V4 Green Associate Test 1 (Part 2)

Question 27 Explanation:

A water budget is a site-specific method of calculating an allowable amount of water to be used by the landscape and then designing the landscape to meet this budget. The budget takes into account plant type, plant water needs, irrigation system design, and applied water that the landscape receives either by irrigation or by precipitation.

Question 29 Explanation:

The square footage of the project is the primary cost consideration for LEED-certification. Remember certification and registration fees are not the same.

Question 30 Explanation:

No matter what shading is good and there is not enough information to determine if the steep sloped roof is good or bad for the HIE, but it is always better than a low sloped roof. However, a steep sloped black asphalt shingle roof is no good

Question 31 Explanation:

The intent of Open Spaces is to provide the building occupants opportunities to connect with the outdoors, where they exhibit improved well-being and productivity. Open spaces also provide many positive environmental benefits—habitat creation, linked habitat corridors in urban areas, increased rainwater infiltration, and reduced heat island effect. In LEED v4, the credit is no longer tied to the presence of a local zoning code—the same open space requirement applies to all projects, which is why open spaces are linked to the Integrative Process. However, this does not relieve the project from complying with local zoning ordinances if the ordinance is more stringent.

Question 32 Explanation:

Cradle to cradle is a term used in life-cycle analysis to describe a material or product that is recycled into a new product at the end of its useful life. Cradle to cradle is an example of a closed system.

Question 34 Explanation:

LEED is developed by USGBC member-based volunteer committees, subcommittees, and working groups in conjunction with staff. LEED development follows a structure that includes a balanced representation of stakeholders and management of conflict of interest, to ensure that the development of LEED is transparent and consensus-based. The LEED committee structure balances market needs and constraints with consistency and technical rigor in the development and improvement of the credits within LEED, to ensure the quality and integrity of the LEED brand. The balloting process of new versions with USGBC membership reinforces the open consensus process. Under the direct management of the LEED Technical Committee, Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) recommend technical solutions to rating system development and maintenance issues.

Question 35 Explanation:

Consideration should be given to implementing an occupant comfort survey and complaint response system to collect anonymous responses about thermal comfort, acoustics, indoor air quality, lighting levels, building cleanliness and other occupant comfort issues. The survey must be collected from a representative sample of building occupants making up at least 30% of the total occupants, and it must include an assessment of overall satisfaction with building performance and identification of any comfort-related problems. Document survey results and corrective actions to address comfort issues identified through the surveys.

Question 36 Explanation:

Within each of the credit categories, there are specific prerequisites projects must satisfy and a variety of credits projects can pursue to earn points. The number of points the project earns determines its level of LEED certification.

Question 37 Explanation:

Maintenance of the current version: This process includes the correction and clarification of credit language as well as fixing more substantive inaccuracies and omissions, which require a more rigorous review and approval process. From this process errata and addenda are issued. Adaptations: The process for adaptations to existing ratings systems and their credits provides an efficient and streamlined approach for responding to the particular needs, constraints and opportunities of different project types. Next version: This is the comprehensive improvement phase of LEED development that occurs through a periodic evaluation and revision process. This phase includes multiple avenues for stakeholder input and final approval by USGBC members.

Question 38 Explanation:

The International Code Council (ICC)develops model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. Communities and many global markets choose the International Codes as their default building code. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is responsible for 300 codes and standards that are designed to minimize the risk and effects of fire by establishing criteria for building, processing, design, service, and installation in the United States, as well as many other countries. The National Electrical Code (NEC) is a regionally adoptable standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment in the United States. It is part of the National Fire Codes series published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The International Code Council, International Plumbing Code (IPC) is a comprehensive model plumbing code that sets minimum regulations for plumbing systems and components to protect life, health and safety of building occupants and the public. The IPC is available for adoption by jurisdictions ranging from states to towns, and is currently adopted on the state or local level in 35 states in the U.S. The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) have been protecting the public’s health and safety for more than eighty five years by working in concert with government and industry to implement comprehensive plumbing and mechanical systems around the world. All commercial projects in the United States must comply with the accessibility guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Question 39 Explanation:

Different areas of the project will receive different levels of lighting throughout the day. To make sure all occupants have quality lighting, a zoned system that adjusts lighting levels based on the quantity of daylight coming in will work best. People in darker areas would have more artificial light, while those in the sunnier areas would have less.

Question 40 Explanation:

This is a prime example of why the integrative process can save money over the project’s progress.

Question 41 Explanation:

Green-e Climate certification is for qualifying carbon offsets for LEED

Question 42 Explanation:

This question is easy if you identify that all options but one must be completed prior to occupancy and thus are not a part of Operation and Maintenance. Part of green cleaning involves including the custodians in the integrative process to get their input and to work together to create goals and procedures for reducing indoor contaminants from cleaning chemicals.

Question 43 Explanation:

USGBC has seven guiding principles outlined in the 2013-2015 strategic plan - They are: 1. PROMOTE THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE 2. ESTABLISH LEADERSHIP 3. RECONCILE HUMANITY WITH NATURE 4. FOSTER SOCIAL EQUITY 5. MAINTAIN INTEGRITY 6. BE INCLUSIVE 7. EXHIBIT TRANSPARENCY LEED v4 has seven impact categories to accomplish the inherent goals of the LEED rating system and ensure sustainability. How do the impact categories work towards a more sustainable building? • To ensure some credits are achieved without fulfilling all the requirements. • They allow for bonus points if you double the initial credit requirement threshold. • They are used for credits outside of the scope of the LEED rating system. • They determine which credits are worth more points. • They have additional credit requirement options. For LEED to be successful in driving the market toward certain priorities while still maintaining flexibility, credits that significantly contribute to accomplishing the system goals of the seven impact categories are given more emphasis by being assigned more points.

Question 44 Explanation:

A diverse use is a distinct, officially recognized business, nonprofit, civic, religious, or governmental organization, or dwelling units (residential use) or offices (commercial office use). It has a stationary postal address and is publicly available. It does not include automated facilities such as ATMs, vending machines, and touchscreens.

Question 45 Explanation:

The addition of new LEED adaptations - 'Adaptations to the existing version include the ability for both specific space types and international projects to be addressed through the creation of credit adaptations. This allows new paths to be introduced in existing credits to meet the needs of projects that would otherwise be unable to utilize the requirements in LEED. The feedback projects receive from LEED credit reviewers - this is part of the project review process, not LEED development. The balloting process with USGBC membership - 'LEED is developed by USGBC member-based volunteer committees, subcommittees, and working groups in conjunction with staff. LEED development follows a structure that includes a balanced representation of stakeholders and management of conflict of interest, to ensure that the development of LEED is transparent and consensus-based. The LEED committee structure balances market needs and constraints with consistency and technical rigor in the development and improvement of the credits within LEED, to ensure the quality and integrity of the LEED brand. The balloting process of new versions with USGBC membership reinforces the open consensus process. The appeal procedures that are implemented by USGBC further support the consensus process and ensure the fair treatment of affected stakeholders. All of these measures are essential to protecting and enhancing the integrity, authority, and value of LEED. 'Government regulations' and 'Board of Directors issues shareholder voting rights' are not correct.

Question 46 Explanation:

Embodied energy is an accounting methodology which aims to find the sum total of the energy necessary for an entire product lifecycle. This lifecycle includes raw material extraction, transport, manufacture, assembly, installation, disassembly, deconstruction and/or decomposition. For example, consider a clay brick. This includes the energy to extract the clay, transport it to the brick-works, form the brick, fire it in the kiln, transport it to the building site and put the brick into place. It also includes all the indirect energy required, I.e., all the energy required to manufacture the equipment and materials needed to manufacture a brick, e.g. trucks, kilns, mining equipment, etc. All have a proportion of their energy invested in the brick. When selecting a building material there are three things that should be considered: 1. Performance - How will the material perform compared to other alternatives? Consider insulation - should the project use foam insulation, batt insulation, or something else for the best insulating properties? 2. Adaptability - Can the insulation be reused in the future when the building is at the end of its life or will it need to be disposed of? 3. Embodied energy - How much energy went into manufacturing each type of insulation being considered. Was the insulation sourced close by or was manufactured in an environmentally unfriendly plant and then shipped from overseas?

Question 47 Explanation:

USGBC collects water and energy usage from LEED projects. This information helps the development of future LEED rating system versions.

Question 50 Explanation:

Energy is used to heat, cool, and distribute water within a building. Water heating in commercial buildings accounts for 15% of total energy use (CBECS). Reducing the quantity of water used has a direct impact on the energy it takes to heat, cool, and distribute the water.

Question 51 Explanation:

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. LEED addresses the two main threats to the environment posed by refrigerants: their ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP). The primary list of refrigerants are: • CFC (ChloroFluorCarbons): Stable and long life with greatest Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) caused the production to be banned in this country. • HCFC (HydoChloroFluorCarbons): Stable and short life, not as great ODP as CFCs, allowing a phase out plan • HFC (HydoFluorCarbons): Negligible impact on the ozone layer but significant Global Warming Potential (GWP) • Halocarbons: Used in the cells of foamed insulation and fire fighting systems • Natural Refrigerants: Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Water (H2O), Ammonia (NH3), Hydrocarbons (HC), Air (78% N2; 21% O2; 1% H2O2; + trace gases) The Fundamental Refrigerant Management prerequisite addresses ozone depleting potential (ODP). The Enhanced Refrigerant Management credit addresses both ozone depleting potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP).

Question 52 Explanation:

Regional priority credits are bonus points projects can earn by addressing environmental concerns (water shortages) and environmental assets (abundant sunlight) in their areas

Question 53 Explanation:

Value engineering (VE) is a review process that identifies and selects the lowest lifecycle cost options in design, materials and processes that achieves the desired level of performance, reliability and customer satisfaction. USGBC defines value engineering to mean reducing costs while improving performance. In this example the project team is reducing cost by switching to crushed gravel and reducing the heat island effect by using a higher SRI product (thus improving performance). Gravel roads also allow for water to get through the pervious surface