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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

USGBC LEED Green Associate Exam Questions

Page 6 of 50

101.

What is the most common use of untreated rainwater?

  • Irrigation

  • Toilets

  • Bathing

  • Drinking

Correct answer: Irrigation

Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting water from rooftops and paved or vegetated ground for reuse. Generally, untreated rainwater is used for landscaping irrigation.

Untreated rainwater can also be used for bathing, clothes washing, or other non-potable uses such as toilets and mop sinks, though it is much more commonly used for irrigation. It should not be used for drinking, as it may contain contaminants that are harmful to humans.

102.

Which of the following is a step in the iterative process? 

  • Analyze data 

  • Compile credit documentation 

  • Perform a charette 

  • Assign roles to project team members 

Correct Answer: Analyze data

Analyze data is the second step in the iterative process. The steps of the iterative process are as follows: 

  1. Conduct research.
  2. Analyze collected data.
  3. Share data analysis with team members during meetings.
  4. Collaborate, give, and receive feedback to find synergies and opportunities for greater efficiency. 
  5. Create or refine the design. This process can and should be repeated for the best results. 

Compiling credit documentation is a step in LEED project submission. Performing a charrette and assigning roles to project members are part of the integrative process.

103.

To achieve LEED certification, existing buildings must complete a total phase-out of what prior to project completion?

  • CFCs

  • Exterior lighting

  • Irrigation systems

  • Electric heaters

Correct answer: CFCs

According to Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite–Fundamental Refrigerant Management, LEED project teams must complete a total chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) phase-out in existing equipment prior to project completion. LEED project teams may not use CFC-based refrigerants at all in new HVAC systems.

The remaining answer options are incorrect, as LEED project teams are not required to phase them out. Some exterior lighting fixtures are necessary and even energy-efficient. Irrigation systems that use harvested rainwater are water-efficient. Electric heaters do use energy, but do not need to be phased out.

104.

Which group of design team members would best evaluate the design of a multi-story building that includes a rooftop vegetation system?

  • Construction contractor, architect, structural engineer, landscape architect and civil engineer

  • Construction contractor, architect and structural engineer

  • Structural engineer, landscape architect and civil engineer

  • Architect, structural engineer, landscape architect and civil engineer

Correct answer: Construction contractor, architect, structural engineer, landscape architect and civil engineer

The integrative process is the foundation of green building design and one of the core concepts of sustainability in the built environment. A design team that consists of a construction contractor, architect, structural engineer, landscape architect, and civil engineer would best evaluate the design of a multi-story building that includes a rooftop vegetation system. This is because the design impacts structural integrity, storm water management and construction coordination in addition to impacting the building's thermal elements.

105.

When possible, project teams should use what types of sources of environmentally friendly products?

  • Local 

  • Affordable

  • International

  • Small business

Correct answer: Local

When possible and appropriate, LEED project teams should use local materials to reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with transportation and to support the local economy. However, in some cases there might be trade-offs that a team must consider that make materials not locally produced a better option for the project.

The remaining answer options are incorrect. Just because an option is affordable or offered by a small business does not mean that a team should seriously consider it. Teams should try not to buy internationally when possible, due to increased transportation effects.

106.

A LEED project has just begun. The project team does not have a LEED AP working on the project. How does this affect the project? 

  • It won't affect the project 

  • They cannot achieve certification without at least one LEED AP 

  • They can achieve certification but will be deducted a point 

  • They can't achieve above LEED Certified 

Correct answer: It won't affect the project 

While having a LEED AP can be helpful to a LEED project, it is not required that a LEED AP must be part of the project team. 

They will still have access to any level of LEED certification they desire. Points are not deducted in LEED, but they won't be able to get one point in IN Credit - Accredited Professional. Projects can achieve certification without LEED APs being on the team. 

107.

A manufacturer receives raw materials from off-site, uses them to make products, and then the finished products are shipped out while the waste created during manufacturing is sent to dumps. What kind of system is this? 

  • An open system 

  • A closed system 

  • A negative feedback loop

  • A positive feedback loop

Correct answer: An open system 

An open system receives resources from outside (the raw materials) and excess is sent out as waste (manufacturing waste). This is not a sustainable system, but one most often created by human beings. 

A closed system has no waste and no resources coming in from elsewhere. A negative feedback loop and a positive feedback loop are not systems but parts of systems. 

108.

Which term refers to a body of saturated rock through which water can easily move?

  • Aquifer

  • Impervious surface

  • Albedo

  • Watershed

Correct answer: Aquifer

An aquifer is a body of saturated rock through which water can easily move. The groundwater can then be extracted using a water well, reducing the amount of rainwater waste.

Impervious surfaces refer to those that consist of materials preventing the penetration of liquids and/or gases. Albedo is a metric to define the reflectivity of an object from darkest black to white using a scale from 0 to 1. A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes to the same place.

109.

What is the practical function of a submeter?

  • To report how much water is being used

  • To report the temperature of the water

  • To report how much water is left in the system

  • To report who has been using the water

Correct answer: To report how much water is being used

Submeters report how much water is being used and whether there are any leaks, and they monitor fixture performance. This important information can then be used by the team to reconsider water sources and usage.

Submeters do not report the temperature of the water, how much water is left in the system, or who has been using the water.

110.

A cartridge and a floating liquid sealant is often used in what type of fixture?

  • Waterless urinal

  • Ultra-low-flow toilet

  • Low-flow aerator

  • Dual-flush toilet

Correct answer: Waterless urinal

A waterless urinal is designed to allow urine to flow through a trap device without the use of water. Traditional urinals in busy commercial settings can use a tremendous amount of water. Some waterless urinals include a replaceable cartridge that creates an airtight barrier. A liquid sealant is contained within the cartridge, which allows urine to pass through it. The cartridge floats over the urine to create a trap that prevents sewer gas from entering the room.

The remaining options do not contain cartridges or sealants. An ultra-low-flow toilet includes a pressure tank to produce a pressure-assisted flush. Low-flow aerators attach to fixtures to reduce the flow of water by up to 50%. A dual-flush toilet offers one option for liquid waste and another for solid waste.

111.

What type of products use 10%-50% less energy, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution? 

  • Energy Star-certified products 

  • WaterSense products 

  • Green products

  • Green-e Certified products

Correct answer: Energy Star-certified products 

Reliable third-party certified products can make it easy for customers to find efficient and sustainable products. Using Energy Star-certified products can save money and use less energy. 

WaterSense products can save money and water but aren't known to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Green products is too vague a term and not all green products are created equally, so buyers need to be careful when looking for sustainable products. Green-e Certified products do not exist. 

112.

An office building project wants to provide plenty of open space for its occupants. What is the lowest percentage of the site area the building needs to set aside to achieve SS Credit - Open Space?  

  • They should set aside 30% or more of the total site area for open space 

  • They should set aside 20% or more of the total site area for open space 

  • They should set aside 40% or more of the total site area for open space 

  • They should set aside 5% or more of the total site area for open space 

Correct answer: They should set aside 30% or more of the total site area for open space 

To achieve SS Credit - Open space, projects must set aside at least 30% of the total site area for open space. Twenty percent of that 30% should be vegetated, and it must be accessible to occupants. 

Five percent or even 20% of the total site area is not enough to achieve SS Credit - Open space. Forty percent or more of the total site area is enough to achieve the credit, but this is not the lowest percentage a project can have to achieve the requirements. 

113.

According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, commissioning of existing buildings has what average cost per square foot?

  • $0.27

  • $1.00

  • $0.11

  • $0.64

Correct answer: $0.27

Commissioning (Cx) 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 (OPR). A Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study showed that commissioning an existing building had an average cost of $0.27 per square foot.

114.

A project team was working on a credit for the EA category and realized the local code is more stringent than the LEED credit requirements regarding certain parts of the credit. Which should be adhered to? 

  • Whichever is more stringent should be adhered to. Thus, both will be fulfilled. 

  • Continue following LEED thresholds regardless. This makes things clearer when the project is being reviewed for certification. 

  • The team should always adhere to local codes first and LEED only when possible

  • The team should follow an alternative code instead of either

Correct Answer: Whichever is more stringent should be adhered to. Thus, both will be fulfilled. 

By always fulfilling the more stringent code, it ensures that both the LEED credit and the local thresholds are satisfied. 

If you follow LEED thresholds or local codes, even when they're not as stringent as others, you may not meet the requirements of the other more strict set of requirements. Adhering to local codes is important, but if they aren't as stringent as LEED requirements, they may lose opportunities to obtain points. An alternative code would not help and possibly be not applicable to either standard. 

115.

Transportation accounts for what percentage of total carbon dioxide emissions globally? 

  • 13.5 percent

  • 15 percent

  • 22.2 percent

  • 5 percent

Correct answer: 13.5 percent

According to the USGBC's Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide, transportation accounted for 13.5 percent of total global carbon dioxide emissions in 2008. The transportation sector also accounted for 33 percent of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

116.

Which of the following is required of a project team hoping to achieve points in Materials and Resources? 

  • Develop a recycling program 

  • Use historic, abandoned, or blighted buildings 

  • Construction activity pollution prevention

  • Only use products with product declaration reports 

Correct Answer: Develop a recycling program 

Projects must have a recycling program where they provide recycling for paper, cardboard, glass, metals, and plastics. They must also offer recycling options for two of the following options: batteries, mercury lamps, and/or e-waste. 

The use of historic or abandoned or blighted buildings is a strategy in the MR category but not a requirement. Construction activity pollution prevention is part of the Sustainable Sites category. Using products that have product declaration reports is a wonderful policy but not a requirement. 

117.

Which of the credit categories depends on the environmental needs of the area surrounding the project? 

  • Regional Priority 

  • Sustainable Sites 

  • Location and Transportation 

  • Indoor Environmental Quality 

Correct answer: Regional Priority 

The Regional Priority requirements change depending on where the project is located. This credit category aims to encourage projects to focus on the areas of need surrounding their site. This could be rainwater runoff, light pollution, habitat protection, etc. 

Credits don't change depending on the location for Sustainable Sites, Location and Transportation, and Indoor Environmental Quality. 

118.

What is one of the best ways to reduce rainwater runoff?

  • Reduce the number of impervious surfaces

  • Divert greywater to a municipal water source

  • Use only materials produced within a 5-mile radius

  • Use solar panels

Correct answer: Reduce the number of impervious surfaces

A major benefit of minimizing impervious surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete, is the reduction of rainwater runoff, which causes degradation of the quality of surface water and reduces groundwater recharge to the local aquifer. The reduction in surface‐water quality is caused by both a filtration decrease and the increase of hardscape areas containing contaminants. The increase of impervious surfaces and rainwater runoff has put water quality, aquatic life, and recreational areas at risk.

LEED teams should always try to reuse greywater by either treating it or using it to water plants, but this strategy will not have an effect on the reduction of rainwater runoff. Using materials produced within a 5-mile radius is an admirable goal, but it might not be the most cost-effective and will not help with rainwater runoff. Solar panels can help conserve energy but are not the best way to reduce rainwater runoff.

119.

Why doesn't graywater include wastewater from dishwashers?

  • It often contains organic matter

  • It can be used for drinking

  • It is contaminated with human waste

  • It is water that is filtered through a pipe system

Correct answer: It often contains organic matter

Sources of graywater include bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, clothes washers, and laundry tubs. Graywater does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers, because these often contain organic matter.

Graywater is not potable and therefore should not be used for drinking. Blackwater, not graywater, is contaminated with human waste. Graywater simply refers to untreated household wastewater and may or may not be treated by being filtered through a pipe system.

120.

A project team is just beginning the discovery phase, which is also known as what? 

  • Pre-design phase 

  • Schematic design phase 

  • Research phase 

  • Implementation phase 

Correct Answer: Pre-design phase 

This phase happens before the schematic design phase and is the most important, as this is when the team will gain information and data that will inform the rest of the project. 

There is no such phase as the research phase although research is an important part of the discovery/pre-design phase. Like the schematic design phase, the implementation phase comes after the pre-design phase and relies on the information gathered from that phase as well as the design created from that data in the design phase. 

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