Online LEED-AP-BD+C Questions Video

Materials and Resources Credit, Construction and Demolition Waste Management

Salvaged materials are materials that have been recovered or diverted from the waste stream for reuse. They can contribute to the achievement of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management credit, which aims to reduce the amount of waste generated by construction and demolition activities and divert it from landfills and incinerators. By reusing salvaged materials, projects can reduce the demand for new materials, conserve natural resources, save energy, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.Salvaged materials can be counted as part of the total waste diverted from disposal, as long as they are not counted for the Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction credit1.

References:

• Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 – Pages 263-2642
• LEED Certification and Sustainable Construction Waste Management3

The land associated with the project supports typical operations

According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the LEED project boundary must include all contiguous land that is associated with the project and supports its typical operations.This includes land altered as a result of construction and features used primarily by the project’s occupants, such as hardscape (parking and sidewalks), septic or stormwater treatment equipment, and landscaping1. Therefore, statement C is correct when defining the project boundary. Statement A is incorrect because the LEED project boundary must be contiguous. Statement B is incorrect because the LEED project boundary can include more than one building, as long as they are on the same site and share a common scope of work. Statement D is incorrect because there is no such requirement for the gross floor area of the LEED project to be a certain percentage of the gross land area within the LEED project boundary.

References:

• Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 – Page 282
• NC-v4.1 MPR2: Must use reasonable LEED boundaries | LEEDuser1

Natural daylighting can reduce the electricity use for artificial lighting, which is one of the major components of operational energy cost for buildings. By having the lights off or dimmed when sufficient daylight is available, the project can save energy and money. The other options are not necessarily true or relevant for natural daylighting. Heat gain and passive solar heating depend on the orientation, shading, and insulation of the windows, not just the amount of daylight.Reduction in lighting fixture use may reduce re-lamping, but that is not a significant factor in operational energy cost compared to electricity use.References: EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance, EQ Credit Daylight, LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction123

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

References:

• LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Sustainable Sites Prerequisite: Construction Activity Pollution Prevention, page 1151
• Construction activity pollution prevention | U.S. Green Building Council