LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Energy and Atmosphere 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In LEED v4, the Enhanced Commissioning credit includes a 'monitoring-based commissioning' path. What is a key feature of this path?
- Third-party purchase of renewable energy certificates
- Ongoing automated monitoring to flag system faults and inefficiencies (Correct answer)
- Installation of ENERGY STAR-rated equipment only
- Annual blower door testing
Correct answer: Ongoing automated monitoring to flag system faults and inefficiencies
Monitoring-based commissioning uses automated data collection to continuously track system performance and alert operators to faults.
Question 2: Which refrigerant characteristic is measured by the Global Warming Potential (GWP) metric?
- How quickly the refrigerant evaporates at room temperature
- The refrigerant's heat-trapping effect relative to CO2 over 100 years (Correct answer)
- The cost per kilogram of refrigerant
- The refrigerant's toxicity to building occupants
Correct answer: The refrigerant's heat-trapping effect relative to CO2 over 100 years
GWP measures a refrigerant's capacity to trap heat in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide over a 100-year timeframe.
Question 3: A hotel earns points under the LEED EA Green Power and Carbon Offsets credit. What must they procure to earn this credit?
- On-site wind turbines covering at least 10% of energy use
- RECs or carbon offsets from Green-e certified or equivalent sources for at least 5 years (Correct answer)
- A power purchase agreement with a local utility for 100% renewable electricity
- Battery storage systems covering peak demand
Correct answer: RECs or carbon offsets from Green-e certified or equivalent sources for at least 5 years
Green Power and Carbon Offsets requires procurement of Green-e certified (or equivalent) RECs or offsets contracted for a minimum of 5 years.
Question 4: What is the role of the Commissioning Authority (CxA) in a LEED project?
- To design the HVAC systems and select equipment
- To independently verify that building systems are installed and performing as designed (Correct answer)
- To negotiate utility rates on behalf of the building owner
- To certify that renewable energy systems are operational
Correct answer: To independently verify that building systems are installed and performing as designed
The CxA is an independent party responsible for verifying that building systems are installed and operate per the Owner's Project Requirements.
Question 5: How does LEED v4 treat buildings that use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigerants in existing HVAC equipment?
- CFC equipment is automatically disqualified from certification
- A phase-out plan must be in place before occupancy
- Projects must complete a phase-out or a comprehensive refrigerant reduction plan (Correct answer)
- CFC equipment is permitted with no restrictions under LEED v4
Correct answer: Projects must complete a phase-out or a comprehensive refrigerant reduction plan
LEED v4 requires projects with existing CFC-based HVAC to implement a refrigerant phase-out or achieve significant reduction in refrigerant leakage rates.
Question 6: Which metric does LEED use to quantify the combined climate impact of refrigerant leakage over equipment lifetime?
- LCGWP (Life Cycle Global Warming Potential) (Correct answer)
- ASHRAE Leakage Index
- Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI)
- Carbon Disclosure Score
Correct answer: LCGWP (Life Cycle Global Warming Potential)
LEED uses the LCGWP formula to account for refrigerant leakage and end-of-life loss across the full equipment lifetime.
Question 7: Which LEED EA credit specifically requires sub-metering of major energy end uses such as lighting, plug loads, and HVAC?
- Fundamental Commissioning
- Demand Response
- Advanced Energy Metering (Correct answer)
- Optimize Energy Performance
Correct answer: Advanced Energy Metering
Advanced Energy Metering requires whole-building and sub-metering of major energy end uses to enable ongoing energy monitoring and management.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Energy and Atmosphere 3
In LEED v4, the Enhanced Commissioning credit includes a 'monitoring-based commissioning' path.
What is a key feature of this path?