(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Sustainable Sites Flashcards

A project is located in a dense urban area and has no available land for on-site open space. How can it still earn the LEED Open Space credit?

Answer: By providing a rooftop green space accessible to building occupants

LEED allows vegetated rooftop spaces accessible to occupants to count toward the Open Space credit when ground-level open space is constrained by urban conditions.

Under the LEED Sustainable Sites prerequisite for Construction Activity Pollution Prevention, which document must be implemented during construction?

Answer: A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

The prerequisite requires implementation of an erosion and sedimentation control plan that meets or exceeds local regulations, typically documented as a SWPPP.

For the Heat Island Reduction credit, what is the minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) required for a steep-sloped roofing material (slope > 2:12)?

Answer: SRI of 78

LEED requires steep-sloped roofs (slope greater than 2:12) to have an SRI of at least 78 to qualify for the non-roof heat island reduction pathway.

Which of the following is NOT a qualifying strategy under the LEED Rainwater Management credit?

Answer: Conventional storm sewers that discharge directly to a municipal system

Conventional storm sewers that simply redirect runoff to municipal systems do not manage rainwater on site and therefore do not qualify as LID strategies for this credit.

A mixed-use LEED project includes both retail and residential uses. Under the Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses credit, what is the purpose of the 'diverse uses' component?

Answer: To reward proximity to a variety of community amenities within walking distance

The diverse uses component rewards projects located near a variety of retail, civic, and community uses within a short walk, reducing the need for vehicle trips.

Under the LEED Place-Based Policies approach for Rainwater Management, what must a project demonstrate to earn the credit?

Answer: Compliance with a locally adopted stormwater management plan that addresses quantity and quality

Projects can use an alternative compliance path by demonstrating conformance with a locally adopted, comprehensive stormwater management plan that addresses both runoff quantity and quality.

A developer is evaluating two sites. Site A is a greenfield outside the urban growth boundary; Site B is an infill site in a walkable urban neighborhood. Which LEED SS credit most directly penalizes choosing Site A over Site B?

Answer: Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses

The Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses credit rewards projects in densely developed, walkable areas, making greenfield sites outside urban boundaries ineligible for this credit.