LEED Basics
What is the highest certification level in LEED?
Platinum
What is the 40/60 rule?
If 40% of the projects (by total floor area) fits a rating system, don't use it. If 60% fits, definitely use it. If it is between 40-60%, it is up to the project team to decide.
Times Square is classified as which Lighting Zone?
LZ4, the brightest
Green / vegetated roofs can contribute to earning which credit(s)?
SS Heat Island, SS Rainwater Management, WE Outdoor Water Use Reduction
USGBC headquarters is located where?
Washington, DC
What does LEED stand for?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
When is the ideal time to bring the LEED consultant onto the project team?
Before site selection
Backlight, uplight and glare, or BUG ratings for luminaries, applies to which LEED credit?
SS Light Pollution Reduction
What is the website that can now be used for the SS Density credit to determine density based on services within walking distance?
According to Jennifer, what is the new frontier of sustainability in the built environment?
Social equity
How many points are required to earn LEED Gold?
60
At which design stage should the IPD / integrative process begin?
Schematic Design
Cubicle areas or open office areas are individual or shared workspaces?
Individual
What are some strategies to reduce heat island effect according to LEED?
Low albedo / white hardscape, green roofs, shaded areas, etc.
There are 3 ways that a project can earn Double Platinum certification. What are they?
What is the name of the LEED application submission portal?
LEED Online
What are the 4 LEED application submission stages?
Design prelim and final; Construction prelim and final
In SS Open Space credit, LEED requires the 30% open space WHAT oriented and 25% of that must be vegetated?
Recreation oriented
Why should the project team engage the neighboring community?
To optimize social equity and potentially earn the Pilot credit for SE in the Community.
If we have a strategy that meets the intent of the LEED credit, but we aren't sure USGBC will accept it, what can we do?
Submit a CIR - Credit Interpretation Ruling
What is the intent of the Integrative Process credit?
To support high-performance, cost-effective project outcomes through an early analysis of the interrelationships among systems.
When you have a LEED question, what are your resources?
In the Rainfall Events calculator, when entering the historical data, you first remove values less than what?
2.5 mm
Why do smart building applications not count for LEED innovation points?
Innovation requires that the strategies be not already address in the LEED credits elsewhere and have a quantifiable, demonstrated environmental benefit.
What is a credit tradeoff and a credit synergy and give an example of one or the other.
Tradeoffs are when in the pursuit of one credit, another probably becomes less likely to be achieved. Ex: Increased ventilation reduces the Energy Optimization points. Synergies when achieving one credit helps another, such as capturing rainwater for toilet flushing and irrigation.