CLARB Sustainable Design and Environmental Stewardship

Question 1

Which LEED credit category most directly rewards landscape architects for reducing potable water use in irrigation?

Accepted Answer

Water Efficiency — Outdoor Water Use Reduction

Answer

Sustainable Sites — Rainwater Management

Answer

Energy and Atmosphere — Optimize Energy Performance

Answer

Materials and Resources — Construction Waste Management

Question 2

What is the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) primarily designed to do?

Accepted Answer

Provide a rating system for sustainable land design, construction, and maintenance of landscapes beyond buildings

Answer

Rate the energy efficiency of building mechanical systems

Answer

Certify individual landscape architects as sustainability specialists

Answer

Replace LEED certification for all projects

Question 3

Which stormwater management approach is considered a green infrastructure strategy?

Accepted Answer

Installing a bioretention cell to capture and filter runoff on-site

Answer

Increasing the size of traditional underground storm sewer pipes

Answer

Paving all surface areas to direct water quickly off-site

Answer

Building a concrete retention basin with no vegetation

Question 4

A heat island effect analysis is being conducted for a parking lot redesign. Which design strategy most directly reduces the urban heat island effect?

Accepted Answer

Replacing impervious asphalt with permeable pavers and adding tree canopy cover

Answer

Increasing the number of parking spaces to reduce double-parking

Answer

Using dark-colored pavement to absorb heat efficiently

Answer

Installing underground stormwater detention only

Question 5

What does the term 'impervious surface coverage ratio' measure on a development site?

Accepted Answer

The percentage of a site covered by materials that do not allow water infiltration into the soil

Answer

The ratio of building floor area to lot area

Answer

The depth of impermeable soil layers below grade

Answer

The percentage of open space required by zoning

Question 6

In xeriscape design, which of the seven principles most directly reduces supplemental irrigation needs after plant establishment?

Accepted Answer

Appropriate plant selection — choosing drought-tolerant and climate-adapted species

Answer

Installing the largest possible lawn areas

Answer

Using only annual plants for seasonal color

Answer

Maximizing hardscape to eliminate all planting