×

Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

USGBC LEED Green Associate Exam Questions

Page 5 of 50

81.

Which of the following standards should LEED project teams follow when designing an acceptable ventilation system in their building? 

  • ASHRAE 62.1 

  • ASHRAE 55

  • ASHRAE 90.1

  • ASHRAE 52.2

Correct answer: ASHRAE 62.1 

To meet the requirements of ventilation systems and acceptable indoor air quality, project teams should meet the standard, ASHRAE 62.1. 

The requirements of ventilation systems and acceptable indoor air quality are not set by ASHRAE 55, ASHRAE 90.1, or ASHRAE 52.2. 

82.

Who submits the documentation when a team is ready to have its application reviewed?

  • The project administrator

  • The agent

  • The lead designer

  • The project owner 

Correct answer: The project administrator

Three important project team members include the owner, the agent, and the project administrator. When the team is ready for its application to be reviewed, the project administrator submits the appropriate fee and documentation. Then the application is reviewed and a determination is made regarding certification.

The project agent is the person who is granted actual authority by the owner to register the project and accept the certification agreement. The project owner is the person who has the authority to hold and control the real and personal property associated with the project and accept the certification agreement. "Lead designer" is not one of the designated project team members.

83.

Projects can earn extra points for achieving credits that correspond to environmental issues that are critical in the area the project is built in. Where can projects find the credits that are priorities in their area? 

  • The Regional Priority Database 

  • The Regional Environmental Crisis Database

  • The Environmental Priority Library 

  • The Regional Environmental Credit Library 

Correct answer: The Regional Priority Database 

The credit category that earns projects points for achieving credits that correspond to critical regional environmental issues is called Regional Priority. The database where projects can find credits that correspond to environmental crises in their area is called the Regional Priority Database. 

The Regional Environmental Crisis Database, the Environmental Priority Library, and the Regional Environmental Credit Library are all fictitious. 

84.

A project team is stumped on how to approach a particular credit. So, they sent in a Credit Interpretation Request. How much did they spend on this request? 

  • $220

  • $500

  • $1500

  • $225

Correct answer: $220

A single Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) costs $220. If teams have several unrelated questions, they have to submit separate CIRs, which means multiple charges of $220. 

A CIR appeal costs $500, while $1500 is how much a Neighborhood Development certification costs. The cost for single-family homes for certification is $225. 

85.

Which of the following strategies would restore soil health, give purpose to run-down buildings, and increase crop production? 

  • Vertical farming 

  • Xeriscaping 

  • Aeroponic gardening 

  • Anaerobic digesters 

Correct answer: Vertical farming 

Vertical farming is a strategy where crops are grown vertically, usually in unused buildings. This strategy takes the pressure off of the soil compared to regular farms, gives purpose to abandoned buildings, and increases crop production. 

Xeriscaping may be good for the soil but would not benefit unused buildings or increase crop production. Aeroponic gardening does not use soil, so it could help reduce the strain on our soil and could give purpose to run-down buildings, but it wouldn't necessarily increase crop production. Using anaerobic digesters would not have any of these benefits. Anaerobic digesters provide renewable energy. 

86.

According to the EPA, Americans spend what percentage of their time indoors?

  • 90%

  • 50%

  • 65%

  • 80%

Correct answer: 90%

According to a 2009 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) statistical summary of buildings and their impact on the environment, Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. Thus 90% of the air Americans breathe is indoor air, meaning that LEED project teams should carefully consider the impact that building decisions have on the air occupants breathe.

87.

A project building is under construction. What should the team implement to protect the indoor air quality during construction? 

  • Keep the building clean, protect absorptive materials, and conduct a flush out

  • Run at least MERV13 filters during construction, protect absorptive materials, and conduct a flush out 

  • Keep the building clean, protect absorptive materials, and don't use VOCs 

  • Keep the building clean, keep the indoor temperature below 80F, and conduct a flush out

Correct answer: Keep the building clean, protect absorptive materials, and conduct a flush out

Construction can be a messy process. Maintaining a regular cleaning regime can help keep the air clean from dust and debris. Protecting absorptive materials can prevent mold from forming. Conducting a flush out after construction gets rid of any lingering air contaminants. 

A MERV13 filter should be put in after construction. It's hard not to use products with any Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), but it is good to use low VOCs. However, this is not one of the strategies to protect indoor air quality during construction. There is also no temperature limit or minimum during construction. 

88.

Which of the following is an example of a positive feedback loop?

  • Climate change

  • Thermostat

  • Irrigation system

  • Traditional porcelain fixtures

Correct answer: Climate change

With a positive feedback loop, the output of a system is applied to the input, resulting in constant increases. Unchecked, positive feedback loops can create chaos in a system. Growth can get out of control without additional outside forces being imposed to keep this growth contained. Within the built environment, climate change creates a positive feedback loop. The melting snow caused by climate change uncovers dark, absorbent surfaces such as asphalt. The sunlight that was previously reflected by the white snow is now absorbed by the darker surfaces of roads and buildings, and temperatures increase. To combat increasing temperatures, more cooling systems are used, creating higher emissions and greenhouse gases.

A thermostat and an irrigation system are examples of negative feedback loops, in which systems self-correct and stay within a particular set of parameters. Traditional porcelain fixtures are not an example of a positive feedback loop.

89.

What is the end goal of the integrative approach to design and construction?

  • To identify synergies between various components of a building and the property in which it resides

  • To achieve the most expensive building possible

  • For each member of the project team to do their part of the project in isolation

  • To receive international accolades

Correct answer: To identify synergies between various components of a building and the property in which it resides

In this last phase of the integrative process, performance is measured and verified, and feedback structures are set up to identify opportunities for improvement.

Achieving the most expensive building is not the goal of most LEED projects, which seek to balance the triple bottom line concepts. Each member of the team is meant to work in a collaborative, integrative process, not in isolation. International accolades are great if they come, but they are not the end goal of the integrative approach to design and construction.

90.

What is the first step in reducing energy demand?

  • Establishing goals

  • Collecting measurements

  • Considering the building envelope

  • Assessing the land

Correct answer: Establishing goals

Establishing design and energy goals is the first step in reducing energy demand. It is the responsibility of the owner and building designer to establish those goals, but it is the job of the commissioner to ensure they are implemented and followed throughout the design, construction, and operation of the building.

Collecting measurements, such as information about the baseline, is important but not the first step in reducing energy demand. Creating a high-performance building envelope and assessing the land are also important, but not first steps.

91.

What do photovoltaic systems and geothermal systems have in common?

  • Photovoltaic and geothermal systems both reduce fossil fuel energy demand by utilizing sustainable energy sources

  • Photovoltaic and geothermal systems both contribute to savings of outdoor irrigation water use

  • Photovoltaic and geothermal systems both lessen the heat island effect

  • Photovoltaic and geothermal systems require fossil fuels to operate correctly

Correct answer: Photovoltaic and geothermal systems both reduce fossil fuel energy demand by utilizing sustainable energy sources

Photovoltaic systems provide electricity from the sun's energy. Geothermal systems condense heat from the earth to produce hot water.

Neither photovoltaic systems nor geothermal systems contribute to water use reduction in outdoor irrigation. Neither system is designed to reduce the heat island effect, as photovoltaics are intended to absorb maximum solar heat to convert it to electricity, and geothermal systems exist underground, not on the surface. Neither photovoltaic nor geothermal systems require fossil fuels for their operation.

92.

All of the following are common ways to measure water usage except:

  • Cups per second

  • Gallons per flush

  • Liters per minute

  • Gallons per hour

Correct answer: Cups per second

Water usage is measured in gallons per flush and gallons per minute. Industrial fixtures that use a lot of water are measured in gallons per hour. The metric equivalents for water usage are liters per flush, liters per minute, and liters per hour. Project teams can use interactive water use calculators to calculate the baseline and design case for water efficiency.

93.

What percent of time do people in the United States spend indoors? 

  • 90% 

  • 95%

  • 89% 

  • 78% 

Correct answer: 90% 

With people in the U.S. spending 90% of their time indoors, LEED's Indoor Environmental Quality category aims to make occupants' time indoors as healthy and satisfying as possible. 

People in the US don't spend 95%, 89%, or 78% indoors. 

94.

If a LEED project team is successful in neighborhood pattern and design, residents will be able to meet their needs where?

  • In their neighborhoods

  • In the closest metropolis

  • It doesn't matter, as long as they are able to use an alternative-fuel vehicle

  • Anywhere they want

Correct answer: In their neighborhoods

Promoting walkability means that a project makes it easy for people to walk to and from a building for basic needs and routine functions. If a LEED project team is successful in neighborhood pattern and design, residents meet their needs within their neighborhoods. They are able to go to work or school, find places to meet or play, and get healthful food, all within walking distance.

As stated above, people should be able to meet their needs in their own neighborhoods within walking distance, not in the closest metropolis. They should be able to walk rather than use a vehicle.

95.

All of the following are main categories of LEED for Neighborhood Development except:

  • Retail Development

  • Smart Location and Linkage

  • Neighborhood Pattern and Design

  • Green Infrastructure and Buildings

Correct answer: Retail Development

Categories unique to the LEED Neighborhood Development (ND) rating system include the Smart Location and Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern and Design, and Green Infrastructure and Buildings categories. Each of these categories includes several credits on the project checklist. Retail Development is not a category in the LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development Plan.

96.

Limiting available parking and ensuring access to multimodal transportation are strategies that can:

  • Reduce the negative impact of transportation

  • Increase the number of occupants in a building

  • Increase greenhouse gas emissions

  • Reduce the amount of vehicle distance traveled to and from a site

Correct answer: Reduce the negative impact of transportation

To limit the impact of transportation on the environment, more efficient travel methods should be used. Limiting available parking, which should motivate occupants to find other forms of transportation, and ensuring access to multimodal transportation are strategies that can reduce the negative impact of transportation on the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Limiting available parking and ensuring access to multimodal transportation are not strategies that increase the number of occupants in a building or reduce the amount of vehicle distance traveled to and from a site. These strategies aim to decrease, not increase, greenhouse gas emissions.

97.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control is a prerequisite for what LEED v4 category?

  • Indoor Environmental Quality

  • Water Efficiency

  • Sustainable Sites

  • Location & Transportation

Correct answer: Indoor Environmental Quality

Every LEED v4 project must comply with certain prerequisites. In the Indoor Environmental Quality category, there are two such items: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance and Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control.

The remaining answers are incorrect. Most categories have prerequisites, but Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control is specific to the Indoor Environmental Quality category.

98.

Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning is a prerequisite of what LEED v4 category?

  • Materials & Resources

  • Sustainable Sites

  • Water Efficiency

  • Location & Transportation

Correct answer: Materials & Resources

Every LEED v4 project must comply with certain prerequisites. In the Materials & Resources category, there are two such items. Storage and Collection of Recyclables is the first. The second is Construction and Waste Management Planning.

The remaining answers are incorrect. Each category has prerequisites, but Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning is specific to the Materials & Resources category.

99.

All of the following must be included when determining the total parking capacity of a project for LT Credit–Reduced Parking Footprint except:

  • On-street parking spaces on public rights of way

  • New and existing surface parking spaces

  • New and existing garage or multilevel parking spaces

  • Off-street parking spaces outside the project boundary that are available to the building's users

Correct answer: On-street parking spaces on public rights of way

When determining the total parking capacity of a project for LT Credit–Reduced Parking Footprint, all of the following must be included: new and existing surface parking spaces, new and existing garage or multilevel parking spaces, and off-street parking spaces outside the project boundary that are available to the building's users. On-street parking spaces on public rights of way are not included when determining the total parking capacity for a project.

100.

What is the name of the process that can identify and correct inefficiencies in building systems? 

  • Retrocommissioning 

  • Commissioning 

  • The integrative process 

  • The occupancy phase

Correct answer: Retrocommissioning 

Retrocommissioning occurs on existing buildings to find areas where the building's systems can be made more efficient. 

Commissioning usually happens in new buildings to ensure that the building is fulfilling the Owner's Project Requirements. The integrative process is a design process. The occupancy phase is part of the integrative process. 

×