LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Energy and Atmosphere 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project team uses a whole-building energy simulation to demonstrate 20% energy cost savings over the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline. What LEED EA credit pathway are they using?
- Prescriptive compliance path
- Performance rating method (energy modeling) (Correct answer)
- Demand Response path
- Enhanced Commissioning path
Correct answer: Performance rating method (energy modeling)
The performance rating method uses energy simulation software to compare the proposed design against an ASHRAE 90.1 baseline building.
Question 2: What percentage of a building's energy use must come from on-site renewable sources to earn the maximum points under LEED v4 BD+C Renewable Energy Production?
- 5%
- 10%
- 25% (Correct answer)
- 100%
Correct answer: 25%
LEED v4 BD+C awards maximum points for Renewable Energy Production when on-site renewables supply 10% or more, with additional points up to a project-specific maximum depending on rating system.
Question 3: Which of the following building system types is always included in LEED Fundamental Commissioning scope?
- Plumbing fixtures and fittings
- HVAC&R systems and associated controls (Correct answer)
- Architectural finishes and exterior envelope cladding
- Fire suppression sprinkler heads
Correct answer: HVAC&R systems and associated controls
HVAC&R systems and their controls are always within the mandatory scope of Fundamental Commissioning under LEED EA.
Question 4: A project in a region with an active utility demand response program wants LEED EA Demand Response credit. What must they demonstrate?
- The building generates enough on-site renewable energy to cover demand peaks
- Enrollment in a demand response program and the ability to reduce load by at least 10% (Correct answer)
- A battery system capable of 4 hours of backup power
- Sub-metering of all plug loads throughout the building
Correct answer: Enrollment in a demand response program and the ability to reduce load by at least 10%
To earn Demand Response credit, projects must enroll in a utility demand response program and demonstrate capacity to shed or shift at least 10% of peak load.
Question 5: Under LEED v4, which path allows a smaller building to comply with the Optimize Energy Performance credit without running a full energy simulation?
- ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide prescriptive path (Correct answer)
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking
- ISO 50001 certification
- COMCHECK compliance software
Correct answer: ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide prescriptive path
LEED v4 offers an ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide prescriptive path for certain building types and sizes as an alternative to full energy modeling.
Question 6: What does 'natural refrigerants' refer to in the context of LEED refrigerant management?
- Refrigerants produced by LEED-certified manufacturers only
- Substances like ammonia, CO2, and hydrocarbons with low or zero GWP and ODP (Correct answer)
- Any refrigerant approved by the EPA Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)
- Refrigerants derived from natural gas extraction
Correct answer: Substances like ammonia, CO2, and hydrocarbons with low or zero GWP and ODP
Natural refrigerants such as ammonia, CO2 (R-744), and propane have negligible ODP and low GWP, making them preferred under LEED refrigerant criteria.
Question 7: A LEED for Existing Buildings project wants to reduce energy use. Which ASHRAE standard guides energy auditing practices most relevant to this goal?
- ASHRAE 189.1
- ASHRAE 62.1
- ASHRAE Standard 211 (Correct answer)
- ASHRAE 55
Correct answer: ASHRAE Standard 211
ASHRAE Standard 211 provides a uniform methodology for commercial building energy audits, which is referenced in LEED O+M for energy performance improvement.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Energy and Atmosphere 4
A project team uses a whole-building energy simulation to demonstrate 20% energy cost savings over the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline.
What LEED EA credit pathway are they using?