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

In LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND), avicinity mapis the standardized base map used throughout the submission process to illustrate relevant surrounding features for up to 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) around the project boundary. This map is crucial for demonstrating the context of the project within its surrounding environment, including nearby land uses, transportation networks, and other significant features that could impact the sustainability of the development.

Vicinity Map Purpose:The vicinity map is intended to provide a clear and consistent representation of the project's location and its relationship to the surrounding area. It is used to show how the project connects to nearby neighborhoods, infrastructure, and amenities, which are critical in evaluating the project's sustainability, walkability, and connectivity.

Standardized Submission Requirement:The LEED-ND rating system requires a standardized base map to ensure that all relevant features are consistently represented across different credits and documentation submissions. The vicinity map helps to streamline the review process by providing a uniform reference point for all stakeholders involved in the certification process.

Relevant Features:The map should include key features such as roads, public transit routes, parks, schools, and other community amenities within a 1-mile radius. This helps assess the project's accessibility, potential for reducing automobile dependence, and integration with existing urban or suburban infrastructure.

The LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development outlines the requirements for submission documentation, including the use of standardized maps like the vicinity map.

Additional details can be found in theLEED v4 Neighborhood Developmentdocumentation, which provides guidelines on preparing and using the vicinity map effectively.

Detailed Explanation:References:For further guidance, refer to:

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development

LEED v4 Neighborhood Development

The Smart Location and Linkage (SLL) Prerequisite for Smart Location in LEED for Neighborhood Development can be met in several ways, including locating the project in a receiving area for a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program. A TDR program allows development rights to be transferred from areas designated for conservation (sending areas) to areas more suitable for development (receiving areas). If a project is located in a receiving area, it supports regional goals of conserving land and directing development to appropriate locations, which aligns with the LEED ND Smart Location prerequisite.

References:

LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development, Current Version

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development

For the scenario provided, where 30% of the infrastructure components contain post-consumer recycled content and 10% by mass are on-site reuse materials, an additional 10% of the infrastructure's mass must come from pre-consumer materials to meet the LEED requirements for recycled content.

Recycled Content Credit:The use of recycled materials in infrastructure contributes to sustainability by reducing the demand for virgin materials and minimizing waste. LEED credits are awarded based on the percentage by mass of recycled content in infrastructure materials.

Recycled Content Categories:

Post-consumer recycled contentrefers to materials recycled after they have been used by consumers, such as paper, metals, or plastics.

Pre-consumer recycled contentinvolves materials that are recycled from manufacturing waste, before they reach the consumer, such as scraps or trimmings.

Required Additional Percentage:In this scenario, the project already has 30% post-consumer and 10% on-site reuse. To maximize the recycled content credit, an additional 10% by mass of the materials must come from pre-consumer recycled content, bringing the total recycled content to 50% (30% post-consumer, 10% pre-consumer, 10% on-site reuse).

The LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development details the calculations and criteria for earning recycled content credits.

TheLEED v4 Neighborhood Developmentdocumentation provides further information on the use of recycled materials in infrastructure.

Detailed Explanation:References:For more information, consult:

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development

LEED v4 Neighborhood Development

The percentage of undeveloped land that must remain undisturbed for the Green Infrastructure and Buildings Credit on Minimized Site Disturbance is determined by the density of the project. Higher-density projects are generally permitted to disturb a greater portion of the land because they use the land more efficiently, while lower-density projects must preserve more undeveloped land to minimize the environmental impact. LEED encourages high-density development as a means to preserve open spaces and reduce sprawl, which directly influences the required percentage of land that must remain undisturbed.

References:

LEED v4 Neighborhood Development Guide: This guide details the requirements for minimizing site disturbance, explaining how project density affects the percentage of land that must remain undisturbed (USGBC, LEED v4 Neighborhood Development Current Version).

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development: Provides the rationale behind varying land disturbance allowances based on project density (USGBC, LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development).

To be eligible for the Neighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD) Credit for Reduced Parking Footprint, a project must minimize the amount of land dedicated to parking. Specifically, this credit discourages parking lots located in front of buildings, as they detract from the walkability and pedestrian-friendly environment that LEED ND encourages. By removing the surface parking lot in front of the building, the project can improve its walkability, reduce the parking footprint, and better align with the credit requirements.

References:

LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development, Current Version

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development

The Neighborhood Pattern and Design Credit for Reduced Parking Footprint aims to minimize the environmental impact associated with parking facilities and promote sustainable transportation options. Among the choices provided, the strategy of placing carpool spaces within 300 feet (90 meters) of building entrances is an acceptable strategy. This option encourages carpooling and reduces the total number of parking spaces needed, thereby supporting the overall goal of reducing the project's parking footprint. Off-street parking in front of buildings and large surface parking lots are generally discouraged as they contribute to sprawl and are less sustainable.

The intent of the Neighborhood Pattern and Design Credit for Community Outreach and Involvement is to foster engagement and responsiveness to the needs and concerns of community members who live or work in the area being developed. This credit encourages developers to actively involve the community in the planning process, ensuring that the project aligns with thecommunity’s values and addresses local issues. It promotes transparency and collaboration, leading to developments that better serve the community's needs.

References:

LEED v4 Neighborhood Development Guide: The guide emphasizes the importance of community outreach and involvement in the development process (USGBC, LEED v4 Neighborhood Development Current Version).

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development: Provides detailed strategies for achieving this credit by engaging with local community members and stakeholders (USGBC, LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development).

For the Green Infrastructure and Buildings Credit regarding Solar Orientation, after determining maximum solar access, the project team should next focus on studying the building envelopes and daylighting opportunities. This step is essential to ensure that the construction documents accurately reflect the optimum solar orientation, which can significantly enhance energy efficiency and occupant comfort. The other options, while relevant, do not directly pertain to incorporating solar orientation into site design as effectively as studying building envelopes and making necessary adjustments in the construction documents.

TheNeighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD) Credit: Transportation Demand Management (TDM)encourages the implementation of strategies to reduce the reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and promote alternative, more sustainable modes of transportation. This credit aims to decrease vehicle miles traveled (VMT), reduce traffic congestion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the use of public transportation, car-sharing, cycling, and walking.

Option C: Subsidize yearly transportation passes by at least 50% for 100% of the occupants of the project for a minimum of three yearsis the correct answer because subsidizing public transportation passes for all occupants encourages the use of transit, which directly reduces vehicle usage. LEED specifically recognizes this strategy as a way to reduce transportation demand by making public transit more accessible and affordable for residents and workers, aligning with the goals of the TDM credit (Reference:LEED v4 ND Reference Guide).

Option A: Obtain a variance to allow a 25% reduction from local regulatory minimum parking requirementsis not sufficient on its own to meet the TDM credit requirements, although reducing parking can contribute to overall demand management efforts.

Option B: Sell or rent associated parking spaces separately from 50% of dwelling units and/or nonresidential square footageis a parking management strategy that can reduce the demand for parking, but it does not fully satisfy the intent of the TDM credit by itself.

Option D: Ensure that 50% of the residential units and non-residential buildings are within a 1/4 mi (0.4 km) walking distance of a shared vehicleis an effective TDM strategy, but the subsidized transportation passes (Option C) are a more direct and impactful strategy to reduce transportation demand.

Thus,subsidizing yearly transportation passesis the most direct and impactful strategy for meeting the Transportation Demand Management credit in LEED ND, makingOption Cthe correct answer.

The requirement for an infill site under LEED® Neighborhood Development is that at least 75% of the site’s boundary must border parcels that are individually at least 50% previously disturbed, and in aggregate, at least 75% of the boundary must be adjacent to previously disturbed parcels.This criterion supports the redevelopment of previously developed land and helps in reducing urban sprawl by encouraging the use of already impacted sites.

Infill Development:Infill development refers to the practice of developing vacant or underused parcels within existing urban areas that are already largely developed. LEED-ND promotes infill development as it typically results in more efficient land use, reduces the need for new infrastructure, and supports the revitalization of existing communities.

Previously Disturbed Parcels:A "previously disturbed" parcel refers to land that has been altered by previous development or human activities, making it more suitable for redevelopment without contributing to the loss of greenfield sites (undeveloped land).

Boundary Criteria:The specific requirement that 75% of the project’s boundary borders disturbed parcels ensures that the site is surrounded by areas that have already experienced some level of development. This aligns with LEED-ND’s goals of encouraging sustainable development patterns that optimize land use within existing urbanized areas.

The LEED-ND Reference Guide elaborates on the criteria for infill sites under the Smart Location & Linkage (SLL) category, particularly emphasizing the importance of reusing previously disturbed land.

TheLEED v4 Neighborhood Developmentdocumentation provides detailed definitions and examples to clarify what constitutes an infill site.

Detailed Explanation:References:For more information, review the materials available through USGBC:

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development