LEED-Green-Associate Exam Dumps - USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Questions and Answers

According to the LEED v4 Glossary of Terms1, a site that has been graded is commonly defined as previously developed, which means "land that has been altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past)"1. A greenfield is "a site not previously developed or graded that could support open space, habitat, or agriculture"1. A brownfield is "a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant"1. A previously undeveloped site is "a site that has never been built on or graded for development"2.

Reclaimed water (also called recycled water) is treated wastewater that is reused for non-potable purposes, such as landscape irrigation or toilet flushing. LEED encourages the use of reclaimed water to reduce potable water use.

“Reclaimed water is wastewater that has been treated to remove solids and impurities for reuse in non-potable applications.”

— LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Water Efficiency

【GBES LEED v4 Study Guide】

The Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 1992 set standards for indoor water fixtures like toilets and faucets, which are used as a baseline for determining water savings in LEED projects. The 2005 amendment to the EPACT further updated these standards. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

The increase in air temperature in a developed area resulting from the dark surfaces of roadways, parking lots, and tarred rooftops is known as heat island effect. Heat island effect is a phenomenon whereby urban areas experience higher temperatures than rural areas due to the absorption and re-emission of solar heat by man-made surfaces. Heat island effect can have negative impacts on human health, energy consumption, air quality, and climate change. Some strategies to reduce heat island effect include increasing vegetation cover, using reflective or green roofs, using cool or permeable pavements, and enhancing natural ventilation.

A charrette is a strategy that can help build consensus for a project’s sustainability goals. A charrette is an intensive, collaborative, and creative workshop that brings together the project team and other stakeholders to define the project goals, scope, and strategies. A charrette can help to establish a common vision, identify synergies, and prioritize actions for a green building project. A charrette can also foster communication, trust, and buy-in among the participants13. References: LEED v4 Green Associate Candidate Handbook1, LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide3

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

A site map is required to show the locations of community resources within the specified radius to meet Location and Transportation credits. It visually demonstrates compliance with LEED requirements for access to diverse uses​​.

In commercial office buildings, space heating and cooling typically represent the largest portion of energy consumption, particularly when mechanical HVAC systems are in use. LEED v4 emphasizes targeting the most energy-intensive systems first for optimization.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and referenced in LEED study materials:

“Space heating, ventilation, and cooling together account for more than 40% of total energy use in commercial buildings.”

LEED’s EA Credit: Optimize Energy Performance encourages strategies like high-efficiency HVAC systems, building envelope improvements, and passive design to reduce this load.

While refrigeration and office equipment do use energy, their share in typical office buildings is comparatively small. Refrigeration is more significant in retail or food service projects.

A. Refrigeration – Low energy share in offices

B. Ventilation – Important, but typically paired with heating/cooling

C. Office equipment – Minor energy load due to efficiency standards (e.g., ENERGY STAR)

D. Space heating – Primary energy consumer in offices, especially in colder climates

Therefore, Option D offers the greatest reduction potential in a typical commercial office scenario.

One of the values and benefits of building green is that it will enhance the health of the building occupants. Building green is a process that incorporates environmental considerations into every stage of a building’s life cycle, from design to construction to operation to end-of-life. Building green can improve the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of a building, which is the physical and psychological conditions of the indoor spaces that affect the health, comfort, and productivity of the occupants. Building green can enhance IEQ by using low-emitting materials, providing adequate ventilation, controlling temperature and humidity, optimizing daylighting and lighting quality, reducing noise levels, and promoting occupant well-being12. References: LEED v4 Green Associate Candidate Handbook1, LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide2

A 100% vegetated roof coverage best addresses both heat island effect and rainwater runoff from the roof only. A vegetated roof, also known as a green roof, is a layer of living plants thatcovers the roof surface. A vegetated roof reduces the heat island effect by providing shade, evapotranspiration, and insulation, lowering the roof temperature and the surrounding air temperature. A vegetated roof also reduces rainwater runoff by retaining and absorbing precipitation, decreasing the volume and peak flow of stormwater leaving the roof. The other options are not as effective as a 100% vegetated roof coverage in addressing both heat island effect and rainwater runoff from the roof only. A 100% high-albedo roof reflects more solar radiation than a conventional roof, reducing the heat island effect, but it does not reduce rainwater runoff. A 20% high-albedo and 80% conventional roof has a lower reflectance than a 100% high-albedo roof, resulting in a higher heat island effect, and it does not reduce rainwater runoff either. A 50% standing seam copper and 50% vegetated roof has a lower vegetated area than a 100% vegetated roof, resulting in less shade, evapotranspiration, insulation, retention, and absorption, leading to a higher heat island effect and more rainwater runoff. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, page 27; USGBC, [Sustainable Sites], page 3.