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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

USGBC LEED Green Associate Exam Questions

Page 7 of 50

121.

Which of the following is NOT a type of diverse use?

  • Liquor store

  • Farmer’s market

  • Hair care

  • Social services center

Correct answer: Liquor store

A liquor store is not defined as a diverse use. Farmer's markets, hair care, and social services centers are considered diverse uses.

LT, surrounding density, and diverse uses credits can be achieved by locating a project near seven or more diverse uses. Only two uses of each type may be counted towards the credit, and three of the five categories must be represented. The categories are food retail, community-serving retail, services, civic and community facilities, and community anchor uses. 

122.

Which of the following credit categories recommends that projects analyze the outdoor air quality surrounding the project site? 

  • Indoor Environmental Quality 

  • Sustainable Sites

  • Regional Priority

  • Location and Transportation

Correct answer: Indoor Environmental Quality 

The quality of the outdoor air quality can affect the strategies the project uses for the credit Indoor Environmental Quality credit. For example, projects with poor outdoor air quality should not use a natural ventilation system. 

An outdoor air assessment is not needed for Sustainable Sites, Regional Priority, or Location and Transportation. 

123.

Which term refers to the concept that the built environment is understood as a series of interrelated systems that form a whole and therefore not only impact each other but many other components as well?

  • Systems thinking

  • Integrated thinking

  • Life-cycle thinking

  • Objective thinking

Correct answer: Systems thinking

The built environment is made of many interrelated systems that make up a larger composition. The components within a system influence each other and the surrounding systems. This concept is core to sustainable design. Many things can be described as systems, including people, energy, resources, materials, information, and quantifiable complexities between those elements over time. Buildings are full of systems and they do not operate independently of one another.

Integrated thinking refers to the importance of interactions between disciplines throughout the design and building process. Life-cycle thinking refers to the environmental and financial aspects of a project over the lifetime of a building. Objective thinking refers to observations that are not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.

124.

What is used to calculate the number of occupants in a building with associated average daily water fixture use?

  • Full-time equivalent

  • Baseline

  • Water balance

  • Interactive water use

Correct answer: Full-time equivalent

Full-time equivalent (FTE) is used to calculate the number of occupants in a building with associated average daily water fixture use. It is a calculation used in all LEED rating systems for the Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, and Indoor Environmental Quality categories.

Baseline is simply a standard from which change can be measured for improvement. Water balance is when a building uses only as much water as it can harvest from the annual rainfall. "Interactive water use" is a fabricated term.

125.

Pollution from construction activities can be reduced in all of the following ways except:

  • Designing a smaller building footprint

  • Controlling soil erosion

  • Reducing waterway sedimentation

  • Managing the generation of airborne dust

Correct answer: Designing a smaller building footprint

The primary goal of Sustainable Sites Prerequisite–Construction Activity Pollution Prevention is to reduce the impact of pollution on the building site due to construction activity. Strategies to do this include controlling soil erosion, reducing waterway sedimentation, and managing the generation of airborne dust. Designing a smaller building footprint is one way to reduce the overall environmental impact of the project, not necessarily the effects of construction.

126.

All of the following are examples of sources of sustainable food except:

  • Grocery stores

  • Farmers markets

  • Urban farms

  • Community gardens

Correct answer: Grocery stores

Grocery stores are not an example of a source of sustainable food, as they ship in a wide variety of goods from long distances. However, when planning the location of buildings, LEED project teams should take into consideration the fact that residents without transportation are limited to their immediate surroundings. Rather than having to visit gas stations and fast food restaurants for nutritional needs, residents should have access to grocery stores to obtain a nutritious diet.

Farmers markets, urban farms, and community gardens are all examples of sources of sustainable food that leave a minimal impact on the environment.

127.

Indoor environmental quality PREREQUISITE has requirements for ventilation and monitoring as prescribed in which of the following?

  • ASHRAE 62.1

  • ASHRAE 55 

  • ASHRAE 90.1 

  • ASHRAE 70

Correct answer: ASHRAE 62.1

Minimum IAQ (indoor air quality) performance aids the comfort and well-being of building occupants by establishing minimum standards for indoor air quality. Mechanically and naturally ventilated spaces must meet the minimum requirements for ventilation and monitoring as noted in ASHRAE 62.1.

ASHRAE 55 specifies conditions for acceptable thermal environments and is intended for use in the design, operation, and commissioning of buildings.

ASHRAE 90.1 is the energy standard for buildings and has been a benchmark for commercial building energy codes in the U.S. and a key basis for codes and standards.

ASHRAE 70 is the method of testing the performance of air outlets and air inlets.

128.

A project team is analyzing what is the appropriate rating system for their new project. The scope is broad between LEED for New Construction and LEED for Core and Shell. What is the best strategy to determine the appropriate rating system?

  • 40/60 rule

  • Let the project owner decide which rating system to go with

  • Contact an agent at USGBC to determine their rating

  • Refer to the LEED v4 Rating System Selection

Correct answer: 40/60 rule

When project teams are unsure of which rating to choose, LEED recommends using the 40/60 rule. The rule means that if the gross floor area of the space is less than 40%, then the rating system should not be used. If the gross floor area of the space is more than 60%, then the rating system should be used. If it falls between 40% and 60%, then the project team must decide which rating system to use. 

The remaining answers are incorrect. LEED's biggest focus is an integrative design process, and leaving it up to the owner is not a good strategy. A USGBC representative does not assist with selecting a rating system for you. A LEED candidate should be familiar with each system. Referring to the LEED v4 Rating System is a great option, but it is not a strategy for deciding which one.  

129.

What guidance for the contractor is required when developing a construction waste management plan?

  • A specific goal

  • A full set of CDs

  • Specifications

  • Shop drawings

Correct answer: A specific goal

The LEED rating system requires that project teams provide a stated goal in their construction waste management plan. If the team wants to see a 50 percent waste diversion rate, it should be expressly stated in the plan. The contractor and other project team members are all on the same page when expectations are clear for green goals.

The remaining answers are incorrect. A full set of CDs, specifications, and shop drawings are all essential parts of a project, but they do not relate to the requirements of the construction waste management plan.

130.

Which of the following is a result of reducing pervious surfaces for rainwater management?

  • Reduction of groundwater recharging rates

  • Increased water quality in the natural aquifers

  • Improved conditions for aquatic life 

  • Improved conditions for recreational activities

Correct answer: Reduction of groundwater recharging rates

One 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 puts water quality, aquatic life, and recreational areas at risk.

The reduction of pervious surfaces installed for rainwater management would have the effect of decreased water quality (due to pollutants picked up as the rainwater runs across impervious road surfaces) in natural aquifers, for aquatic life, and for recreational activities.

131.

All of the following are strategies for sustainable site operations and maintenance in the Sustainable Sites (SS) category except:

  • Use uplighting

  • Develop a sustainable management plan

  • Implement conservation programs

  • Maintain site lighting to prevent light pollution

Correct answer: Use uplighting

Uplighting is a form of light pollution that can cause unnatural lighting for adjacent wildlife habitats and adjoining properties. It does not contribute to sustainable site operations and maintenance. 

The remaining options are strategies for sustainable site operations and maintenance in the Sustainable Sites (SS) category. Developing a sustainable management plan requires that an integrated pest management (IPM) plan be implemented by the maintenance team in addition to the creation of a plan for cleaning the exterior surfaces. These plans should reduce or eliminate chemicals and waste that could flow into the water stream and therefore decrease the water quality. The plans should also address energy and water usage to avoid waste, as well as other pollution reduction methods. A second strategy is to implement conservation programs that protect species and habitat by working with local ecologists and nonprofit organizations. A third is to maintain site lighting to prevent light pollution. Whenever higher light levels are needed, putting the fixtures on timers to shut off automatically after hours is the best practice.

132.

A project team has completed one preliminary analysis. How many preliminary analyses should a team perform for the integrative process credit? 

  • Two 

  • Three 

  • One

  • Two in the beginning of the project and another one in the middle of the project 

Correct answer: Two 

For the integrative process credit, projects are required to perform two preliminary analyses: a simple box energy model and a water analysis. 

One analysis is not enough, three are not necessary. There is no need to do two in the beginning and one in the middle of a project. 

133.

Wool is processed and made into yarn, which is then knitted into sweaters, shipped to retail stores and sold to customers. How would you describe these actions? 

  • Downstream activity 

  • Upstream activity 

  • LCA 

  • Cradle-to-Grave 

Correct answer: Downstream activity 

Downstream activity includes the processing of materials, the creation of the product, and the distribution of that product. Because this scenario involves all these areas, rather than the extraction of the material, it is an example of downstream activity. 

Upstream activities involve the extraction of raw materials. LCA or Life Cycle Assessment analyses the environmental impact of a product. Cradle-to-Grave describes a product that ends up in a landfill once it fulfills the use it was made for. 

134.

In what type of process might the solutions to one problem cause other problems elsewhere in the system?

  • Linear

  • Simple

  • Cyclical

  • Synergistic

Correct answer: Linear

A linear design process can lead to inefficient solutions. The traditional process of handing off work to the next person after a task is completed is replaced with collaborations of small groups working as a whole, to develop the project design and plan collaboratively. Ideas are continually being developed by the entire team, researched and refined by smaller groups, and then brought back to the team so they can consider critical next steps and make final decisions.

The cyclical nature of the iterative process allows for numerous feedback loops to allow for establishing goals and assessing design, construction, and operational strategies against those goals. The iterative process allows for feedback loop opportunities to discuss these types of synergies. These feedback opportunities can range from small task groups to team meetings, stakeholder meetings, and goal-setting meetings. These goal‐setting meetings, or charrettes, are a key component of the iterative process, as they bring together stakeholders and professionals from different disciplines and experiences to brainstorm and collaborate to produce specific deliverables.

A synergistic system is one in which various parts are working together to create the desired product. As stated above, a cyclical system is in contrast to a linear, open system. "Simple" is not a type of process used in LEED v4.

135.

How many strategies are available for rainwater management that can be used to earn points in the Sustainable Sites (SS) category?

  • Three

  • One

  • Two

  • Four

Correct answer: Three

Three strategies are listed to address the need for rainwater management in the Sustainable Site (SS) category. The first is minimizing impervious areas by installing porous paving options and/or a green roof. The second is controlling rainwater through the design of infiltration technologies such as bioswales, dry ponds and rain gardens. The third is incorporating rainwater management into site design, designing the streetscape to retain rainwater with technologies such as bioswales. 

136.

In which of the following ways can the water efficiency category help to reduce energy usage? 

  • By reducing how much water is heated, cooled, and distributed in the building 

  • By prohibiting the use of water features on LEED projects 

  • By increasing the amount of treated water used 

  • By using xeriscaping in the garden, reducing the need for maintanence 

Correct answer: By reducing how much water is heated, cooled, and distributed in the building 

By reducing the amount of water that needs to be heated, cooled, distributed, and treated, you also reduce the amount of energy that is needed to complete these tasks. 

LEED does not prohibit the use of water features on LEED projects. Increasing the amount of treated water used doesn't necessarily reduce energy use, as energy is needed for the water treatment process. Using xeriscaping is beneficial for reducing or even eliminating the need for irrigation, which could reduce the energy use, but it doesn't necessarily reduce the energy needed to maintain the landscaping in other ways, so this is not the best answer. 

137.

What is one difference between the registration fee and the certification fee?

  • The registration fee is due at the time of registration, and the certification fee is due when the application is submitted for review

  • There is no difference between the registration fee and the certification fee

  • The registration fee is charged on a per-project basis, and the certification fee is a flat fee no matter the size of the project

  • Registration fees apply only to design projects, and certification fees apply to construction projects

Correct answer: The registration fee is due at the time of registration, and the certification fee is due when the application is submitted for review

Project teams are required to submit a registration fee and a certification fee. There is a flat registration fee calculated on a per-project basis that is due at the time of registration. The certification fee is charged on a per-project basis and is based on the size and rating system of the project. It is due when the application is submitted for review. Both registration and certification fees apply to both design and construction projects.

138.

Which of the following can generate indoor air contaminants?

  • People smoking near entrances

  • Indoor air filters

  • Reused materials

  • Potable water sources

Correct answer: People smoking near entrances

LEED v4 is the first version that prohibits smoking, which generates indoor air contaminants inside nonresidential buildings. Project teams should prevent the exposure of building occupants, indoor surfaces, and ventilation air distribution systems to environmental tobacco smoke. Smoking should only be allowed at least 25 feet from the building and only in designated smoking areas.

The remaining answer options are incorrect. Indoor air filters help remove or decrease, not generate, air contaminants. Potable water sources and reused materials are not directly related to the quality of the air indoors.

139.

A business owner wants a building that is not only more productive for the company but also one that is healthier for her employees and the environment around the project. Who is the business owner thinking of as she leads this project? 

  • Stakeholders 

  • Stockholders 

  • Charrettes

  • The triple bottom line 

Correct answer: Stakeholders 

Stakeholders are all who are impacted by the building, including those who work in the building, the environment, and those who benefit from the building. 

Stockholders are only those who benefit from the building and have stock in the economic success of the building. Charrettes are meetings held and attended by the project team members. The triple bottom line is a business approach that values the stakeholders. 

140.

Your project team is initiating a green cleaning program for the building. Which of the following credits would this strategy gain points in? 

  • Innovation

  • Indoor Environmental Quality

  • Sustainable Sites 

  • Materials and Resources

Correct answer: Innovation

A green cleaning program is an example of an innovative method. It is a strategy that is not employed in the LEED rating system and therefore is eligible for IN Credit - Innovation. 

This strategy would not earn points in Indoor Environmental Quality, Sustainable Sites, or Materials and Resources. 

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