LEED AP BD+C 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under LEED BD+C, which prerequisite requires that projects not exceed the baseline outdoor water use calculated using the EPA WaterSense methodology?
- Outdoor Water Use Reduction Prerequisite (Correct answer)
- Minimum Indoor Plumbing Fixture Efficiency
- Rainwater Management
- Water Metering Prerequisite
Correct answer: Outdoor Water Use Reduction Prerequisite
The Outdoor Water Use Reduction prerequisite sets a baseline using the EPA WaterSense Budget Tool and requires projects to reduce landscape irrigation by at least 30%.
Question 2: Which LEED BD+C credit rewards projects for sourcing materials that have been extracted, manufactured, and purchased within a defined regional distance?
- Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials
- Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations
- Regional Materials credit under Materials and Resources (Correct answer)
- Material Ingredients credit
Correct answer: Regional Materials credit under Materials and Resources
The Regional Materials credit (carried over in concept from LEED v3) and its v4 equivalent under Sourcing of Raw Materials reward products extracted and manufactured within 100 miles of the project.
Question 3: A project team is pursuing the LEED BD+C Thermal Comfort credit. Which ASHRAE standard defines the acceptable range of thermal conditions?
- ASHRAE 90.1
- ASHRAE 62.1
- ASHRAE 55 (Correct answer)
- ASHRAE 189.1
Correct answer: ASHRAE 55
ASHRAE 55 establishes thermal environmental conditions acceptable to the majority of occupants in occupied spaces.
Question 4: Which LEED category awards points specifically for projects located in underserved communities or for addressing equity?
- Innovation
- Regional Priority (Correct answer)
- Location and Transportation
- Sustainable Sites
Correct answer: Regional Priority
Regional Priority credits highlight locally important environmental, social equity, and public health priorities identified by regional USGBC chapters.
Question 5: What does the LEED BD+C prerequisite 'Fundamental Commissioning and Verification' primarily require?
- Hire a LEED AP to verify all energy systems post-occupancy
- Engage a commissioning authority to verify energy-related systems perform per the Owner's Project Requirements (Correct answer)
- Submit annual energy reports to GBCI for five years
- Install submetering on all electrical panels
Correct answer: Engage a commissioning authority to verify energy-related systems perform per the Owner's Project Requirements
Fundamental Commissioning requires an independent commissioning authority (CxA) to verify that energy systems are designed and installed to meet the Owner's Project Requirements (OPR).
Question 6: In LEED BD+C, which credit addresses the use of furniture and medical furnishings with low chemical emissions?
- Low-Emitting Materials (Correct answer)
- Indoor Air Quality Assessment
- Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies
- Construction IAQ Management Plan
Correct answer: Low-Emitting Materials
The Low-Emitting Materials credit covers products including furniture and medical furnishings, requiring compliance with specified VOC emission standards.
Question 7: A LEED BD+C project team wants to reduce the urban heat island effect. Which strategy would directly contribute to the Heat Island Reduction credit?
- Install a white-painted interior ceiling to reflect light
- Use high-reflectance (high SRI) paving materials for non-roof hardscape (Correct answer)
- Plant trees along the project's street frontage to reduce traffic noise
- Install photovoltaic panels on south-facing walls
Correct answer: Use high-reflectance (high SRI) paving materials for non-roof hardscape
The Heat Island Reduction credit rewards non-roof hardscape with high solar reflectance index (SRI) values to minimize absorbed heat in paved areas.
LEED AP BD+C 3
Under LEED BD+C, which prerequisite requires that projects not exceed the baseline outdoor water use calculated using the EPA WaterSense methodology?