Free LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Sustainable Sites Questions and Answers

Question 1

A project team is developing a site and aims to earn the 'Protect or Restore Habitat' credit. The site contains both greenfield and previously developed areas. Which of the following actions is a requirement for this credit?

Accepted Answer

Preserve and protect at least 40% of the greenfield area from all development and construction activity.

Answer

To achieve the 'Protect or Restore Habitat' credit, one of the key requirements is to preserve and protect 40% of the greenfield area on the site (if any exists) from all development and construction activity. The other options are either incorrect thresholds or not explicitly required; for example, while native/adapted plants are encouraged, using them exclusively isn't the core requirement, and restoration focuses on a percentage of previously disturbed area, not all soil.

Question 2

For the 'Heat Island Reduction' credit, what is the minimum initial Solar Reflectance (SR) value required for paving materials used in non-roof applications?

Accepted Answer

0.33

Answer

LEED v4.1 specifies that for non-roof measures, such as walkways and other hardscapes, paving materials must have an initial Solar Reflectance (SR) value of at least 0.33 to help mitigate the heat island effect. Alternatively, materials with a 3-year aged SR value of at least 0.28 can be used.

Question 3

A project is located in a dense urban area on a zero-lot-line site. To achieve points for the 'Rainwater Management' credit under Option 1, the team must design the project to retain the runoff from a specific percentile of rainfall events. What is the minimum percentile required for a zero-lot-line project to earn 1 point?

Accepted Answer

70th percentile

Answer

The 'Rainwater Management' credit in LEED v4.1 provides adjusted requirements for zero-lot-line projects. To earn one point under Option 1, these projects must manage the runoff from the 70th percentile rainfall event, which is a lower threshold than for standard projects, acknowledging the site constraints.

Question 4

Which of the following is required as part of the documentation for the 'Site Assessment' prerequisite?

Accepted Answer

A description of the project's EPA Level III ecoregion.

Answer

The 'Site Assessment' prerequisite requires projects to assess site conditions before design. A key part of this assessment is documenting and describing the site's context, which includes topography, hydrology, climate, vegetation, soils, human use, and human health effects. LEED v4.1 specifically requires a description of the project's EPA Level III ecoregion to help inform design decisions.

Question 5

To comply with the 'Light Pollution Reduction' credit using the BUG rating method, which aspects of a luminaire's light output are being measured?

Accepted Answer

Backlight, Uplight, and Glare

Answer

The BUG (Backlight, Uplight, and Glare) rating method, developed by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), is a key component of the 'Light Pollution Reduction' credit. It quantifies how much light from an exterior luminaire is directed in undesirable directions: backwards (potentially causing light trespass), upwards (causing skyglow), and at high angles that cause glare.

LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification Practice Test

LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification Practice Test

Free LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Sustainable Sites Questions and Answers