The project would have excellent location and transportation within the surrounding
community.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

26-Which of the following are examples of infill development?

C. An office project on a previously developed site in a city center.
D.A store built between two existing urban buildings.
27-A project team is removing from the design a solar car shading device that
also serves as a fueling station. Which of the following is this most likely to
impact?
B. Green vehicles.
D. Heat island reduction.
28-Which of the following is an acceptable way to encourage building users to
choose alternative transportation?
D. Install preferred parking.
29-Which of the following does NOT support users seeking alternative
transportation options?
A. Sharing parking among two or more buildings.
30- If a project team is interested in developing on a previously developed

site but this option is infeasible, which of the following options should the
project team consider next?
C. Not disturbing sensitive land types.
31-How would a bicycle network be documented for a project?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

D. By including a vicinity map showing the bicycle network, route, and distance along the
network to eligible destinations
This is how the credit is documented.
32-What factors related to location would NOT affect a project team's
priorities?
A. There are no banks nearby that provide construction loans.
33-A developer is planning a mixed-use project that will include 1,000 single
family homes, office space, retail, and townhomes. Which of the following
neighborhood design strategies help promote connectivity?
B. Street-grid patterns.
34-What encourages the purchase and use of green vehicles?
B. Providing preferred parking for those vehicles.
35-How would access to quality transit be documented?

A. By a map showing the project, project boundary, transit stop locations, walking routes, and
distances to those stops.
36-What is a brownfield?

A. Previously used or redeveloped land that may be contaminated with hazardous waste or
pollution.
37-Which of the following actions can a project team take to increase the

density of the project building?

C. Create a smaller footprint and maximize the floor-area ratio.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

38-In which of the following instances would a project team need to use the

ITE Transportation Planning Handbook?

C. When calculating a project's parking capacity.
39-Which of the following is aided by the avoidance of building on sensitive

land or previously undeveloped land?

A. Rainwater management.
40-What credit category rewards project teams for taking advantage of

existing patterns of development and land density?

C. Location and Transportation.
41- What urban area is a best choice for a LEED project?

B. Areas with high development density.

42-Which of these sites if selected would most help with increasing diversity

of uses?
B. A site within walking distance to a public park.
43- Which of the following is a priority designation used in LEED?
A. To encourage investment in economically disadvantaged or low-income areas.
44-Which of the following is aided by locating a project within a dense area?

B. Promoting walkability.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

45-What is the impact of creating a dense, compact mixed-use

neighborhood?
A. Less pavement for roads and less infrastructures for utilities.

4-sustainable sites:
1-What design strategy would promote biodiversity the most?
A. Planting a variety of indigenous plants.
2-In an integrated approach to rainwater management, which of the following

actions should a project team take to reduce runoff volume and improve
water quality?
D. Replicate the natural hydrology and water balance of the site.
3- A team wants to provide quality open space on the project site. Which of

the following strategies should it consider?

A. A walking trail around the property.
4-Which of the following can happen as a result of increased rainwater

runoff?
B. Eutrophication.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

5-The project owner of a LEED BD+C Retail project has decided NOT to

provide financial support to a local land trust. Which of the following will this
decision impact?
D. Habitat protection or restoration.
6-What are the economic benefits of installing a vegetated roof?

A. Lower cooling costs for HVAC.

7-A project team decides to build up, instead of out, to reduce the building

footprint. This strategy could help with _____.

B. Increasing open space.
8-What does the use of light-colored, pervious paving help with?

B. Heat island reduction.

D. Rainwater management.
9-When evaluating materials that would help with heat-island reduction,

which of the following is the MOST important material attribute?

B. A three-year aged SR value.
10-The use of open grid pavement can help a project achieve points in what

LEED areas?
C. Heat Island Reduction.
D. Rainwater Management.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

11-What design strategy would reduce the light trespass from a site to help

prevent light pollution?

C. Install shielded fixtures.
12-Which of the following project team member(s) is typically responsible for

developing the erosion and sedimentation control (ESC) plan for construction
activity pollution prevention?
D. The civil engineer(s).
13-Which of the following does a site assessment evaluate?

C. Geology.
D. Hydrology.
E. Existing structures.
14-Which part of the development process would inform design decisions,

such as locating community gardens in areas with fertile soils?

D. Site assessment.
15-Which of the following can increase the heat island effect in urban areas?

A. Air-conditioners.
D. Street equipment.
16-What environmental issue occurs from runoff?

C. Sedimentation.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

17-What does LEED accept as part of a building design to qualify as open

space for projects in urban areas?

B. Vegetated (green) roofs.
18-A project team will provide outdoor space to encourage occupant health

and activity. Which of the following are examples of quality open space?
B. Garden space dedicated to community gardens.
D. A jogging trail.
19-What is true about a project that is located in an urban area?

A. The project is likely to experience higher cooling costs due to the heat island effect.
20-A project site in an urban area has already been selected by an owner.

The team is researching how it can reduce the heat-island effect and have
open space at the lowest cost. Which of the following should be considered
for a rooftop design?
D. An extensive vegetated roof.
21-A data center is located in a remote, forested area. In which of the

following ways could the project team reduce light pollution?

B. By installing surfaces and lights that reduce glare.
22-A LEED project is in the pre-design phase, and a previously developed site

has already been selected. The team wants to protect or restore habitat.
Which of the following strategies should they consider?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

B. Restoring compacted soils and revegetating.

23-A project developer is creating an erosion and sedimentation control plan.

The plan must conform to which of the following requirements?

B. The EPA Construction General Permit or the local equivalent.
24- Which of the following has the most synergy with other credits?

B. Site assessment.
25-What is a strategy for construction activity pollution prevention that would

prevent waterway sedimentation?

A. Providing natural buffers around the property.
26-Projects may be able to use some of the same techniques for both

______________:
B. construction activity pollution prevention and habitat conservation and restoration.
27-What type of plants should be used on a green roof to promote

biodiversity?
C. Native plants.
28-Which of the following project features does NOT promote biodiversity?
A. A soccer field.
29-A project owner is concerned about the safety of building occupants

during the evening hours as they walk to the parking lot. What exterior

LEED GA QUESTIONS

lighting strategy would ensure occupant safety, prevent light pollution, and
conserve energy?
B. Installing timers that shut off the lights after hours.
30-A project owner is locating an office building on a greenfield near a

wetland. The project team has goals of protecting sensitive ecosystems,

reducing the heat-island effect, designing a healthy building, and reducing
energy demand. Given these goals, where should the project team start?
A. By completing an early site assessment.
31-A bioswale would be used to help earn credit in what LEED category?

D. Sustainable Sites.
32-How can the heat island effect on the roof of a building be reduced?

B. Painting the roof with a high SRI coating.

33-A project team is evaluating materials to help reduce heat islands for a

building's roof and parking lot in a dense urban center. Which of the following
would be most effective?
B. High SRI materials.
C. Reflective materials.
34-A project team has decided to modify a low SRI roof design to include a

vegetated roof to help with rainwater management. What other credit would
this decision help with?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

A. Heat island reduction.

35-Which of the following actions can a project team take to help manage

runoff on-site in a dense urban area?

B. Harvest rainwater.
C. Install a green roof.
36-What are ways to reduce water pollution from runoff?

A. Rain gardens.
C. Open grid paving.
37-Construction activity pollution prevention has synergies with which of the

following other project areas?

A. Rainwater management.
C. Protecting or restoring habitat.
38- A United Nations study indicates that which of the following percentages

of the ecosystem services that have been assessed worldwide are currently
degraded or used unsustainably?
D. 60%.
39- What information is needed to calculate the SRI of a material?

A. Reflectance.
C. Emissivity.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

40- Reducing the building's footprint will have positive synergies with which

of the following?
C. Rainwater management.
E. Open space.
41- A project that specifies soil restoration as part of its site design is

contributing to which of the following environmental benefits?

B. Restoring habitat.
42- Which of the following can increase the heat island effect in urban areas?

C. Reduced air flow from tall buildings and narrow streets.

43- What is a benefit of increasing the quantity of open space on a project?
A. More habitat for vegetation and wildlife.
D. Increasing rainwater infiltration.
44- The Sustainable Sites category focuses on all of the following EXCEPT

which of the following:

C. The ways in which community infrastructure affects occupants' behavior and environmental
performance.
45- Which of the following strategies can a project team combine to mimic

natural systems and manage rainwater?

A. Green infrastructure (GI) and low-impact development (LID).

LEED GA QUESTIONS

46- Why would a landscape designer choose native landscaping in an arid

climate?
A. Support integrated pest management (IPM).
C. Minimize evapotranspiration.
47- Construction activity pollution prevention should address what

environmental protection measures?

A. Airborne dust.
D. Waterway sedimentation.
E. Soil erosion.
48- What material attribute would a project team use to compare different

products' abilities to reject solar heat?

C. Solar Reflectance Index (SRI).
49- A project design includes low-impact development and erosion and

sedimentation control. Which of the following will be aided by these

strategies?
A. On-site rainwater management.
D. The creation of buffers between development and water resources.
50- What does the emissivity of a material refer to?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

D. The ratio of energy radiated by a particular material to energy radiated by a black body at the
same temperature.

5-water efficiency:
1-Potable water is defined as:

A. Water that meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water standards.

2-Which of the following project designs would help with both rainwater

management and outdoor water use reduction?

C. Rainwater harvesting.
3-What types of products should be selected for reducing indoor water use?

B. Water Sense.
C. ENERGY STAR.
4-The addition or increasing the use of graywater in a building can help with:

B. Reducing potable water used by urinals.

5-A project that reduces the amount of wastewater transported off site helps

achieve which of the following?

B. A reduction in the demand for wastewater treatment infrastructure.
D. A reduction in energy required to treat wastewater.
6-What type of water can NOT be used for irrigation purposes?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

B. Blackwater.
7-Which of the following has the highest priority in LEED?

C. Indoor water use reduction.

8-If a developer is looking for water efficient appliances to install in

residences what label should they look for on the appliances?

B. ENERGY STAR.
9-Which of the following is a type of graywater?

B. Wastewater that has not come in contact with toilet waste or kitchen sinks.
10-What unit of measurement is used for a lavatory faucet?
B. Gallons / liters per minute.
11-What project design strategy would minimize a project's water usage the

most?
D. Installing a landscape that needs no irrigation.
12-Which of the following would be considered graywater?

B. Untreated laundry water.

13-What is a strategy for water efficient landscaping?

C. Use drip irrigation.

14-What type of plants does the most to help reduce water use for

landscaping?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

D. Native plants.
15-Which of the following does a facility operator need in order to optimize

water consumption?
C. Sub metering of water-using systems.
16-The baseline water use of a toilet is:

B.1.6 gpf (6 lpf).

17-An owner of a large 1970's apartment building wants to renovate the

space to make it green. The cost of the replacing all of the porcelain
plumbing fixtures is going to be cost-prohibitive for the owner. What can the
project team suggest as an alternative to reduce potable water use?
C. Install new flush valves.
E. Install new low-flow aerators.
18-Designers and builders can construct green buildings that use significantly

less water than conventional construction by performing which of the

following actions?
B. Incorporating native landscapes that eliminate the need for irrigation.
E. Installing water-efficient fixtures.
F. Using graywater and/or rainwater for no potable water needs.
19-Harvesting rainwater can help with what project areas?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

C. Reducing runoff.
20-WaterSense labels apply to what products?

A. Toilets.
D. Private lavatory faucets.
E. Showerheads.
21-Which of the following are sources of graywater?

A. Showers.
D. Washing machines.
22-Which of the following would a landscape architect use to measure the

outdoor water use of a project?

C. EPA Water Sense Water Budget Tool.
23-Which of the following occupants would be classified as FTEs?

A. A librarian.
D. A receptionist.
24-Which of the following is NOT a strategy for reducing potable water use

for irrigation?
C. Install building-level metering.
25-What strategies will not reduce the use of potable water for irrigation?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

D. Replacing permeable pavement with turf grass.

26-Which of the following are frequently considered types of blackwater?

A. Water from kitchen sinks.

B. Dishwasher water.
27-An owner is questioning the additional costs of submetering of a mixed-

use project's water and energy systems. For what reason should the
submeters be installed?
B. Identifies disparities between how a project's water-based systems are designed to operate and
how they actually perform.
28-What information would a project team need to successfully implement

both rainwater management and outdoor water use reduction?

D. Precipitation data.
29-What can help reduce indoor potable water use?

B. Composting toilets.
30-Rain gardens, vegetated rooftops, and permeable pavements are

strategies to manage rainwater and contribute to:

B. Low impact development.
31-Who decides if water from showers can be used for irrigation?

B. Local authorities with jurisdiction in the area.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

32-Occupancy calculations may be needed for which of the following project

documentations?
A. Indoor water use.
C. Bicycle facilities.
33-In LEED which approach is taken in the Water Efficiency category to

conserve water?
A. Efficiency first.
34-Which of the following is the appropriate way to document whether a

bathroom sink qualifies for an indoor water use reduction?

A. By fixture cut sheets.
35-What unit of measurement is used for toilets?

A. Gallons per flush (liters per flush).

36-Which of the following occupants would be classified as an FTE?

D. A full-time cafeteria worker.

37-What landscaping strategy will best eliminate the need for irrigation?

A. Xeriscaping.
38-In many buildings the most significant savings associated with water
efficiency result from:
B. Reduced energy costs.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

39-What types of water can NOT be used for flushing toilets?

C. Blackwater.
40-Water that is used for dishwashing, clothes washing, and ice making is

considered what type of water?

D. Process water.
41-Indoor water use reductions require projections based on which of the

following:
A. Occupants' usage.
42-What can help reduce indoor potable water use?

B. Installing reduced-flow aerators on lavatory faucets.

43-Which of the following is effective at reducing potable water use indoors?

C. Installing low-consumption flush fixtures and low-flow rate faucets.

44-The installation of water submeters in a building will provide the facility

manager with the ability to do each of the following EXCEPT:

A. Evaluate the quality of captured rainwater.
45-What are the benefits of reducing potable water use in buildings?

A. Decreased building operating costs.

B. Reduced drawdown of water from water bodies and aquifers.
46-A rainwater harvesting system can help with:

LEED GA QUESTIONS

A. Reducing potable water use indoors.

C. Runoff management.
47-What strategy to control and reduce runoff will hold water and reduce the

rate of runoff?
A. Direct runoff into dry ponds.
48-What types of water should be used for irrigation?

A. Graywater.
C. Rainwater.
49-For which of the following credit areas would a site plan be submitted for

documentation?
A. Outdoor water use reduction.
50-What type of water is rainwater?

B. Non-potable water.
51-Which of the following is considered potable water?

A. Water from a local well that meets EPA's drinking water quality standards that is used for
lavatory faucets.
52-What minimum indoor water savings are LEED projects required to

achieve?
B. 20%.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

53-The baseline water use of a lavatory faucet is:

C. 2.2 gpm (8.3 lpm).

54-What is the EPAct of 1992 used for?

A. To set the baseline water flow requirements of toilets and fixtures.

55-Submeters are a strategy to reduce outdoor water use by:

B. Providing water consumption tracking and leak identification.

56-To help with water use reduction in LEED, a lavatory faucet must use less

water than the rates set by:

D. EPAct of 1992.
57-The baseline water use of a urinal is:

B. 1.0 gpf (3.8 lpf).

58-Which factor would increase outdoor water use?

B. Using turf for groundcover.

59-Indoor plumbing fixtures need to have which of the following labels for

LEED?
A. WaterSense.
60-What is an environmental benefit of using graywater for irrigation?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

B. Preserving aquifers.
61-A restaurant is located on the second floor of a building. How can the

project team decrease indoor water use demand?

B. Install high efficiency toilets.
62-If a project owner wants to create a landscape with plants that require

watering, which of the following is the minimum outdoor water reduction

from a baseline required for a new office project?
D. 30%.
63-Which of the following reduce outdoor water use while also improving the

triple bottom line?

A. Installing a landscape that doesn't require a permanent irrigation system.
64-During the integrative process, which of the following improvements in

water efficiency would most likely need to be researched to confirm that they
are legal to implement within the project?
C. Alternative water sources.
65-Which of the following are strategies for conserving potable water?

C. Installing a dual flush toilet.

6- Energy and atmosphere:

LEED GA QUESTIONS

1-What minimum contract length is required for an owner to purchase

renewable energy certificates (RECs) for LEED credit?

C. 5 years.
2-What statement is true regarding Hydro Chloro Fluoro Carbons (HCFCs)?

D. HCFCs have a low ozone depletion potential compared to CFCs.

3-What statement is true regarding ChloroFluoroCarbons (CFCs) and

HydroChloroFluoroCarbons (HCFCs)?
B. CFCs have a greater global warming potential (GWP) than HCFCs.
4-What process uses heat recovery to capture heat from the process of

generating electricity and then turns the recovered heat into thermal energy
that can be used to heat a building?
D. Cogeneration.

Combined heat and power (CHP) is an electricity generation technology, also known as
cogeneration that recovers waste heat from the electric generation process to produce
simultaneously other forms of useful energy, such as usable heat or steam. On average, twothirds of the input energy used to make electricity is lost as waste heat. In contrast, CHP systems
are capable of converting more than 70 % of the fuel into usable energy.
5-What LEED credits reward projects for improving operational energy
performance?
C. Commissioning.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

Commissioning and ongoing commissioning are intended to improve energy performance once
the building is operational.
D. Energy metering.

Metering of the building systems helps the staff track any issues that would impact energy
performance.
6-On a project with an older existing HVAC&R system that uses CFCs, what
can the project team do to earn LEED certification?
D. Make a phase out plan for the removal of the CFC based refrigerants.

The project team can replace or retrofit the existing system with one that is CFC-free, or agree to
have a phase out plan that is completed 5 years after project completion.
7-Which of the following are types of individual occupant spaces?
B. Open-office workstation.
C. Hotel guest room.
F. Study carrel.
8-Approximately 50% of chillers in existing buildings use what refrigerant?

A. CFC-11.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

CFC-11 is used in chillers for about 50% of existing buildings. Nowadays it is encouraged to
replace these systems with newer and more efficient systems that use more environmentally
friendly refrigerants. Doing so would save money in the long term.
9-Which refrigerants are considered environmentally benign?
C. Propane.
D. Hydrocarbons.
10-One way to reduce a building's energy load is to do which of the

following?
D. Configure the building to minimize solar gain in summer and maximize it in winter.
11-A school building consumes electricity from the grid at night while

contributing energy back to the grid during the day from on-site solar panels,
resulting in the school having no electricity costs. This is an example of:
B. Net-zero energy.

Net-zero energy projects use no more energy from the electrical grid than can be produced from
on-site renewable energy systems.
12-The owner of a historic renovation project wants to achieve carbon
neutrality. Which of the following design decision will help the project team
achieve this?
D. Purchasing carbon offsets.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

13-Which of the following is the median payback period for the

commissioning of new buildings?

C. 4.8 years.

14-What does a REC represent?

A. The environmental, social, and other positive attributes of power generated by renewable
resources.
15-What are examples of spaces that are typically unoccupied?
A. Data center floor area.
B. Mechanical room.
F. Inactive storage area in a warehouse.
16-An owner for a new three-story office space wants to know how the

building compares to other buildings of similar function. Which of the

following can be used to compare the performance of the building?
A. EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager can be used to compare buildings of similar size and
function (office to office, for example).
17-A developer is building a medical park that will have ten buildings for
doctors' offices. Which of the following is a strategy for achieving energy
efficiency?
D. Building a district heating and cooling system.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

A district energy system (DES) is 'a central energy conversion plant and transmission and
distribution system that provides thermal energy to a group of buildings (e.g., a central cooling
plant on a university campus). It does not include central energy systems that provide only
electricity.' USGBC.
18-A home owner in a sunny climate has decided to lease a photovoltaic
system instead of purchase one. Which of the following about that choice is
true?
C. Leasing the system would offset a large up-front cost.
19-Energy efficiency is defined as:

D. The use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same function as a
conventional item.

20-What has a long atmospheric life that causes harm to the ozone layer?
B. CFCs.
21-Which of the following has the greatest direct impact on global warming?

D. HVAC operating efficiency.

22-What benefit does purchasing off-site renewable energy (Green Power)

have?
D. Less emissions will be generated.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

23-With regards to refrigerants what is a natural conflict between the

prevention of ozone depletion and global warming?

A. Refrigerants that are neutral to the ozone layer are less efficient.

If a cooling system achieves greater efficiency only at the environmental price of using a
chlorine-containing refrigerant, an inevitable environmental conflict exists.\
24-To qualify for LEED, carbon offsets must be which of the following?
B. Green-e Climate certified (or equivalent).
25-Increasing the thermal mass of a building and installing a photovoltaic

system would help with:

C. Reducing energy demand and increasing renewable energy.
26-Which of the following must occur to ensure energy-efficient design is

carried through to efficient performance?

B. Staff training.

The staff must understand the systems and how to use them or else the design of the systems is
irrelevant. For example, if a building has occupancy sensors to control lighting but someone
turns on the manual override and never turns it back off, the automated lighting is no longer
working as designed to save energy.
27-What environmental issue is associated with refrigerants used in HVAC&R
systems?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

D. Damage to the Earth's ozone layer.

Refrigerants have ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP) due to
greenhouse gas emissions. Low values of each are best for refrigerant choices.
28-After a building is completed and occupied, how can energy demand be
reduced?
D. By opening and closing shades to control solar energy.

29-What are the environmental benefits of cogeneration?

A. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
B. Reduced air pollution.
30-A project owner that chooses to use onsite renewable energy sources

instead of oil, coal, and natural gas gets what economic benefit of the triple
bottom line?
B. Avoiding escalating market prices.
31-Which of the following building components contribute to the plug load?

C. Computers.
32-A demand response (DR) event is triggered by the ____.

A. Utility company.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

33-Which of the following refrigerants are banned under the Montreal

Protocol?
A. CFCs.

CFCs were banned under the Montreal Protocol in 1995.

B. HCFCs.

Under the Montreal Protocol no production and no importing of any HCFCs is permitted after
2030.
A 90% phase-out is required by 2015 of HCFCs.
34-Using passive strategies such as daylighting is an example of which of the
following:
A. Reducing energy demand.
35-During a LEED project when does commissioning take place?

B. Substantial completion phase.

Commissioning is 'the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems
and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the
owner's project requirements.' - USGBC
The systems cannot be commissioned until they are installed. The process takes place prior to
occupancy (usually) when the building is substantially completed. For example, all of the HVAC
systems are in, the building has water and power, etc. Things that don't need to be in place are
painting, carpets, tile, etc.'

LEED GA QUESTIONS

36-Which of the following actions should a project team take to make sure a
building remains efficient during its operation?
C. Ensure that the building systems are functioning as designed and that they support the owner's
project requirements.
37-Which of the following project areas would retrocommissioning aid?

D. Operational energy efficiency.

38-What is lighting power density measured in?
A. Installed lighting power per unit area.
39-Commissioning of a building is intended to verify the building and its

systems meet which of the following:

C. The owner's project requirements.
40-What helps utilities optimize their supply-side energy generation and

delivery systems?
C. Customers that enroll in a demand response program.
41-Reduced emissions are a benefit of purchasing:

B. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).

42-What environmental issue is associated with refrigerants used in HVAC&R

systems?
D. Increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

Refrigerants have ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP) due to
greenhouse gas emissions. Low values of each are best for refrigerant choices.
43-What year does the Montreal Protocol phase out HCFCs?
B. 2030.
44-Which of the following is reduced with the help of carbon offsets?

C. Greenhouse gas emissions.

45-A data center in a rural area wants to be net-zero. Which of the following

design decisions will help the project team achieve this?

B. Install a photovoltaic system on site.
46-Once occupants are in a building, how can the project team maintain

ongoing energy efficiency?

B. By retrocommissioning.

Retrocommissioning is 'a commissioning process that can be performed on existing buildings to

identify and recognize system improvements that make the building more suitable for current
use.' USGBC.
C. By monitoring building automation systems.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

Building automation systems (BAS) collect data about a building's systems and track it over
time. The data can be used to determine trends or anomalies, which can then serve to help fix or
update the systems.
47-A building owner of a new extended-stay hotel is concerned about the
higher initial costs for ENERGY STAR appliances. Which of the following could
help with the decision-making process?
C. A life cycle assessment of the trade-offs between the capital and operating costs.
48-Which of the following causes depletion of the ozone layer?

C. CFCs.
49-What does a carbon offset represent?

B.A unit of carbon dioxide equivalent that is reduced, avoided, or sequestered to compensate for
emissions occurring elsewhere.
50-Which of the following is a measure of energy use intensity?

C. Energy consumed per unit of floor space.

51-What project areas would you find CFCs used in?

A. Centrifugal chillers.
C. Refrigeration.
52-Which of the following project team members is responsible for verifying

and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are

LEED GA QUESTIONS

planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the

owner's project requirements?
B. The commissioning authority.
53-Which of the following is NOT an example of on-site generated renewable

energy?
A. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).
54-A developer is considering pursuing LEED for an eight-story, multi-family

residential project. How would the baseline building performance be

determined?
C. By calculations made using ASHRAE 90.1.
55-What is the median payback period for the commissioning of existing

buildings?
A. 0.7 years.
56-What environmental issue is associated with the burning of fossil fuels?

D. Release of carbon dioxide.

57-When calculating building energy performance, what is included as

process energy?
A. Elevator.
E. Washing machine.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

F. Desktop computer.
58-An owner wants to install a photovoltaic system on the building's rooftop

and sell the excess electricity back to the utility company. Which of the
following would be aided by this strategy?
B. On-site renewable energy.

Net metering is the term for selling excess electricity back to the grid. Net metering can only be
done when on-site renewable energy systems are present.
59-A refrigerated warehouse project in the design phase could reduce its
electricity demand by taking which of the following actions?
B. Enrolling in a demand response program.
60-A building owner wants to increase energy efficiency to lower the

operating costs of a new building project. What strategy would help with this
goal?
D. Install all LED lighting.
61-Which of the following is a benefit of commissioning?

B. Fewer system deficiencies.

62-What variables measure a refrigerant's impact on the environment?

B. Ozone depletion potential.

D. Global warming potential.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

63-Why is it important to categorize spaces in LEED?

D. Depending on the space categorization, the credit requirements may not apply.
64-An owner wants to offset the environmental impact of a building's energy

use. What is a benefit of purchasing off-site renewable energy or renewable

energy certificates (RECs) over installing onsite renewable energy systems
such as photovoltaic panels?
B. The upfront costs to the building owner would be lower.
65-Developing nations banned ChloroFluoroCarbons (CFCs) under the:

D. Montreal Protocol.
66-A project team is reviewing strategies to increase energy efficiency. Which

of the following will help reduce plug-load demands?

B. Installing appliances that meet or exceed ENERGY STAR requirements.
67- In commercial buildings, on average which end use consumes the most

energy?
A. Space heating.

On average, the distribution of a building's energy use is as follows:

Space Heating - 36% ,Lighting - 21% ,Cooling - 8%, Water Heating - 8%,Ventilation - 7%
Refrigeration - 6% ,Cooking - 3% ,Computers - 2% ,Office Equipment - 1% ,Other - 8%.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

68-Which of the following is a difference between Renewable Energy Credits

(RECs) and a carbon offset?
A. RECs are tradable commodities.
69-What has ozone depletion potential (ODP)?

C. CFC-based refrigerants used in HVAC systems.

70-Which projects would NOT be eligible for LEED certification?

A. An existing building project that uses CFC-based refrigerants without having a CFC phase-out
plan.
B. A new building project that uses CFC-based refrigerants.
71-What is GWP as it relates to refrigerants?

D. A measurement of how much effect the given refrigerant will have on global warming in
relation to carbon dioxide.
72-Which of the following is not an alternative LEED recommends for

reducing stratospheric ozone depletion?

A. Selecting refrigerants that have long atmospheric lifetimes.
73-Which of the following would require use of the EPA's ENERGY STAR

Portfolio Manager?
B. Comparing the ongoing operating performance of a building with its intended design
performance.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

74-What statement is true regarding HydroFluoroCarbons (HFCs)?

B. Many HFCs have a significant global warming potential.

75-A project owner wants to provide financial support to a reforestation

project. What would help with this goal?

B. Carbon offsets.
76-A building automation system will assist with collecting data about which

of the following:
B. Energy spikes that occur every morning.

Building automation systems (BAS) collect data about a building's systems and track it over
time. The data can be used to determine trends or anomalies, which can then serve to help fix or
update the systems.
77-What types of energy sources generate the least air and water pollution?
D. Wind.
E. Biofuel.
78-A building owner wants to reduce energy demand to lower the heating

and cooling costs of a new building project. What strategy would help with
this goal?
B. Optimize the building orientation.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

79-If a building owner enrolls in a demand response program, which of the

following will happen?

A. The building may have to decrease electricity use during peak times.
80-A project is located in an area with a demand-response program and that

has enough room for a wind-turbine to allow for on-site renewable energy. If
the project implements both of these strategies, which of the following will
occur?
A. The project's energy costs will decrease.

Demand-response programs usually include financial incentives during demand response events.
The utility company asks the building to use less electricity, the building agrees, and the building
owner is rewarded with a price break. In turn, the utility company saves money by spending less
money on additional transmission lines and power plants.
81-An existing office building has a 20-year old chiller that uses CFC-11. An
owner is considering a major renovation of the building and applying for
LEED for New Construction certification. What statement is true about the
project's ability to earn LEED certification?
B. The owner can implement a phase-out plan to earn LEED certification.
82-Regularly occupied spaces would include which of the following:

C. Dorm room.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

83-Which of the following is a benefit of a building owner choosing to install a

wind turbine on site to reduce the building's use of grid-source nonrenewable

energy?
A. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

When renewable energy (wind, geothermal, solar) is chosen over nonrenewable energy (oil, coal,
natural gas), greenhouse gas emissions are decreased.
84-What is the most common way to meet the requirements of off-site
renewable energy?
A. Purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).

7-

Materials and Resources :

1)- Which of the following would help with sustainable purchasing during building
operations?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

D- Purchasing recycled printer paper

-The recycled printer paper is a sustainable purchasing option.
2)- For new construction projects, which of the following tools enable the project
team to understand the environmental impact of a building over its entire life?
B
.

Cradle-to grave life cycle analysis (LCA)

-A life-cycle assessment provides information on a building over all phases of its

life. Using LCA in the design process helps the project team understand which
short- and long-term impacts different design decisions will have, allowing them to
make better design decisions.
3)- Which of the following is an example of a source control waste reduction
strategy?
D
.

Pre-ordering materials cut to size

-Source reduction is the first and best way to minimize waste. Source reduction
starts at the source-such as pre-ordering materials cut to size and choosing
modular construction, which generates less onsite waste.
4)- Which of the following is one of the most toxic and common sources of indoor
air pollution in an existing building?
C

Mercury

.
-Standard fluorescent lamps contain mercury.
5)- How can an architect make sure that the general contractor understands what
products to include in a project?
C
.

Include the specifications in the purchasing policy

-Specifications are created by architects and given to the contractor for the
purposes of purchasing the right quantity and type of materials. Specifications
include drawings of what is to be built. They are legally binding documents.
6)- When choosing products that have Environmental Product Declarations (EPD),
which factor is used in determining if LEED credit can be earned?
D

The number of different permanently installed products used from different

manufacturers

-When purchasing materials a certain number of products must be selected to

meet LEED credit requirements.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

8-indoor environmental quality:

1-Why would a project team use low-emitting materials?
C. These materials protect the health of construction personnel and building occupants.
2-A building design in a cool climate includes daylighting, natural ventilation,

operable windows, and individual lighting controls. What else can be included
in the design to improve occupant comfort and control?
C. Ergonomic desks.
3-A developer for an office project is considering a natural ventilation system.

Which of the following will be the MOST important in determining if the

system will be appropriate?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

B. Whether or not the system can provide enough fresh air.

The system first and foremost has to provide enough fresh air to meet the prerequisite of LEED.
All the other choices may be important, which would be determined in the integrative process.
4-Which of the following do LEED require for good indoor air quality?
B. That smoking indoors is prohibited.

This is a prerequisite and is required for LEED certification.

LEED requires a no-smoking policy for the building and around building entrances, operable
windows, and air intakes.
5-The developer of a new restaurant wants to include a smoking room inside.
Which of the following statements is true about the project's ability to earn
LEED certification?
A. The project cannot earn LEED certification because it will not meet all the prerequisites.
6-A building owner has concerns about the costs of increasing the ventilation

from the minimum required for indoor air quality. Which of the following
could help offset the operating costs?
C. Using demand control ventilation.

Demand-control ventilation is based on monitoring spaces and only increasing the ventilation
when set points are reached. This is based on having CO2 sensors/monitors in the room. For
example, if a room has five people in it and then ten more come in, the CO2 in the air would go

LEED GA QUESTIONS

up. The sensor would register this and increase the airflow. If the ventilation is only increased as
needed, the operating costs go down instead of the system running at a maximum at all times.
7- In order for an occupant survey to improve the triple bottom line of a
project, what should occur after the survey results have been assessed?
A. Corrective action should be taken to address any problems.
8-Which factors affect an occupant's thermal comfort?

D. Temperature, humidity, and air movement.

9-An owner has selected an office building site in a natural area. They want

to provide views to the outside while also using daylighting to reduce energy
demand. Which strategy would achieve these goals?
B. Installing cubicles with low partitions and placing conference rooms and offices in the core of
the building.
10-A project owner wants to create a healthy work environment for

employees. To help ensure indoor air quality, which of the following should
be monitored?
B. Carbon-dioxide levels.
E. Outdoor airflow.
11-Which design strategy allows occupants to actively participate in energy

savings?
C. Task lighting.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

This is the only choice that an occupant can actively do: turn on or off task lighting.
Lighting control for occupants helps them see better by controlling the lighting levels in their
area. LEED projects should provide individual occupant controls and group controls for shared
spaces (like a conference room).
12-Which of the following elements should be considered to facilitate
communication in school classrooms?
A. Duct insulation.

Air flowing through the HVAC system can make loud whistling and whooshing noises. Duct
insulation reduces the noise of the air flow.
B. Soft surfaces.

Architectural finishes that include soft surfaces improve acoustics. Fabric-covered walls or
acoustic tiles are some examples.
C. Building geometry.
13- When would a project team need to consider increasing the ventilation
levels to improve indoor air quality?
D. Pre-design.
Increasing ventilation may require a bigger ventilation system. It may also consume more energy
to run the system. By the time the building is being constructed, these decisions can be too late.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

14- A project team is trying to maximize the number of points they can
achieve for their LEED project by identifying synergies. Which elements,
when combined, would best achieve this goal?
A. Daylight sensors.
B. Occupant lighting controls.
C. Occupancy sensors.
15- For which of the following reasons is it important to conduct occupant
surveys?
D. Surveys identify areas that need improvement.
A survey will provide facility managers with information on areas of the building that may be
underperforming.
16- Including task lighting and increasing ventilation levels in a new building
has what effect on the triple bottom line?
C. Increased occupant performance.
Strategies that improve employees' health and productivity over the long run have a large return
on investment. Studies show happier employees are more productive.
17- Designing a building with a natural ventilation system will impact what
credit categories?
B. Energy and Atmosphere.
A natural ventilation system (aka passive ventilation) will reduce the energy demands of a
building. No mechanical cooling system will need to installed and run.
C. Indoor Environmental Quality.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

A natural ventilation system impacts the indoor air quality of a building. Indoor air quality is part
of this credit category.
18- A project team is beginning the integrative process late into the designphase of a new office building. At this point, which of the following could still
be changed and would be a low-cost solution for improving daylighting?
D. The types of furnishings.
E. The colors of the surfaces.
19- Changing the building envelope from single-pane glazing to double-pane
glazing would result in which of the following?
D. Decreased energy demand.
The design of the building envelope (including the glazing) impacts the energy demand of the
building. While more glazing (windows) increases daylighting, the heat gain from allowing more
light in may increase HVAC loads. Double-pane glazing is a better insulator than single-pane
glazing.
20- Properly designed daylighting results in which of the following?
C. A decreased need for artificial lighting.
21- A government project with an open office plan will have partitioned cubes
with frosted glass above eye level position for privacy. This design choice
would negatively impact which of the following elements?
D. Views to the outside.
22- During the integrative process a building owner decides to replace a low
VOC ten-year carpet tile with a less expensive and higher VOC twelve-year
carpet tile. Which of the following would be impacted by this change?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

A. Indoor air quality.

23- One side of a building is oriented toward the afternoon sun. Which of the
following can give occupants control over excessive brightness and glare?
D. Adjustable window shades.
24- Where should smoking be prohibited for a project?
A. Operable windows.
D. Air intakes.
E. Building entrances.
25- Proper ventilation systems remove which of the following contaminants?
A. CO2 concentrations.
B. Radon.
D. Material off-gassing.
26- What product for an entryway system allows for good indoor air quality
and is a good material choice?
D. Low VOC rubber mat.
LEED entryways should be grills, grates, or mats to help clean people's shoes off as they walk in.
This keeps dust/dirt/contaminants out.
The low VOC material is the best choice available.
27- A company is designing an open office plan for seventy-five employees
working in an entire floor of a building. Daylighting will be used to provide
natural light and reduce energy costs. To ensure effective lighting quality for
all of the occupants, the design should include which of the following?
C. Zoned daylighting controls.
Because the plan is for an entire floor of a building, different areas of the project will receive
different levels of lighting throughout the day. To make sure all occupants have quality lighting,
a zoned system that adjusts lighting levels based on the quantity of daylight coming in will work

LEED GA QUESTIONS

best. People in darker areas would have more artificial light, while those in the sunnier areas
would have less.
28- A delivery of drywall arrived at a building site during a rain storm. Some
of the drywall was exposed to the rain. What should the general contractor
do with the material?
A. Ask for replacement drywall from the seller.
29- When thinking about room layouts early in the design process, which of
the following should be considered?
B. Acoustics.
Acoustics are often overlooked, but they should be considered early in the design process when
designing room layouts in order to select a room design that aids this element.
30- Which responsibilities would belong to the general contractor during
construction to improve indoor air quality?
B. Capping the ducts to mechanical systems.
C. Making sure someone is sweeping periodically to control dust.
31- An effective thermal comfort strategy considers the six primary factors
that affect thermal comfort. A close collaboration between the owner,
architect, and who else is critical to achieving thermal comfort success?
C. Engineer.
32- Which of the following preventive maintenance tasks would a facility
manager routinely perform to maintain indoor air quality?
C. Replacing air filters.
D. Calibrating sensors.
33- What can a project team do to reduce the need for pesticides?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

C. Develop a coordinated program of nonchemical strategies.

34- The developer of a school project in a sunny region suggests using light
shelves to bring daylight into some of the classrooms. Which of the following
issues would arise as a result of this this strategy?
A. Glare.
Anytime daylight is brought into the building, glare needs to be considered, no matter what
method is used to bring in the daylight.
35- A building owner wants to have improved IAQ after construction to
improve occupant health. Which of the following products would a project
team need to verify have low-VOCs?
A. Acoustic insulation.
D. Ceiling paint.
E. Computer workstations.
36- Which type of products would reduce the environmental effects of

cleaning products?
C. Environmental Choice.
37- A building owner and general contractor are creating a construction plan

to improve the air quality during the construction process. What should the
plan address?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

A. Keep dust and dirt out of the building protect materials from moisture damage; flush-out the
building before occupancy.

38- In a naturally ventilated building, which of the following would provide

occupants with control over their temperature?
B. Operable windows.
39- For which of the following reasons is it important to provide individual

lighting and thermal comfort controls to building occupants?

A. Occupant controls help improve productivity.
40- A business owner wants to have an open office plan in a tenant space. To

increase daylighting and optimize views, which of the following should the
plan include?
B. Low partitions.
E. Vision panels.
41- A building in a warm climate will not have operable windows or natural

ventilation due to a limited number of days each year that these strategies
would be beneficial. Which of the following would help the project team give
ventilation control to occupants?
B. Adjustable air diffusers.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

42- When conducting a confidential occupant survey to rate the lighting,

acoustics, temperature, and cleanliness of a building, who is primarily

responsible for reviewing the results and taking any corrective action?
D. The facility manager(s).

The facility manager is the primary person responsible for the survey and its follow-up corrective
action. That is not to say the other choices would not be involved - just to a lesser degree.
43- How can a project team in a hot climate reduce a building's energy use
and increase daylighting?
D. By installing appropriately sized and located windows.
Installing windows that are appropriate for the climate and that are strategically located is the
correct choice. This refers back to the integrative process and discussing the best options.
44- To improve occupant satisfaction a project team conducts a survey of the
occupants. Which of the following are important IEQ topics to ask about in
the survey?
A. Is the lighting adequate?
B. Are any areas are too hot or too cold?
D. How are the acoustics?
45- In which of the following ways does integrated pest management (IPM)

help a building owner save money?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

B. Because only appropriate chemicals are used.

C. Because over application can be avoided.
46- Which of the following would help increase the daylight brought into a

space?
C. Clerestory windows, light shelves, reflective paint, and skylights.
47- A business owner is building an office in a city that has air quality issues

during the summer. The owner wants to hear recommendations for design
decisions that improve indoor air quality. Which of the following are
strategies that would achieve the project goal?
B. Install walk-off mats in the entryways.
E. Use materials with low VOC emissions.
48- A project team in a dry region is designing a project with an entryway

that leads to a downtown city block. The building owner wants to reduce dirt,
dust, and contaminants tracked into the building from people's shoes. Which
of the following would be appropriate choices for an entryway system that
would improve indoor air quality?
B. Steel grates.
C. Metal grills made of aluminum.
D. Rubber mats manufactured overseas.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

49- What are the best design strategies for improving indoor air quality

during operations and maintenance of a building?

A. Increase the ventilation in the building.
D. Use air filters with high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) ratings.
50- Which of the following should a green cleaning policy include?

D. Standards for selecting products and technologies and certification of cleaning equipment.

A green cleaning policy should include:

1. The standards used to select products and technologies such as Green Seal or California Code
of Regulations.
2. Certification of cleaning equipment from the carpet and rug institute.
51- At which point during the project schedule would a flush-out occur?
A. Prior to occupants moving in.

A flush-out runs the mechanical systems with 100% outside air to remove contaminants. Flushouts are usually done after construction is complete and prior occupants moving in.
52- Which strategy supports improved indoor air quality during operations
and maintenance?
A. Outlining green cleaning procedures and goals for custodians.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

Part of green cleaning involves including the custodians in the integrative process to get their
input and to work together to create goals and procedures for reducing indoor contaminants from
cleaning chemicals.
53- A project team member is discussing adding soft surfaces to an exterior
building room. What would be the result of doing this?
B. Improved acoustics.
Acoustic surfaces such as soft surfaces, building geometry, and duct insulation all help improve
the acoustics of a space.
54- A healthcare project team in the pre-design phase is discussing ways to
protect patient privacy. Which of the following strategies would help achieve
this goal?
D. Using sound isolation.
Sound isolation is part of acoustic performance. In healthcare, patient privacy is important discussions between doctors and patients should be private. Sound isolation helps achieve this.
55-A project administrator needs specific information on an interior paint
used in a tenant space. The information on the VOCs in the paint need to be
uploaded into LEED Online. Where would this information be found?
A. MSDS.
56- What amount of time do people in the United States spend on average
indoors?
E. 90%.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

The importance of the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) category is partly due to how much
time people spend indoors. How healthy the indoor environment is, such as air quality, is related
to human health.
57- A project design with a focus on creating a healthy building includes
materials with low VOC emissions, grates used in the entryway, higher-rated
MERV filters, and air intakes located in an open-air parking garage. Which of
these design strategies negatively impacts good indoor-air quality?
D. The location of the air intakes.
Air intakes should be located near fresh air sources and away from exhaust or smoking areas.
58- Why should a building have a green cleaning policy?
A. To reduce the environmental effects of cleaning products.
A green cleaning policy is intended to reduce levels of chemical, biological, and particulate
contaminants that can compromise air quality, human health, building finishes, building systems,
and the environment.
59- When determining the ventilation levels of a space needed for good
indoor air quality, which of the following should the project team consider?
A. The number of occupants in the space.
D. The activities performed in the space.
60- The practice of placing windows or other transparent media and

reflective surfaces in such a way that during the day natural light provides
effective internal illumination is referred to as:
C. Daylighting.
61- A tenant of an office space wants an open office layout. What is one

trade-off of this decision?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

D. The acoustics may be poor.

A trade-off with the open office layout is in a large, open space the acoustics are usually poor.
9-Project surroundings and public outreach:
1-A project team wants to install a rainwater harvesting system to provide water to flush toilets

but local code does not permit this. What should the project team do?

C. Find alternative solutions for indoor water use reduction.

2-What are some of the economic benefits of green building?

B. Reduced liabilities due to poor indoor air quality causing health issues.

One of the goals of the IEQ category is to create a healthier indoor environment for occupants.
This results in reduced sick days and hopefully cleaner air. Buildings that have mold or
contaminants can cause health problems which can lead to lawsuits from the occupants.
C. Reduced utility costs.

Water use and energy use should be lower in a green building.

3-What statement is true regarding green building?
A. The construction of green buildings have no major significant cost difference to
non-green buildings.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

According to Cost of Green Revisited - The 2006 study shows essentially the same results as
2004: there is no significant difference in average costs for green buildings as compared to nongreen buildings.
4-What accounting methodology is used to evaluate the economic performance of a product or
system over its useful life?
D. Life cycle costing.

Life cycle costing (LCC) is the evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful
life, including initial, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings. LCC
evaluates economic performance.
5-Before using graywater to irrigate a project's landscape the landscape architect should review:
A. Local codes.

Local codes should be checked to see if using graywater for irrigation on the project is allowed.
6-What is the value of documenting and tracking a building's resource use?
A. Contributes to knowledge that will advance research in the future.

USGBC collects water and energy usage from LEED projects. This information helps the
development of future LEED rating system versions.
7-What is an economic benefit for the triple bottom line that LEED-certified buildings may
have?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

A. Qualification for tax rebates.

8-A project building in a colder climate is located in a basin that replenishes the water supply
each spring from the snow on nearby mountains. If the design team thinks ahead to the future,
how would this influence the design of the project?
B. Water conservation should be emphasized.

Consider the information given and the goals of LEED - to curb climate change. Are snowpacks
growing or shrinking due to climate change? Overall they are shrinking. If a building or area
depends on the snowpack and the snowpack is diminishing, building design should consider
water conservation for the future.
9-The green design approach taken by LEED:
A. Reduces the environmental harms of buildings and restores the balance of
natural systems.

'LEED is designed to address environmental challenges while responding to the needs of a

competitive market. Certification demonstrates leadership, innovation, environmental
stewardship, and social responsibility. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they
need to immediately improve both building performance and the bottom line while providing
healthful indoor spaces for a building's occupants.' USGBC.
10-What is true if a building code official finds an issue between a proposed energy efficiency
strategy and the city's building electrical code?
D. The project team must alter the design.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

The strategy will need to be reworked to fit with the local electrical code.
11-Which building project supports the triple bottom line?
B. Building renovation in a federal empowerment zone.

Reusing a building in a high priority designated area supports all aspects of the triple bottom
line.
12-Which of the following has the lowest soft cost?
D. Self-guided education program on the green features of a project.

Many projects in the past have earned Innovation credits by included an onsite education
program showing the green features of the building. Install some signs around the project, create
a map of the project, promote the tour, and you are well on your way. This would not be that
expensive to do.
13-What term refers to the investigation and valuation of the environmental impacts of a given
product or service caused or necessitated by its existence?
A. Life cycle assessment.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the investigation and valuation of the environmental impacts of a
given product or service. LCA evaluates environmental performance. This view takes into
account the whole life of a product or project (not assessing it from a single point in time).
14-If a project team increases the ventilation in a building and adds quality views to occupant
spaces what will be the result?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

C. Improved productivity of the occupants.

Research shows by improving indoor air quality, adding daylighting and views, occupant
productivity goes up.
15-The linear use of resources where outputs are treated as waste contributes to the toxins
accumulating in the atmosphere, water and on the ground. This has accelerated the pace of the
planet's biggest problem which is:
D. Climate change.

According to USGBC the biggest problem we face as a society is climate change, much of it
stemming from the built environment and using nonrenewable energy, water, and materials at an
ever increasing pace.
16-Which percentage of the Earth's water is fresh water?
A. 3%.

We have limited water on the planet and a growing population, and drought conditions are
stressing our limited existing water supply.
17-An additional cost that a green building project may have compared to a conventional project
is:
A. Consultant fees for green building experts.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

The manual states project teams should determine relevant design fees and construction costs.
Also address:

1. Life-cycle cost analysis

2. Design and cost advice from experienced green building professionals
3. Contingencies for research of unconventional techniques or materials

Life cycle costing is used to evaluate economic performance and takes into account operational
and maintenance costs throughout the life of the product.
18-A developer for an office building will lease out spaces to tenants. What is the value to the
developer for certifying the building?
B. Certified green office buildings rent for 2% more than comparable buildings.

Studies show on average a green building can charge higher building rents (2% on average) and
have less empty tenant spaces than non-green buildings.
19-Which of the following is most important to the design and construction of a building for
emissions reduction?
C. Building location.

Consider the same building design for one building located in the suburbs and one located in a
dense urban center. Which reduces emissions more?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

The one in the suburbs requires users to drive automobiles to it each day, contributing to more
than half of the project's emissions.
20-What green building codes can be enforced by law?
A. ASHRAE 189.1.
C. International Green Construction Code.
21-How does LEED encourage focusing on regional issues?
C. Regional priority credits.
22-What specifies the set of rules for the minimum acceptable level of safety for buildings?
A. Building codes.

The main purpose of building codes are to protect public health, safety and general welfare as
they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. The building code
becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate authority.
23-The operation of buildings, including landscaping, accounts for ____ of total water use in the
United States.
B. 12%.
24-Green buildings have on average energy use intensities that are ____ lower than in typical

buildings.
D. 24%.

This comes from an independent study by the New Buildings Institute.

25-What is an example of value engineering?

LEED GA QUESTIONS

B. Replacing an asphalt parking lot with less costly crushed gravel that has higher
SRI.

Value engineering (VE) is a review process that identifies and selects the lowest lifecycle cost
options in design, materials and processes that achieves the desired level of performance,
reliability and customer satisfaction.
USGBC defines value engineering to mean reducing costs while improving performance.
In this example the project team is reducing cost by switching to crushed gravel and reducing the
heat island effect by using a higher SRI product (thus improving performance). Gravel roads also
allow for water to get through the pervious surface.
26-What is a negative environmental externality of locating a project in an area does not have
diverse uses and is not densely developed?
B. Increased air pollution.

27-What are examples of structural incentives that may be available to a developer to encourage
green building?
A. Density bonuses.
E. Expedited review of permits.
28-If a state has a green building code and a project team wants to pursue LEED certification:
D. The state building code requirements have precedent over the LEED
requirements.

Any state or local building codes have precedent over LEED.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

29-Compared to a conventional building, a green building project and construction budget will
also include:
A. Life cycle costing.
30-What is the most impactful way that a project can help to reverse contribution to climate

change?
B. Reducing fossil-fuel based energy consumption.

Reversing contribution to global climate change is one of the LEED impact categories. Because
of the large quantities of energy buildings consume, reducing their energy use (and thus their
fossil-fuel based energy consumption) has the most impact on climate change.
31-What helps a project take advantage of the environmental assets of the area they live in?
D. Regional Priority credits.

Regional priority credits are bonus points projects can earn by addressing environmental
concerns (water shortages) and environmental assets (abundant sunlight) in their areas.
32-Which of the following would be classified as a soft construction cost?
A. Civil engineer consulting fee.

A soft construction cost is one that is not directly related to building, construction, etc. These can
be architectural, legal, financing, engineering fees, commissioning, and other costs incurred
before and after construction.
33-From where are most local codes adopted?

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D. International Code Council.

Local building codes represent the minimum codes that a project must adhere to.
State and local jurisdictions may develop their own regulations or adopt building codes based on
national model codes. State and local codes are typically based on national model codes
published by the International Code Council (ICC).
34-The triple bottom line can be described as:
A. People, planet, profit.

Sustainability in the building sector can be measured by achieving the triple bottom line:
sustainable practices that benefit the planet, people, and profit.
35-A study by the New Buildings Institute found that in green buildings, average energy use
intensities (energy consumed per unit of floor space) are _____ than in typical buildings
D. 24% lower.
36-What options within LEED credits address different geographic and climactic regions while

providing solutions to challenges faced by projects at a regional level?

B. Alternative Compliance Paths.

Alternative Compliance Paths, or ACPs, allow international projects to identify equivalent means
of demonstrating compliance to the credit requirements. For example, where an equivalent
country's reference standard exists, an ACP can allow for the use of that standard.

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These options address different geographic and climactic regions while providing solutions to
challenges faced by projects at a regional level.
37-Economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility define a project's:
B. Triple bottom line.
38-A team for a school project is reviewing potential site locations and building designs. What

would have the greatest impact on improving test scores for the students?
C. Orienting the building to maximize daylighting.
39-Regional priority credits are specific to:
C.LEED project type (schools, healthcare, data centers, etc.).

Each LEED project type may have different impacts so each rating system has its own RP
credits. For example a warehouse may not have high priority for indoor water use if there are not
a lot of occupants.
40-What low / no cost structural incentive can a municipality make to a developer to encourage
green building?
D. Allowing increases in the floor area ratio.
41-A building's total emissions footprint does which of the following over time?
C. Incrementally increases.

Continuous monitoring and ongoing commissioning help maintain systems and keep their
performance optimized to keep emissions lower over time. Most systems will degrade over time

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- everything from a white roof to the HVAC system incrementally raising a building's emissions
unless steps are taken for prevention.
42-What are local ordinances?
D. A law usually found in a municipal code.

This defines what local ordinance is.

Projects should prepare and review a list of the appropriate and applicable laws, codes, local
ordinances, statutes, and industry-related standards relevant to the project.
43-What are examples of construction hard costs for an office condominium project?
A. Masonry costs paid to a sub-contractor.

D. Cost for installing a green roof.

44-What must be considered in the project budget for a green building project that would not be
part of a conventional project?
A. Contingencies for research of unconventional techniques or materials.
45-What is an example of an ongoing operating cost?
A. Salaries for janitorial services in a building.

Operating costs are another type of cost for a building in addition to hard and soft costs. These
costs occur after the building is complete and up and running. These costs include utilities such

LEED GA QUESTIONS

as water and electricity as well as the costs of maintenance personnel - janitorial, landscape,
security.
46-For which of the following are the ICC International Codes used?
C. Providing minimum safeguards for people at home, at school, and in the
workplace.
47-The built environment, including buildings and transportation systems, account for what

percent of all greenhouse gas emissions?

A. 2/3.
48-What does the built environment refer to?
C. Any environment that is human-made and provides a structure for human
activity.

The term built environment refers to any environment that is human-made and provides a
structure for human activity, ranging in scale from personal shelter and buildings to
neighborhoods and cities that can often include their supporting infrastructure, such as water
supply or energy networks.
49-How can the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the built environment be reduced?
A. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings.
D. Improving the energy efficiency of communities.

50-In the United States buildings account for ____ electricity consumption.
B. 72%.

Notes: In the United States, buildings account for:

14% of potable water consumption

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30% of waste output

40% of raw materials use
38% of carbon dioxide emissions
24% to 50% of energy use
72% of electricity consumption
51-What process identifies the high-performance building systems that will save money over the
life of a project?
C. Life-cycle costing.

Life cycle costing (LCC) is the evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful
life, including initial, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings. LCC
evaluates economic performance.
LCC compares different designs to determine the best long-term investment.
All building expenses are included in the analysis including:
Initial costs (design + construction) .
Operating costs (utilities, water, electricity, and people).
Maintenance costs (repair, replacement, upkeep).
52- What is different about green building design compared to conventional design?
C. Green building uses an integrative process.

53-Globally transportation is responsible for what percent of greenhouse gas emissions?

D. 25%.

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Selecting sites in dense areas where existing infrastructure exists helps reduce automobile use, as
addressed in the Location and Transportation credits.
54-What is considered a positive externality of LEED-certified buildings on building occupants?
D. Decreased absenteeism.

Research shows that just like increased productivity, decreased absenteeism is a by-product of
healthier buildings.
55-What review practice identifies design alternatives that reduce costs while yielding higher
performance?
C. Value engineering.

Value engineering (VE) is review process that identifies and selects the lowest lifecycle cost
options in design, materials and processes that achieves the desired level of performance,
reliability and customer satisfaction.
USGBC has redefined value engineering to mean reducing costs while improving performance.
In conventional building many building features are VEd out to cut the budget. Because of the
integrative process in green buildings, VEing out a feature often messes up the performance of
the system as a whole. For example if a building owner decides to take out better quality and
more costly insulation, the building's utility bills will most likely go up and the HVAC system
could be undersized.
56-What is an example of regenerative design?
B. A building that generates electricity and sends the excess to the grid.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

57-What organization develops building safety and fire prevention codes for the construction of
residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools?
C. International Code Council.
58-In the United States buildings account for ____ carbon dioxide emissions.
D. 38%.
59-Sustainable plans for built environments that improve existing conditions is called:
A. Regenerative design.
60-Which of the following does green building help with creating?
A. Communities that is more vital to a healthy society.

Green communities can significantly affect the quality of life, as well as the environment.
Reduced commute times, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced water use and resource
consumption all help with the health of society.
D. Lower-impact built environments.

A goal of green building is to reduce the impact of the built environment.

61-A building with a vegetated roof is going to require additional costs for more materials to
support the structure and for waterproofing, as well as plant materials. What are the life cycle
costing benefits of a vegetated roof?
B. Longer product life.

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According to some studies and some LEED documentation vegetated roofs have a longer
product life than conventional roofs. Maybe that is due to the yearly maintenance and upkeep
that should occur.
D. Lower maintenance costs.

Life cycle costing (LCC) is the evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful
life, including initial, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings. LCC
evaluates economic performance.
62-What is an example of a construction hard cost?
A. On-site renewable energy system.
63-If a developer is planning on building a multi-family residential project what are the most

important things the project team should consider?

B. Available LEED ND projects close by.
C. Local zoning.
64-Which of the following is an example of the triple bottom line in practice?
D. A residential project that contributes to neighborhood revitalization.

65-What environmental externalities occur when buildings use significant quantities of potable
water indoors?

C. Increased environmental burdens on the water supply.

LEED GA QUESTIONS

66-A business owner that purchases a fleet of green delivery vehicles reduces what externality?

D. Pollution added to the environment.

By purchasing the green vehicles the externality of pollution is reduced.

67-Relative to the LEED project design what has a low soft cost?

B. Cost of the LEED charrette.

The cost of the charrette and the time of each team member for the one day is pretty insignificant
compared to the benefits and cost savings of the integrative process.
68-What metric is useful for determining the energy, water, solid waste, materials, and
transportation impacts of buildings and communities?
D. Carbon emissions.
69-What are the long term effects of climate change?
C. Higher sea levels.
E. Higher temperatures.
F. Longer droughts.
70-What financial incentives can a municipality offer to a developer that proposes a green

building?
A. Fee waivers.

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B. Revolving loan funds.

C. Tax credits.
71-What is the term for the analysis of the environmental aspects and potential impacts

associated with a product, process, or service?

A. Life-cycle assessment.
72-What non-financial incentives can a municipality offer to encourage developers to build

residential projects to green standards?

B. Marketing assistance for the property.
C. Certification training for developers who are unfamiliar with green building
practices.
73-Extracting and sourcing raw materials in a responsible manner is intended to avoid all of the

following EXCEPT:
C. Depletion of the ozone layer.

Ozone depletion is primarily addressed by a building's energy use and choice of refrigerants.
The remaining choices are what can occur when raw material extraction is not done responsibly.

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