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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

USGBC LEED Green Associate Exam Questions

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1.

Which of the following categories would involve the strategies that reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills? 

  • Materials and Resources 

  • Indoor Environmental Quality 

  • Energy and Atmosphere

  • Sustainable Sites 

Correct answer: Materials and Resources 

Materials and Resources include strategies involving recycling, source reduction, and knowing what is in the products and materials we use. Strategies that reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills would fall under this category. 

Strategies that reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills would not be in the Indoor Environmental Quality category, the Energy and Atmosphere category, or the Sustainable Sites category. 

2.

To achieve EQ Prerequisite - Minimum IAQ Performance, which of the following must follow the standards established by ASHRAE 62.1-2010? 

  • Both mechanically and naturally ventilated spaces 

  • Only mechanically ventilated spaces 

  • Only naturally ventilated spaces 

  • Only mixed-mode ventilated spaces 

Correct answer: Both mechanically and naturally ventilated spaces 

While naturally ventilated spaces also must abide by ANSI10 guidelines, all ventilated spaces must follow the standards established by ASHRAE 62.1-2010.

ASHRAE 62.1-2010 must be followed by all ventilated spaces, not just those using natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation, or mixed-mode ventilation.  

3.

Your team has met and received feedback from the data they've gathered for the project. What, according to the steps of the iterative process, should they do next? 

  • Create the design 

  • Revise data 

  • Continue researching based on the feedback received 

  • Nothing more is needed

Correct answer: Create the design 

It's important to understand that the project does not begin with the design. Following the iterative process, LEED projects begin by conducting research to better understand the project and find synergies between credits. From this foundation of data and feedback, the team can then create the design. 

There is no need to revise the data collected, but there is more to be done. The nature of the iterative process is that the project can and will continually cycle through the steps, so there may be more research done, but that is not the next step after a team has received feedback. 

4.

The ozone layer protects Earth from:

  • UV radiation

  • Water pollution

  • Toxic chemicals

  • CFCs

Correct answer: UV radiation

The ozone layer acts as a blanket that protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation by keeping the radiation from reaching the planet's surface. It is important for project teams to be aware of ways to preserve the ozone layer, such as refraining from using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). 

The ozone layer does not protect Earth from water pollution, toxic chemicals, or CFCs.

5.

What is the minimum number of materials that must be targeted for diversion in a construction and demolition waste management plan?

  • Five

  • Eight

  • Ten

  • Twelve

Correct answer: Five

In LEED v4, USGBC made construction waste management an important first step for every LEED rating system. They did this by requiring a construction waste management plan for every project. The construction and demolition waste planning prerequisite requires all project teams to create a construction and demolition waste management plan. That plan should establish waste diversion goals for the project. These can be achieved by identifying a minimum of five materials targeted for diversion. 

6.

Which of the following is the name of the USGBC's green building program? 

  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 

  • Greenbuild

  • Cradle-to-Cradle Certification Program 

  • REACH

Correct answer: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is the full name of the program more commonly referred to as LEED. This rating system is a voluntary program to help buildings meet their sustainability goals. 

The USGBC's green building program is not called Greenbuild, the Cradle-to-Cradle Certification Program, or REACH. 

7.

A LEED Green Associate has recommended her team to do a product certification program for the materials used in a restoration project. This program rewards achievement in five levels. Which program did the Green Associate recommend?

  • Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified

  • USGBC-approved program

  • Cradle to Gate program

  • Health Product Declaration (HPD)

Correct answer: Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified is a product certification program for assessing and constantly improving products. It requires product ingredients to be disclosed to an independent, accredited C2C assessor. C2C certification rewards achievement in five categories: material health, material re-utilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness. Those achievements can be categorized into five levels: basic, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.

Cradle to Gate is a term describing the system boundaries of an environmental Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) that covers all activities from the beginning of an item's production up to the factory gate.

A Health Product Declaration (HPD) is an open standard for reporting product ingredients and their associated health hazards.

8.

Which of the following stipulates that a dwelling must include permanent provisions for sleeping, eating, living, cooking, and sanitation?

  • International Residential Code

  • Integrative Residential Code

  • Iterative Reasoning Code

  • International Rendering Code

Correct answer: International Residential Code

For LEED Homes projects, the building must be defined as a "dwelling unit" by all applicable codes. This requirement includes, but is not limited to, the International Residential Code (IRC) stipulation that a dwelling unit must include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.

9.

Which method would provide synergy between the Sustainable Sites category and the Water Efficiency category?

  • Use xeriscaping 

  • Maximize open space 

  • Use drip irrigation 

  • Use porous hardscape 

Correct Answer: Use xeriscaping 

The use of xeriscaping not only reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation but also helps in restoring habitats. These impacts help both the Sustainable Sites and the Water Efficiency credit category achieve their goals. 

Using drip irrigation is a strategy that can help projects in the Water Efficiency category, but it is not a synergy of the Sustainable Sites category. Using porous hardscape can help reduce rainwater runoff, erosion, and the disruption of the watershed, which all support the goals of the Sustainable Sites category. While the Water Efficiency category encourages the use of rainwater as an alternative water supply other than potable water, this particular strategy would not help the project collect and reuse the water. Maximizing open space could potentially increase the amount of outdoor irrigation, so this is also not a synergy between the two credits. 

10.

IAQ assessment is important for safeguarding building occupants after construction. How do you ensure that the air is safe to breathe before occupancy?

  • Conducting a flush-out of the building or testing the air quality

  • Installing new filtration systems, MERV 13 or higher

  • Creating a quality assessment chart and keeping data of all submeters

  • Monitoring CO2 concentrations in all occupied spaces

Correct answer: Conducting a flush-out of the building or testing the air quality

The goal of the IAQ (indoor air quality) credit is to establish higher-quality indoor air in the building after construction and during occupancy. Points are earned for this credit by either conducting a flush-out of the building before or during occupancy, or by testing the air quality before occupancy to make sure that the air is safe to breathe. A building flush-out requires replacing filtration and flushing out all the indoor air with outdoor air. 

Installing a new filtration system without doing a flush would be counterintuitive. Creating a quality assessment chart and keeping data of all submeters are not strategies to improve the air post-construction. Monitoring CO2 concentration is a great strategy for continuing implementation, but not to ensure that the air is safe to breathe.

11.

Why is life-cycle costing necessary?

  • It determines the most cost-effective option available

  • Municipal laws are requiring it in most communities

  • Countries outside the United States have been conducting life-cycle costing for years

  • Life-cycle costing attracts wealthier residents, increasing the quality of life for all

Correct answer: It determines the most cost-effective option available

The focus of life-cycle costing (LCC) is on the cost considerations of a product. LCC is an analytic tool used to determine the purchase price, fuel, installation, operation, maintenance, disposal, finance charges and replacement costs for each technology and strategy proposed to determine the appropriateness of the solution specific to the project, from an environmental and economic perspective. The results of an LCC analysis can be used to select building systems, services, and products that have the lowest life-cycle cost and shortest payback period.

Municipal laws do not require LCC, and there is no indication that LCC has been occurring in other countries for years. LCC should be conducted for all projects, not just those that attract wealthier residents.

12.

Which of the following refers to land where development may be complicated by the presence, or potential presence, of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants?

  • Brownfields

  • Waste management sites

  • Lakes and streams

  • Greenfields

  • None of these

Correct answer: Brownfields

Brownfields are land where development may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Development or redevelopment of brownfields may require the cleanup of contaminated soil or groundwater.

Greenfields are sites that have never been built on or developed for human use. Waste management sites are simply areas designated for waste disposal. Lakes and streams are examples of water, not land.

13.

Which of the following is wastewater that sometimes requires treatment to meet federal requirements for its intended use as non-potable water?

  • Reclaimed water

  • Submetered water

  • Harvested water

  • Subflow water

 Correct answer: Reclaimed water

Reclaimed water is wastewater that sometimes requires treatment to meet federal requirements for its intended use as non-potable water. The level of treatment and quality of the reclaimed water depend on its use and must be approved by the authority having jurisdiction.

"Harvested water" refers to rainwater that has been collected in cisterns for other uses. "Subflow water" and "submetered water" are fabricated terms.

14.

All of the following are types of renewable energy except:

  • Fossil fuels

  • Biomass

  • Low-impact hydropower

  • Geothermal power

Correct answer: Fossil fuels

Biomass, low-impact hydropower and geothermal energy are all considered green resources for renewable energy. Building systems use these fuels to power green technology to heat water or to heat a building. LEED project teams can also earn points for using renewable resources to generate electricity for a building.

Fossil fuels are not considered renewable energy, as they are generated from the burning of petroleum-based products extracted from the earth, such as coal, oil and natural gas. Once they are burned, no more energy can be extracted from them. Geometric energy and geosolar energy are fabricated terms.

15.

Project teams attempting to achieve EQ Credit - Thermal Comfort, must meet what standard? 

  • ASHRAE 55

  • ASHRAE 62.1

  • ASHRAE 52.2

  • ASHRAE 90.1

Correct answer: ASHRAE 55

ASHRAE 55 sets the standard for indoor thermal conditions. Heating, HVAC, ventilation systems, and the building envelope all must meet this standard. 

ASHRAE 62.1 sets the standard for ventilation system design. ASHRAE 52.2 sets the standard for air filters. ASHRAE 90.1 sets the standard for energy usage. 

16.

Which of the following is the committee that finds solutions to problems within rating systems? 

  • TAG

  • USGBC 

  • GBCI

  • CIR 

Correct answers: TAG

TAG or Technical Advisory Group is a committee of USGBC members who maintain the rating systems and oversee their development. 

The USGBC makes up the committee known as TAG. GBCI is in charge of the certification and credentialing process. CIR or Credit Interpretation Request is a tool that project teams can use to get specific feedback on how to apply a prerequisite or credit. 

17.

During construction or renovation, materials should be: 

  • Assessed for environmental impact

  • New

  • Wooden

  • Locally made

Correct answer: Assessed for environmental impact

During construction or renovation, as well as being assessed for environmental impact, materials should be recycled whenever possible. Materials should also be reused or salvaged whenever possible. This helps cut down on waste and enforces project teams' goals to create green structures.

The remaining answer options are incorrect. Materials do not need to be new (and should not be recycled rather than new), wooden, or locally made (though locally made materials are preferable whenever possible).

18.

Where do heat islands mostly occur?

  • Urban areas

  • Farmlands

  • The western United States

  • The Atlantic Ocean

Correct answer: Urban areas

Heat islands occur mostly in urban areas due to the abundance of constructed surfaces such as asphalt roads, parking lots, rooftops, and other hardscapes. Materials used for site design and rooftops can efficiently impact the use of energy for two reasons. Think of summertime at the grocery store parking lot and how you can see heat emitting from the black asphalt surface. The sun is attracted to darker surfaces, where heat is retained. By specifying and implementing materials with a high solar reflectance (SR) or solar reflectivity index (SRI), green building projects can reduce the heat island effect and the overall temperature of an area.

Heat islands occur due to constructed, light-absorbing surfaces and not in bodies of water such as the Atlantic Ocean. Heat islands can occur wherever there are large numbers of constructed surfaces, not just in the western United States. Farmlands consist of crops and produce and therefore do not contribute to the heat island effect.

19.

When building on previously developed sites, project teams should consider which of the following?

  • On-site restoration

  • Increased size of building footprint

  • Reduced floor-to-area ratio

  • Landscaping with exotic plant species

Correct answer: On-site restoration

SS Credit - Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat encourages project teams to designate areas as protected habitat and open space for the life of the project. When building on previously developed/disturbed sites, project teams should consider on-site restoration. Restoring native soils, plants, and hydrology helps to maintain overall ecosystem health.

Additional site design and management strategies include reducing, not increasing, the size of the building footprint; increasing, not reducing, the floor-to-area ratio; and landscaping with native or adaptive species rather than exotic plant species.

20.

To meet the requirements of EQ Credit - Low-Emitting Materials, furniture bought for the project must meet which standard? 

  • ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011

  • Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Products Standard 

  • GreenScreen v1.2

  • Green-e Certification Program 

Correct answer: ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011

The Indoor Environmental Quality category aims to provide better indoor air quality. This means limiting products and materials that release VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds, which are released by most indoor products, including furniture. The ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 standard helps project teams identify environmentally preferable furniture. 

The Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Products Standard evaluates and certifies products for their healthfulness. GreenScreen v1.2 compares the chemical hazard assessments of different products. Green-e Certification Program certifies renewable energy. 

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