Which system is eligible for the Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Renewable Energy Production?
Correct Answer: B
Tidal-based electrical production is eligible for the Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Renewable Energy Production. This credit rewards projects that use renewable energy systems to offset building energy cost. According to the LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, renewable energy systems are defined as "those that use resources that are naturally replenished within a 100-year or shorter cycle and that are greenhouse gas neutral on an annual basis" 1. Tidal-based electrical production meets this definition, as it uses the kinetic energy of the tides to generate electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. The other options are not eligible for this credit, as ground-source heat pumps are not considered renewable energy systems, municipal solid waste combustion is not greenhouse gas neutral, and passive solar and daylighting strategies do not offset building energy cost. Reference: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Energy and Atmosphere Category, EAc Renewable Energy Production, page 572.
Question 122
Which of the following Water Efficiency credits differ between LEED Building Design and Construction: New Construction and LEED Building Design and Construction: Healthcare?
Correct Answer: C
. LEED Building Design and Construction: Healthcare has additional appliance and process water requirements in Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction LEED Building Design and Construction: New Construction and LEED Building Design and Construction: Healthcare have the same Water Efficiency credits, except for the Cooling Tower Water Use credit, which is only applicable to the former. However, the Indoor Water Use Reduction prerequisite differs between the two rating systems, as the Healthcare version requires additional calculations for appliance and process water use, such as medical equipment, laundry, and kitchen equipment. Reference: Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 - Pages 256-3171 LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide - U.S. Green Building Council2
Question 123
Which of the following credits advocates the values and benefits of green building design and construction as well as outdoor physical activity?
Correct Answer: B
The Sustainable Sites (SS) Credit for Open Space is designed to promote the integration of green building principles with outdoor physical activity. This credit encourages projects to provide outdoor spaces that are accessible and conducive to physical activities, thereby enhancing the well-being of building occupants and the surrounding community. To earn this credit, projects must provide outdoor space greater than or equal to 30% of the total site area (including building footprint). A minimum of 25% of that outdoor space must be vegetated or have overhead vegetated canopy. These spaces can be used for social interaction, passive recreation, and physical activities, aligning with the values and benefits of green building design.
Question 124
A Photovoltaic (PV) system was installed on a 35,000 ft2 (3 252 m2) project. What actions need to take place in order to meet compliance for Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Fundamental Commissioning (Cx) and Verification?
Correct Answer: C
The correct answer is C, the Cx agent for the project must conduct or oversee the Cx of the PV system. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Fundamental Commissioning and Verification, requires that all energy-related systems, including renewable energy systems such as PV, be commissioned by an independent commissioning agent (CxA) or a qualified member of the project team who reports to the owner. The CxA or the qualified team member must perform or oversee all commissioning activities, including developing a commissioning plan, reviewing design documents and submittals, verifying installation and performance, and preparing a commissioning report12 References: 1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite: Fundamental Commissioning and Verification, page 562. 2: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Glossary, page 1020.
Question 125
When using the Integrative Process, what is the best way for the LEED AP to assess the impact of indoor and outdoor water consumption in a Building Design and Construction project?
Correct Answer: A
When using the Integrative Process, the best way for the LEED AP to assess the impact of indoor and outdoor water consumption in a Building Design and Construction project is to perform a preliminary water budget analysis before the completion of schematic design. This analysis should include the following steps1: * Identify the project's water sources and uses, such as potable water, reclaimed water, rainwater, graywater, blackwater, irrigation, cooling towers, etc. * Estimate the baseline water consumption for each use based on the applicable codes, standards, and benchmarks. * Identify potential water conservation strategies that can reduce the demand or increase the supply of water, such as low-flow fixtures, native landscaping, rainwater harvesting, graywater reuse, etc. * Evaluate the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits of each strategy using a life- cycle approach. * Select the most appropriate strategies and document how they inform the design decisions and meet the project goals. * Compare the projected water consumption with the baseline and calculate the percentage reduction. Performing a preliminary water budget analysis before the completion of schematic design allows the LEED AP to identify opportunities for water efficiency and innovation early in the design process. It also helps to optimize the integration of water systems with other building and site systems, such as energy, materials, indoor environmental quality, etc. Moreover, it supports the achievement of other LEED credits related to water efficiency, such as WE Prerequisite 1: Outdoor Water Use Reduction, WE Prerequisite 2: Indoor Water Use Reduction, WE Credit 1: Outdoor Water Use Reduction, WE Credit 2: Indoor Water Use Reduction, WE Credit 3: Cooling Tower Water Use2.
