Pass the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) LEED-AP-BD+C Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

This option requires the project to calculate the contributing value of the fixture by multiplying the cost of the fixture by the percentage of recycled content by weight1. Since the shades are 10% of the overall weight of the fixture and are 50% post-consumer recycled content, the contributing value of the fixture is:

$1,500 x 10% x 50% = $75

For the building to receive one point for Location and Transportation Credit, Green Vehicles, the rate for green vehicles must be 80% less than the regular parking rate. Therefore, if the discounted parking rate is $450 per month, the rate for green vehicles must be $90 per month (20% of $450).

The most likely group of documents to support both Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Thermal Comfort, and Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Interior Lighting, Option 1. Lighting Control is C, lighting plans, surveys of occupants, sequence of operations.

Lighting plans show the layout and type of lighting fixtures, as well as the lighting controls, such as dimmers, timers, occupancy sensors, or daylight sensors. Surveys of occupants provide feedback on the satisfaction and comfort level of the building users regarding the thermal and lighting conditions. Sequence of operations describes how the mechanical and lighting systems operate and respond to different scenarios, such as occupancy, temperature, or daylight levels.

These documents can demonstrate that the project meets the requirements for both credits, which are:

For Thermal Comfort, the project must design the HVAC systems and the building envelope to meet the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55-2010, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, or a local equivalent, and provide individual thermal comfort controls for at least 50% of the individual occupant spaces, and group thermal comfort controls for all shared multi-occupant spaces1.

For Interior Lighting, Option 1. Lighting Control, the project must provide individual lighting controls that enable adjustments to suit individual task needs for at least 90% of the individual occupant spaces, and provide lighting system controls for all shared multi-occupant spaces that allow occupants to adjust the lighting to meet group needs and preferences2.

The other groups of documents are less likely to support both credits, because:

Architectural floor plans, mechanical plans, and lamp specifications do not show the lighting controls or the occupant feedback.

Photometric plans, mechanical schedules, and lamp specifications do not show the thermal comfort design or the occupant feedback.

Surveys of occupants, photometric plans, and mechanical schedules do not show the lighting controls or the thermal comfort design.

LEED awards Innovation points for Exemplary Performance when a project significantly exceeds standard credit requirements.

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Credit: Low-Emitting Materials qualifies for an Innovation point if a project achieves additional thresholds for compliance.

Daylight (Option A) does not have an Exemplary Performance pathway.

Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance (Option C) is a prerequisite, so it cannot earn an Innovation point.

Acoustic Performance (Option D) also does not qualify for Exemplary Performance points.

Low-Emitting Materials (Option B) is eligible for Exemplary Performance, making it the correct answer.

(Source: Official LEED BD+C Reference Manual)

Large commercial buildings are most often dominated by internal loads, which are the heat gains or losses from people, equipment, lighting, and other sources inside the building. Internal loads can affect the heating and cooling loads and the energy consumption of the building. Therefore, reducing internal loads can improve the building’s energy efficiency and performance. References:

LEED AP BD+C V4 Reference Guide, Chapter 5: Energy and Atmosphere, page 5-51

ENERGY STAR Building Upgrade Manual, Chapter 6: Lighting, page 6-22

Michaels Energy, Shell vs. Load Dominated Buildings

According to the LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, the Location and Transportation Credit, Bicycle Facilities has two options: Option 1. Bicycle Network and Storage and Option 2. Reduced Parking Footprint. Option 1 requires the project to provide short-term bicycle storage for at least 2.5% of all peak visitors, and long-term bicycle storage for at least 5% of all regular building occupants. Short-term bicycle storage must be within 100 ft (30 m) walking distance of any main entrance, and long-term bicycle storage must be within 300 ft (90 m) walking or bicycling distance of any functional entry. Option 2 requires the project to provide short-term bicycle storage for at least 2.5% of all peak visitors, and long-term bicycle storage for at least 5% of all regular building occupants, and also reduce the total parking capacity by at least 20% from the base ratios. Both options can earn one point under this credit1.

If a commercial building is considered to have 100 peak visitors in a day, the minimum number of short-term bicycle storage spaces that must be provided to earn one point under Option 1 or Option 2 is 2.5% of 100, which is 2.5, rounded up to 3. However, the project must also provide long-term bicycle storage for at least 5% of all regular building occupants, which is not given in the question. Therefore, the correct answer is C, five, which is the minimum number of short-term bicycle storage spaces that must be provided to earn one point under Option 1 or Option 2, regardless of the number of regular building occupants. References: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Location and Transportation Credit, Bicycle Facilities, Requirements1

In the context of improving indoor environmental quality, specifically regarding lighting, the LEED BD+C guidelines recommend minimizing the use of direct-only overhead lighting to enhance occupant comfort and reduce glare. To achieve this, projects should ensure that no more than 25% of the total connected lighting load for all regularly occupied spaces is composed of direct-only overhead lighting. This approach encourages the use of alternative lighting strategies, such as indirect or diffused lighting, which contribute to a more comfortable and visually appealing environment. ​

The Integrative Process credit in LEED BD+C emphasizes a collaborative and holistic approach to design and construction. The design team is encouraged to identify synergies among various building systems and equipment to optimize performance, reduce resource consumption, and enhance occupant comfort. This involves early collaboration among stakeholders to explore how different systems—such as HVAC, lighting, and envelope—can work together effectively. By doing so, projects can achieve higher levels of efficiency and sustainability.

Source reduction focuses on minimizing waste at its origin.

Prefabrication reduces waste by manufacturing components off-site with optimized material use, leading to less on-site cutting, packaging waste, and construction debris.

Custom design (Option A) and design-build (Option B) do not inherently reduce waste.

Material science (Option C) refers to material properties but does not directly address waste reduction.

Prefabrication is the most effective source reduction strategy, making Option D correct.

(Source: Official LEED BD+C Reference Manual)

According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the Carbon Dioxide Monitoring strategy requires CO2 monitors to be located in each densely occupied space, which is defined as a space with a design occupant density of 25 people or more per 1,000 square feet (93 square meters). This strategy is intended to provide feedback on ventilation system performance and indoor air quality12 References: 1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Indoor Environmental Quality Credit: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies, Option 2: Additional Enhanced IAQ Strategies, Strategy 3: Carbon Dioxide Monitoring, page 704. 2: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Glossary, page 1019.