LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Materials and Resources 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under LEED v4, what does the 'sourcing of raw materials' credit in Materials and Resources primarily evaluate?
- The cost of materials relative to project budget
- The responsible extraction and chain of custody of raw materials (Correct answer)
- The distance materials were transported to the project site
- The recycled content percentage of structural materials
Correct answer: The responsible extraction and chain of custody of raw materials
The sourcing of raw materials credit rewards responsible extraction practices, such as certified wood (FSC), reclaimed materials, and responsible sourcing programs.
Question 2: Which certification is specifically recognized by LEED for demonstrating responsible forestry practices in wood products?
- SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) only
- FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) (Correct answer)
- PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)
- ATFS (American Tree Farm System)
Correct answer: FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
LEED v4 recognizes FSC certification as the standard for responsible forestry, requiring a chain-of-custody certificate for wood products to earn credit.
Question 3: In LEED's Material Ingredients credit, what does an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) disclose?
- The aesthetic properties and color options of a product
- The life cycle environmental impacts of a product (Correct answer)
- The cost savings associated with using a material
- The maintenance requirements over a 10-year period
Correct answer: The life cycle environmental impacts of a product
An EPD is a standardized document that quantifies the environmental impacts of a product across its life cycle, based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Question 4: What is the minimum recycled content threshold for a product to contribute toward LEED's Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Materials credit?
- A product must contain at least 50% post-consumer recycled content
- A product must contain at least 25% recycled content (pre- or post-consumer)
- There is no fixed threshold; any recycled content qualifies if documented (Correct answer)
- A product must be made entirely from recycled materials
Correct answer: There is no fixed threshold; any recycled content qualifies if documented
Under LEED v4, products with any recycled content qualify if they meet the responsible sourcing criteria and are properly documented with manufacturer information.
Question 5: A project team wants to divert construction waste from landfill. Which strategy would NOT count as diversion under LEED's Construction and Demolition Waste Management credit?
- Donating salvaged materials to a nonprofit reuse center
- Sending wood waste to a certified composting facility
- Burning waste on-site for energy recovery (Correct answer)
- Recycling metal scraps at a local recycling facility
Correct answer: Burning waste on-site for energy recovery
LEED does not count waste-to-energy incineration as diversion; only materials diverted to recycling, composting, or reuse qualify toward the diversion rate.
Question 6: Under LEED v4, what is the baseline diversion rate required to earn the Construction and Demolition Waste Management credit at its minimum threshold?
- 25% by weight or volume
- 50% by weight or volume (Correct answer)
- 75% by weight or volume
- 90% by weight or volume
Correct answer: 50% by weight or volume
LEED v4 requires a minimum 50% diversion of total construction and demolition waste by weight or volume to earn the credit.
Question 7: Which approach best describes the concept of 'design for flexibility' in the context of LEED Materials and Resources?
- Choosing materials with the lowest upfront cost
- Designing buildings so materials can be disassembled and reused at end of life (Correct answer)
- Selecting materials that are flexible and bendable for ease of installation
- Using modular furniture instead of built-in casework
Correct answer: Designing buildings so materials can be disassembled and reused at end of life
Design for flexibility, also called design for disassembly, prioritizes building systems and material selections that allow components to be separated and reused or recycled at end of life.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Materials and Resources 2
Under LEED v4, what does the 'sourcing of raw materials' credit in Materials and Resources primarily evaluate?