LEED Green Associate (Pool E)

Question 1:

What statement is not true regarding the LEED reference guides?

A They are included in LEED Online for each project team member to access

B They list the documentation requirements for each credit and prerequisite in a rating system

C They contain case studies

D They contain sample letter templates

Question 2:
Which of the following refrigerants has the least global warming potential?

A CFC-12

B HCFC-123

C CFC-11

D HFC-23

Question 3:
Which of the following do not contribute to increasing the heat island effect in urban areas?

A Vehicle exhaust

B Bioretention ponds

C Absorption of heat by hardscapes and its radiation to surrounding areas

D Open grid pavement

Question 4:
What project areas would you find the use of CFCs in?

A Refrigeration

B Radiant flooring

C Hot water heating

D Centrifugal chillers
Question 5:
Which of the following are mandatory for LEED certification?

A Earning Innovation in Design points

B Meeting the Minimum Program Requirements

C Achieving all Regional Priority credits

D Earning at least 50 points

E Meeting all prerequisites

Question 6:
Which of the following is used to determine if a product is pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled content?

A LEED Online Calculators

B ASHRAE 62.1

C ISO 14021

D Local codes

Question 7:
What is the purpose of having a LEED AP on a project?

A To submit all project data

B To streamline the LEED process

C For building commissioning

D To serve as the project administrator

Question 8:
Each LEED 2009 Rating System has ___ Regional Priority credits specified by zip code and can earn ___ points for
the Regional Priority section.

A 6, 5

B 6, 3

C 4, 4

D 6, 4
Question 9:
From where are most local codes adopted?

A Federal regulations

B USGBC

C California laws

D International Code Council

Question 10:
What part of a project would need to have documented a quantitative performance improvement?

A Innovation in Design (ID) credit

B Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) process

C Confirmation that the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) were met

D The project narrative

Question 11:
Which item can contribute to Construction Waste Management?

A Concrete

B Hazardous construction debris

C Fill dirt

D Steel and wallboard

Question 12:
A project has 100% of the materials extracted, harvested, or recovered, as well as manufactured within 500 miles of
the project site. The project can earn credit in what LEED categories?

A Indoor Environmental Quality

B Energy and Atmosphere

C Innovation in Design

D Materials and Resources

E Sustainable Sites
Question 13:
What accounting methodology is used to evaluate the economic performance of a product or system over its useful
life?

A Triple bottom line accounting

B Life-cycle assessment

C Cradle-to-cradle analysis

D Life-cycle costing

Question 14:
An architect is designing a mixed use building that will have retail space on the lower floors and residential
condominiums on the upper floors. The building will also include space for a pre-kindergarten learning facility. What
LEED rating system would be most appropriate?

A LEED for Schools

B LEED for Commercial Interiors

C LEED for Retail

D LEED for New Construction

Question 15:

A project design will include the use of native trees for landscaping. What project area would this strategy not affect?

A Restoring a previously developed site

B Increasing the use of sustainable materials

C Reducing water for landscaping

D Reducing potable water use

Question 16:
What must be considered in the project budget for a green building project that would not be part of a conventional
project?

A Added building equipment to make the building more energy efficient

B Additional time in the schedule for construction

C Contingencies for research of unconventional techniques or materials

D Selecting only ENERGY STAR appliances

Question 17:

Why should a project team choose local products for construction?

A Reduced transportation costs and transportation emissions

B Higher quality materials

C Increased source reduction

D Increased durability

Question 18:

Energy efficiency is defined as:

A The replacement of any older building product with a newer building product

B The use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same function as a conventional item

C Any strategy that reduces resource use 10% or more from a baseline comparison

D Any strategy that reduces resource use 20% from a baseline comparison

Question 19:
Construction and demolition debris includes all but which of the following?

A Drywall

B Rocks

C Steel from a demolished building

D Concrete from a demolished building

Question 20:
What would qualify as preferred parking?

A Parking spots closest to the main entrance (excluding handicap)

B Parking spots closest to the main entrance or under cover to the entrance

C Parking spots reserved for shuttle buses

D Parking spots that are shaded at mid-day

Question 21:
If a mechanical engineer on a LEED project team needs guidance on whether a particular software package can be
used to measure energy efficiency, how should the engineer proceed?

A Submit a CIR using LEED Online

B Submit a CIR to the project administrator

C See if the credit is marked 'Anticipated' during the design phase review

D Submit a CIR to the LEED Steering Committee

Question 22:
A project team submitted a Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) regarding a particular strategy to meet a credit's
requirements and was notified the strategy is acceptable. What is true regarding this scenario?

A The project has met the requirements for the credit and will achieve the credit

B The project team must still demonstrate that the requirements for the credit were met

C The project team will earn an Innovation in Design for an innovative approach due to the use of a
different strategy to achieve the credit

D The project team will not be allowed to earn exemplary performance for the credit if exemplary
performance is available
Question 23:
A construction waste management plan should address what items?

A Source reduction

B The use of certified wood

C Rapidly renewable materials

D What materials should be diverted

Question 24:
A project that builds on a greenfield has selected what type of site?

A A site that has native vegetation on it

B A site with community connectivity

C A site located near mass transit

D A site that wasn't previously graded

Question 25:
Untreated stormwater can NOT be used for what purpose?

A Drip irrigation

B Makeup water

C Landscaping fountains

D Washing dishes

Question 26:
What are acceptable ways to reference LEED in product literature?

A ABC Bamboo flooring complies with all requirements of MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials under
LEED

B ABC Bamboo flooring is a LEED product

C ABC Bamboo flooring contributes to satisfying MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials under LEED

D ABC Bamboo flooring is LEED qualified product

E ABC Bamboo flooring complies with MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials

Question 27:
A school project will use some old school lockers that were salvaged from a fitness center located 70 miles away.
What LEED credit(s) will this decision help with?

A Construction Waste Management

B Materials Reuse

C Building Reuse

D Regional Materials

E Recycled Materials

Question 28:

What type of fixtures use the least amount of water?

A ENERGY STAR fixtures

B Graywater fixtures

C Potable water fixtures

D WaterSense fixtures
Question 29:
What would planting native trees near a parking lot help with?

A Minimizing energy performance

B Reducing heat islands

C Source reduction

D Improving water quality

Question 30:
What is the building footprint?

A Area of the building structure only

B Entire project boundary

C Building structure and landscapes

D Building structure and hardscapes

Question 31:
What statement is true regarding the LEED scorecard?

A The scorecard is organized by LEED category

B The scorecard gives the project team the option of not earning prerequisites

C There is one LEED scorecard that can be used for any rating system

D Innovation in Design credits are not listed in the LEED scorecard

Question 32:
Harvesting rainwater can help with what project areas?

A Minimizing site hardscapes

B Minimizing impervious areas

C Reducing fertilization needs for the landscape

D Reducing stormwater runoff

Question 33:

What standard helps businesses and households compare and select clean renewable energy options?

A Green Seal

B Green Score

C Green Label

D Green-e

Question 34:
What is the most common way to meet the requirements of off-site renewable energy?

A Obtaining energy from a geothermal system

B Installing a rooftop photovoltaic array

C Purchasing RECs

D Directly purchasing green power from local utility companies

Question 35:

What is the EPAct of 1992 used for?

A To determine the baseline building energy performance for buildings 20,000 sq. ft. or less

B To define the VOC content limits of certain building materials

C To set the baseline water flow requirements of toilets and fixtures

D To define ODP and GWP limits for refrigerants

Question 36:
What aspect of a local community would be of most interest to a project team?

A Distance from the landfill

B Proximity to green power

C Pedestrian access

D Local zoning
Question 37:
A project will achieve exemplary performance for using 100% Regional Materials. In what credit or which category
would the exemplary performance point be awarded for this achievement?

A Materials and Resources category

B Innovation in Design credit

C Regional Materials credit

D Regional Priority category

Question 38:

Products that meet ISO 14000 standards are:

A FSC certified

B Pre-approved products for LEED

C Mercury-free

D Environmentally preferable

Question 39:

How are the sections in the LEED Scorecard grouped?

A By credit weight

B Alphabetically

C By cost

D By environmental category
Question 40:
Which of the following materials, if reused, would be considered pre-consumer recycled content?

A Construction and demolition debris

B Sunflower seed hulls

C Sawdust

D Milk jugs

E Walnut shells

Question 41:
What site and/or project characteristics would contribute to maximizing open space?

A Building on a previously developed site

B Creating a narrow 10 story building instead of a wider 5 story building

C Building next door to a park

D Building on a Greenfield site

Question 42:
In an integrated design approach, when does the green building process end?

A At the bidding phase

B At the design phase

C At the construction phase

D At final occupancy

Question 43:

What best defines the property area?

A Total area within the legal property boundaries of the site; it encompasses all areas of the site,
including constructed and nonconstructed areas

B Portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification

C Total area within the platted property line not including any nonconstructed areas

D Platted property line of the project defining land and water within it
Question 44:
Economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and social responsibility define a project's:

A Innovation

B Federal, state, and/or local regulations

C Triple bottom line

D Minimum Program Requirements

Question 45:
What defines the open space of a site area if there is no local zoning?

A Property area minus the development footprint

B Constructed area of the project boundary

C Unconstructed area of the project boundary

D Total area within the project boundary of the applicant building

Question 46:
Which LEED rating system category addresses stormwater management?

A Sustainable Sites

B Energy and Atmosphere

C Water Efficiency

D Materials and Resources

Question 47:

What unit of measurement is used for a lavatory faucet?

A Design efficiency

B Gallons per minute

C Process water rate

D Gallons per flush

Question 48:
What absorbs heat from a reservoir at low temperatures and rejects heat at higher temperatures?

A Materials with low SRI

B Refrigerants

C Materials with high SRI

D Potable water

Question 49:
Locating a project site near an existing development has what economic benefit?

A Reduced impervious surfaces

B Increased open space

C Leveraging existing infrastructure

D Reduced heat islands

Question 50:
An existing university building renovation will include HVAC replacement and major envelope upgrades. Which rating
systems are least appropriate for this type of project?

A LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance

B LEED for New Construction

C LEED for Core & Shell

D LEED for Schools

Question 51:
A preliminary rating would NOT include what item?

A Conceptual design

B Completed LEED Score Card

C Credits that will be attempted

D Targeted LEED certification level

Question 52:
A declarant is the person on the project team who:

A Submits any Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs) to GBCI

B Assigns credits to each of the team members

C Is technically qualified to verify the information on the LEED credit submittal templates and is
authorized by the project administrator to sign the template

D Creates the project narrative

Question 53:
LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, Schools, and Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance were
designed to evaluate what building types?

A Commercial buildings

B Institutional buildings

C Interior spaces

D Community development

E High-rise residential buildings

Question 54:
Stormwater harvesting does not help with what LEED credit area?

A Water efficient landscaping

B Onsite renewable energy

C Stormwater management

D Water use reduction

Question 55:

Green power refers to electricity products that include significant proportions of electricity generated from energy
resources that

A Have zero emissions

B Are greenhouse gas neutral

C Come from hydroelectric sources

D Are environmentally preferable

Question 56:

What should potable water be used for?

A Irrigation

B Flushing toilets

C Drinking

D Cooling towers

Question 57:

What type of construction materials are recovered from building sites and reused on different building sites in the
same or a different capacity?

A Post-consumer recycled material

B Pre-consumer recycled material

C Durable material

D Salvaged material

Question 58:
What generally defines the LEED project boundary?

A Area of disturbance and all surrounding roadways

B Site boundary

C Building footprint

D Building footprint and hardscapes

Question 59:
What is the average housing density of a high density development area?

A 15 or more dwelling units per acre of buildable land

B 20 or more dwelling units per acre of buildable land

C 7 or more dwelling units per acre of buildable land

D 10 or more dwelling units per acre of buildable land

Question 60:

Approximately 50% of chillers in existing buildings use what refrigerant?

A HCFC-22

B HFC-23

C NH3

D CFC-11

Question 61:

What are examples of construction hard costs for an office condominium project?

A Irrigation fees for water use

B Cost for installing a green roof

C Fees to develop tenant agreements

D Masonry costs paid to a sub-contractor

Question 62:

What important documents should be created for the purpose of selecting the design team?

A Operations and maintenance manuals

B Request for qualifications

C Statement of work

D Bidding documents

Question 63:
Once a person has been added as a team member to LEED Online by the project administrator, the team member:

A Can see if any credit has been approved or denied, even if the credit is not assigned to that team
member

B Can find information about products and strategies that will help achieve the credits the project team
will pursue

C Can download electronic copies of the USGBC reference guide for the project's rating system

D Can submit Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs)

Question 64:
What are the goals of the LEED 2009 Minimum Program Requirements?

A Verify buildings are meeting environmental goals

B Reduce certification process challenges

C Ensure prerequisites are met

D Give clear guidance to customers

E Protect the integrity of the LEED program

Question 65:
What term refers to the investigation and valuation of the environmental impacts of a given product or service caused
or necessitated by its existence?

A Soft cost

B Hard cost

C Life-cycle costing

D Life-cycle analysis

Question 66:

A project team has decided to switch a low SRI roof design to include a vegetated roof to help with stormwater
management. What other credit would this decision help with?

A Recycled Materials

B Water Use Reduction

C Heat Island Effect

D Green Power

Question 67:
Which of the following causes depletion of the ozone layer?

A CFCs

B Propane

C Ammonia

D CO2
Question 68:
How can projects reduce sending waste to a landfill?

A Recycle materials

B Use local materials

C Reuse materials

D Use materials with low lifecycle costs

Question 69:
Developments located within walking distance of basic services reduce:

A Water use

B Air pollution

C Greenhouse gas emissions

D Sedimentation of nearby water bodies

Question 70:

What design decision would a project building located in a cooler climate least benefit from?

A The use of passive ventilation

B Increasing the amount of open space

C Having underground parking

D Use of roofing material with a high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)

Question 71:
Which of the following is considered potable water?

A Harvested rainwater used for flushing toilets

B Municipally recycled water used for landscape irrigation

C Wastewater from water closets

D Water from local well used for lavatory faucets that meets EPA's drinking water quality standards
Question 72:
What does ASHRAE 55-2004 specify?

A Thermal comfort

B Commuting surveys

C Energy performance

D Indoor air quality

Question 73:

What steps would be included in the pre-design phase of a green building project?

A Develop a project schedule

B Review laws and standards

C Develop, test, and select green systems

D Review materials test data

Question 74:
What has the greatest long-term impact on building performance and the impact the building has on the
environment?

A Site selection

B Purchase of green power

C Water use

D The use of recycled materials

Question 75:
A project team for a new home has selected insulation made partly of recycled newspaper. What type of material is
the insulation considered?

A Rapidly renewable

B Post-consumer recycled content

C Certified recycled wood content

D Salvaged
Question 76:
What are the economic benefits of installing a vegetated roof?

A Lower investment cost compared to roof surfaces with high SRI

B Provides occupants a connection to the outdoors

C Increased habitat for birds

D Lower cooling costs for HVAC

Question 77:
The practice of placing windows or other transparent media and reflective surfaces so that during the day natural light
provides effective internal illumination is referred to as:

A Daylighting

B Passive ventilation

C Natural ventilation

D Lighting power density

Question 78:
What or who specifies the set of rules for the minimum acceptable level of safety for buildings?

A Local zoning

B Building codes

C American Institute of Architects

D Local ordinances

Question 79:
If a project is not located near mass transit, what might the team do to help reduce automobile use for LEED
certification?

A Petition community board for additional transit lines

B Nothing can be done

C Provide a shuttle to mass transit

D Require employees to use mass transit

Question 80:
In many buildings the most significant savings associated with water efficiency result from:

A Reduced development costs

B Reduced energy costs

C Keeping contaminants at safe levels in reservoirs and aquifers

D Reduced maintenance costs

Question 81:
Can ozone have negative environmental effects?

A Yes, when located in the upper atmosphere

B No, ozone is located in the upper atmosphere

C No, ozone is essential to life on earth

D Yes, depending on where ozone is located

Question 82:
A project team is in the process of selecting a site for new office space. What strategy would help the project earn a
Sustainable Sites credit?

A Using native plants in the landscape to reduce outdoor water use

B Increasing the parking capacity for the purposes of reducing open space

C Locating the project near basic services to provide community connectivity

D Increasing the size of the building footprint to decrease the building density

Question 83:
What urban area is a best choice for a LEED project?

A Areas with zero development density

B Areas with a high development density

C Areas with low development density

D Areas that are not previously developed

Question 84:
What is the difference between HFCs and HCFCs?

A HFCs are slightly less efficient refrigerants than HCFCs

B HCFCs have a higher global warming potential and higher ozone depletion potential than HFCs

C HFCs are being phased out by the Montreal Protocol while HCFCs are not

D HFCs are natural refrigerants

Question 85:
Ozone-friendly refrigerants differ from ozone-damaging refrigerants in what way?

A Ozone-friendly refrigerants are global warming neutral

B Ozone-friendly refrigerants are more energy efficient

C Ozone-friendly refrigerants may cause more global warming

D Ozone-friendly refrigerants may cause less global warming

Question 86:
Which of the following term's definition varies by state and local code?

A Heat island

B Greenfield

C Graywater

D Climate change

Question 87:
A project team reduces indoor water use 50% from a baseline, well above the 40% credit requirements. What type of
performance does this describe?

A Incremental

B Exemplary

C Integrated

D Innovative
Question 88:
A granite countertop taken from a demolition project and reused in a residence is what type of product?

A Locally manufactured

B Locally extracted

C Locally recovered

D Salvaged

Question 89:
What are the three R's of construction waste management?

A Refilling

B Reuse

C Resourcing

D Recycle

E Reduce

Question 90:
What should the project team do with the LEED Score Card once it has been completed for a new construction
project?

A Mail it to GBCI

B Refer to it during the construction process

C Use it to determine project soft-costs

D Use it to determine the baseline building water use

Question 91:
What strategies can earn LEED credit for reducing heat islands?

A Provide occupants free offsite parking

B Provide shade from architectural devices where the architectural devices are covered with materials
with high SRI

C Use hardscape materials with high SRI

D Place parking spaces underground

E Increase the amount of open space and plant it with native vegetation
Question 92:
On a project with older existing HVAC&R system that uses CFCs, what can the project team do to earn LEED
certification?

A Replace the HVAC&R system with one that does not use CFCs

B Seal any leaks in the existing system

C The project can be certified with the existing system as-is

D Maintain the equipment properly over the building's lifetime

Question 93:
A project team has decided to shrink the building footprint. This change can have a positive impact on what project
area?

A Open space

B Pedestrian access

C Car pool parking

D Parking capacity

Question 94:
What is a benefit of increasing the quantity of open space on a project?

A Reducing potable water use

B Reduced need for pest control

C Increasing stormwater infiltration

D Increased durability of the overall project

Question 95:
A project building in a sunny location has photovoltaic cells that generate part of the building's electricity. What is true
about this project?

A The project's annual energy costs from the utility provider will be lower than they would if the building
did not have the photovoltaic system

B The project will receive RECs from the utility provider

C The project's on-site energy is Green-e certified

D The project will need to purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) equal to the amount of onsite
renewable energy generated
Question 96:

What are heat islands?

A Surfaces with an imperviousness of 50% or more

B An environmental issue that causes ozone depletion

C Reflection of heat by high albedo surfaces

D Air and surface temperature differences between developed and undeveloped areas

Question 97:

What is the most environmentally appropriate water to use for flushing a toilet?

A Blackwater

B Graywater

C Well water

D Water from the municipal supply

Question 98:
A building owner for a new 10-story office building will occupy the first and second floors. What LEED rating system
would be most appropriate?

A LEED for Core and Shell

B LEED for New Construction

C LEED for Retail

D LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance

Question 99:
Which of the following refrigerants are banned or are scheduled to be banned under the Montreal Protocol?

A HCFCs

B Isopentane

C HFCs

D CFCs
Question 100:

If a building has already earned LEED for New Construction certification, what additional certifications could the
building earn in the future?

A Core & Shell

B Neighborhood Development

C Operations & Maintenance

D Commercial Interiors