GreenStep LEED GA Study Guide - May 2017

LEED
V4 GREEN ASSOCIATE
EXAM STUDY GUIDE
WWW.GREENSTEPEDUCATION.COM
VALID THROUGH JULY 2017
Copyright
Copyright © 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publicaQon may be reproduced or
transmiTed, in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior wriTen
consent.
Disclaimer
GreenStep is not affiliated with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) or the Green Business CerQficaQon Inc (GBCI).
GreenStep does not administer the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) RaQng Systems or credenQaling
program. LEED and the USGBC are registered trademarks of the USGBC. GreenStep does not claim any endorsement or
recommendaQon of its products or services by the USGBC or the GBCI. By using this study guide and related pracQce
exams, the user agrees to hold GreenStep harmless from any and all liability. This may include any loss or damages
sustained in connecQon with or arising out of the user’s failure to pass the LEED exam.
Energy Star (ENERGY STAR) is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental ProtecQon Agency (EPA).
The mission of the Green Business CerQficaQon Inc. (GBCI) is to support a high level of competence in building methods for
environmental efficiency through the development and administraQon of a formal credenQaling program. GBCI has
adopted formal tesQng and disciplinary policies to arQculate standards of conduct for candidates seeking a credenQal
through GBCI, as well as those individuals seeking to maintain their credenQal. Among other criteria, GBCI requires that
candidates do not disclose examinaQon items, and that GBCI examinaQons may be taken only for the purpose of seeking
the relevant credenQal. Further, a GBCI credenQal holder may not take an examinaQon for renewal of a credenQal unless
the credenQal has expired. These policies help to safeguard quality and validity throughout the credenQaling process. It is
important for candidates for any of the GBCI Professional CredenQals to fully understand the requirements of GBCI’s tesQng
and disciplinary policies in order to ensure compliance. For more informaQon, please visit www.gbci.org.
LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE STUDY GUIDE GREENSTEP

Table of Contents
IntroducQon 1
LEED NCv4 Scorecard 5
Background & Overview 10
Managing a LEED Project 17
IntegraQve Process 22
LocaQon & TransportaQon - LT 24
Sustainable Sites – SS 30
Water Efficiency – WE 36
Energy & Atmosphere – EA 43
Materials & Resources – MR 52
Indoor Environmental Quality – EQ 60
InnovaQon - IN 68
Regional Priority 70
Important Standards 71
Important Facts Covered on the Exam 72
AddiQonal Terms 73
Test Taking Strategies 79
LEED Exam F.A.Q. 80
Conclusion 82
LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE STUDY GUIDE GREENSTEP

Introduc9on
What Makes This Study Guide Different
From our perspecQve, many of the exam prep resources currently on the market are borne from the idea that
quanQty is king. Their selling point is that if you simply take 700 pracQce quesQons, memorize 1,000 flash cards,
download their latest iPhone app (aler buying the new iPhone), and read through their “condensed” 250-page
study guide, you will eventually pass the LEED exam.
It is our experience that the large majority of parQcipants in our workshops are full-Qme professionals, students,
or individuals acQvely looking for work. If you are like them, you have a limited amount of Qme, energy, and
brain power to devote to studying for the exam. You need something that is as condensed as possible, while sQll
covering all of the key informaQon you need to know as a LEED Green Associate.
Our study guide and related materials were developed with the belief that quality is much more important than
quanQty when preparing for an exam. In the development of this study guide, our team scoured every possible
resource from where potenQal exam quesQons are created and passed the most current version of the exam.
The result is a comprehensive and concise study guide that covers everything you need to know as a LEED Green
Associate – and nothing more. The feedback we’ve received from students & industry professionals who have
passed the LEED exam on their first try tells us that our approach works.
The LEED Green Associate Exam – Here’s the Scoop

The LEED Green Associate exam is not necessarily a difficult test, but it can be very challenging to study for.
Why? Because unlike the LEED AP exams, there is not one central resource from which quesQons are created.
Although the LEED Green Associate was developed for professionals wanQng to demonstrate a “basic knowledge
of green building principles and pracQces and LEED,” much of the informaQon you need to memorize can be very
specific and unrelated to general industry knowledge.
Furthermore, the USGBC recommends that you review a list of a dozen different resources, some of which have
liTle relevance to the exam in our opinion. We’ve combed through all of these resources and condensed the
key informaQon into this one, easy-to-read study guide.
Other Free Supplemental Resources (not related to the exam, but s9ll useful)
This GreenStep Study Guide, in combinaQon with our GreenStep PracQce Exams, is the only study resource we
recommend. For those interested in moving beyond the exam-specific informaQon and gaining a more pracQcal
L E E D G R E E N A S S O C I A T E S T U D Y G U I D E G R E E N S T E P
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understanding of how LEED is applied to specific building types, we recommend the LEED RaQng System
documents (Neighborhood Development, Homes, New ConstrucQon, etc). These raQng system documents can
be downloaded for free from www.usgbc.org/leed/raQng-systems.
It can also be worthwhile to spend a minute or two browsing through the USGBC’s website to familiarize
yourself with the general informaQon available, including green building news, arQcles, and links to your local
USGBC Chapter: www.usgbc.org.
If you’re enQrely new to LEED, Wikipedia provides a good overview that may be worth reading. It discusses the
history of LEED, benefits of LEED cerQficaQon and notable LEED buildings.
Regarding free exam-related resources, be sure to download GreenStep’s free mini pracQce exam from our
website: www.greenstepeducaQon.com. These quesQons are derived from the actual exam and are different
from our other sample tests.
For more general informaQon on the LEED Green Associate exam, including how to sign up, we recommend
downloading and reading through the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook. This can be found on the
USGBC’s website: www.usgbc.org.
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How to Use This Study Guide
The goal of this study guide is to provide everything you need to know as a Green Associate while minimizing
unnecessary informaQon as much as possible. With this in mind, all of the informaQon found in the following
pages is both relevant and important to understanding the concepts covered on the exam. Any content or
informaQon that is not included in this study guide has been intenQonally omiTed. Since the LEED Green
Associate exam is a mulQple choice test, it is criQcal to MEMORIZE the informaQon in this study guide. To that
end, we recommend that you make your own flash cards. The process of wriQng down the informaQon in your
own words is just as important as reviewing it over and over. In addiQon to the exam concepts, our study guide
includes study Qps called KEY TERMS as well as helpful italicized commentary throughout. It is important to
have an understanding of each and every term before taking the exam. We have also included sample quesQons
throughout our guide to give you an idea of the types of quesQons that might be formed from each preceding
secQon.
You’ll noQce that the structure of this study guide mirrors the framework of the LEED for New ConstrucQon
RaQng System. This is because you should have a rough understanding of how the green building concepts fall
within the LEED credit structure. We could also have used the credit structure for the the LEED EBOM, Core &
Shell, Schools, Commercial Interior RaQng Systems, etc., but the New ConstrucQon RaQng System tends to be
the most comprehensive as it includes all relevant concepts.
It’s useful to illustrate the above explanaQon with several sample exam quesQons:
Q1. Which of the following sites would help earn points for Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses?
(Choose 3)
a) Within ¼ mile of 2 or more bus staQons that serve both local and long-distance routes
b) Within ¼ mile of 2 or more train staQons that serve both local and long-distance routes
c) Within ¼ mile of a beauty salon
d) An empty parking lot located ¼ mile from a fire staQon
e) A site that is equipped with both bike racks and showers for the use of the public and
community
f) A 7-story commercial office building that only includes office space, but no ameniQes
The correct answers are . . . c), d) and f). In order to arrive at these answers, you must understand the structure
of the Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses credit. This parQcular credit requires that there be a certain
number of basic services within ½ mile of the project site. The USGBC Reference Manual (and GreenStep’s Study
Guide) lists the 27 basic service categories that may apply, of which a Fire StaQon and Hair Care are included.
Bus stops, train staQons and bike racks all earn points, but under different credits, not under Surrounding
Density and Diverse Uses. Why should a commercial office qualify, even if it does not serve the surrounding
community? A commercial office qualifies simply because it is listed as one of the possible basic services.
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Here’s another example:
Q2. Which of the following would help earn points for reducing total water for landscape irriga9on?
(Choose 2)
a) Reducing the landscaped area

b) Using recycled greywater to irrigate landscaping
c) Using rainwater to irrigate landscaping
d) Using drip irrigaQon
e) SelecQng naQve plants
f) All of the above
The correct answers are . . . d) and e). Here’s why: Answer a) is not correct because the credit for Water
Efficient Landscaping does not award points based on the size of the landscaped area, even though reducing the
landscaped area reduces the total water applied. Answers b) and c) reduce the potable water used, but not the
total water used, and therefore are not correct. Drip irrigaQon and selecQng naQve, drought-tolerant plants are
both acceptable strategies for reducing the total water needed for landscaping.
One more helpful sample quesQon:
Q3. Which of the following are required for all LEED projects?
a) Agreeing not to develop on wetlands or endangered species habitats

b) Reviewing contractor submiTals as part of the commissioning process
c) Recycling, reusing or diverQng construcQon waste
d) Using low VOC paints on the project’s interior
e) ProhibiQng smoking in all areas of residenQal buildings
f) None of the above are required on LEED projects
g) All of the above are required on LEED projects
The correct answer is f) None of the above. Only the prerequisites are required within LEED; the credits are
opQonal. Answers a), b), c) and d) all relate to the requirements of different LEED credits, not prerequisites.
Answer e) relates to a prerequisite dealing with Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control, but “ProhibiQng
Smoking” is not a requirement of that prerequisite for residenQal projects. ResidenQal projects may allow
smoking in certain designated areas if specific guidelines are followed. Answers a) through e) are not required
on LEED projects so the answer must be f) None of the Above.
Not all quesQons require you to think in terms of the LEED credit structure, but nonetheless, it’s helpful to follow
the LEED NC structure as we introduce the informaQon in this study guide. We’ve included a current LEED
Scorecard on the following page to provides a good visual of the credit structure within the LEED NC RaQng
System.
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LEED NCv4 Scorecard
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Exam Structure
Before you launch into your studies, there a few things you should know about the format of the LEED Green
Associate exam:
• It is a computer-based exam comprised of 100 mulQple choice quesQons. There are no True/False
quesQons and no essay prompts (thank goodness).
• The test is based on a maximum score of 200 points. The minimum passing score is 170 points. The
USGBC’s scoring system is rather mysterious; it is unclear how many points each quesQon is worth.
• You have 2 hours to complete the exam (which is more than enough Qme for most people). You can mark
quesQons and return to them later. See the sample screenshot below (The answer to the quesQon is a)
0).
• You may not bring anything into the exam room. You will be provided with scratch paper and pencils as
well as a calculator located on the computer screen.
• The test is generally offered Monday through Saturday at various Prometric locaQons. You will be
prompted to select the exam date and Qme in addiQon to the Prometric tesQng locaQon of your
preference during the exam applicaQon process.
• You receive your exam score as soon as you finish. The USGBC will not reveal how many quesQons you
answered correctly. See the sample score report screenshot that follows:
• For more informaQon on the exam structure, download the free LEED Green Associate Exam Candidate
Handbook from www.usgbc.org.
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Applying for the Exam
To apply for the exam, go to www.usgbc.org and follow the steps below:
• Log in to your account using your email address and USGBC password.
• Click on “LEED,” then “LEED CredenQals,” then “LEED Green Associate,” then “Apply for Exam.” You can
also go directly to www.usgbc.org/leed/credenQals/leed-ga/overview.
• Follow the exam applicaQons steps.
Study Tips
For tests that require memorizaQon, people generally retain informaQon more effecQvely by establishing a
regular but more intense study schedule over a shorter period of Qme, rather than an intermiTent schedule
drawn out over several months. Since everyone is different, there’s no universal rule as to the number of hours
you should study. In general however, we recommend at least 10-12 hours a week for 3 consecuQve weeks to
allow yourself Qme to memorize all of the informaQon in this study guide and take all of our pracQce exams. The
following is a general step-by-step guide to preparing for the exam using the GreenStep Study Guide and sample
exams:
1. Read through the LEED Green Associate Exam Candidate Handbook to learn basic informaQon on the
format of the exam and the registraQon process. You can download this handbook from
www.usgbc.org. If you haven’t done so before, spend a minute or two perusing the USGBC website to
become familiar with the LEED basics: www.usgbc.org/about/leed. For people that are completely new
to LEED and looking for a bit more detail, Wikipedia provides a good overview detailing the history of
LEED, benefits of cerQficaQon and notable LEED projects. None of these topics are covered on the exam,
but they’re sQll worth a read for the beginner.
2. Read through this GreenStep Study Guide, secQon by secQon. Read it again, but this Qme, focus on
memorizing the informaQon. Make flashcards if necessary. Keep in mind that this study guide was
created from the actual exam and is your primary study resource.
3. Take GreenStep’s full-length pracQce exams. Review them thoroughly to understand why each answer is
(in)correct. Our pracQce exams are available for purchase through one of our partners, Poplar Network,
and can be found through a link on our website: www.greenstepeducaQon.com.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 unQl you’ve commiTed the key informaQon to memory and you’re scoring 100%
on all of our pracQce exams.
5. Review our “Test Taking Strategies” secQon once more.
6. Take the exam with confidence.
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7. Once you pass, send us an email via our contact page so we can congratulate you and conQnue to track
our success rate: www.greenstepeducaQon.com/contact.php.
LinkedIn GreenStep Community

For those of you who use LinkedIn, we’d like to invite you to join our GreenStep Community LinkedIn Group.
Together with past GreenStep workshop parQcipants, we’ve created an online forum where members can post
quesQons related to LEED project management and the LEED exam, view updates on LEED Version 4 and
ConQnuing EducaQon opportuniQes, and share relevant links, job opportuniQes, best pracQces and so on. We
hope it will be a valuable resource for you during both your LEED exam preparaQon, and your future green
building endeavors. Visit the link below to join the group:

www.linkedin.com/groups/GreenStep-Community-4447962/about
Addi9onal Ques9ons & Answers

To help address addiQonal quesQons you may have, we’ve included an “FAQ SecQon” at the end of the study
guide.
Now that we’ve reviewed the basics, it’s Qme to get started. As you read through this study guide, remember
that every detail has been included for a reason. If it is in this study guide, then it’s something that you should
potenQally know as a Green Associate.
READY . . . SET . . . MEMORIZE!
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Background & Overview
Overview of LEED and the USGBC
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a voluntary, consensus driven, internaQonally
recognized green building cerQficaQon system providing third-party verificaQon that a building or community
was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions
reducQon, improved indoor environmental quality and resource stewardship.
Developed by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is intended to provide building owners
and operators with a consistent framework for idenQfying and implemenQng pracQcal and measurable green
building design, construcQon, operaQons and maintenance strategies. The USGBC’s vision is that “Buildings and
communiQes will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generaQon.” The USGBC is
responsible for conQnually advancing the LEED RaQng System.
The hallmark of LEED is that it is an open and transparent process wherein the technical criteria proposed by
USGBC members is publicly reviewed for approval by thousands of member organizaQons.
The nonprofit Green Business CerQficaQon Inc (GBCI) was established by the USGBC to provide a series of exams
to allow individuals to become accredited for their knowledge of the LEED RaQng System. This is recognized
through either the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) or LEED Green Associate designaQon. The GBCI also
provides third-party review of documentaQon for all projects pursuing LEED.
Strategic Goals of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

• Sustainable Ci4es and Communi4es: Catalyze and lead the building sector’s acQve parQcipaQon in the
movement to achieve sustainable ciQes and communiQes.
• Climate and Natural Resources: Lead the dramaQc reducQon and eventual eliminaQon of building
construcQon and operaQons’ contribuQon to climate change and natural resource depleQon.
• Green Building Marketplace: Accelerate green building demand, delivery, and accessibility.
• Public Policy: Advocate for effecQve and comprehensive green building policy and codes at all levels of
government.
• Interna4onal: Advance green building around the world by developing cerQficaQon capacity, sharing
knowledge, and advancing effecQve green building pracQces and policies.
In the current version of LEED there are 100 possible base points typically distributed across six major credit
categories:
1. LocaQon and TransportaQon 4. Energy and Atmosphere
2. Sustainable Sites 5. Materials and Resources
3. Water Efficiency 6. Indoor Environmental Quality
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In addiQon to the six major credit categories, there are two more categories worth a total of 10 points:
InnovaQon in Design and Regional Priority. 110 points is thus the combined maximum score for each LEED
raQng system. For certain RaQng Systems, there are also prerequisites and credits under ‘IntegraQve Process’
which is not considered a separate credit category.
LEED Point Alloca9on & Impact Categories
Buildings can qualify for four levels of cerQficaQon based on the following point thresholds:
• CerQfied: 40–49 points

• Silver: 50–59 points
• Gold: 60–79 points
• PlaQnum: 80 points and above
In addiQon to achieving a set number of points, all projects must achieve every prerequisite within each secQon,
regardless of the raQng system or desired cerQficaQon level.
The goal of the LEED credit system is to allocate points for various green building strategies “based on the
potenQal environmental impacts and human benefits of each LEED credit.” The USGBC relies on the
environmental impact categories of the United States Environmental ProtecQon Agency's Tools for the
ReducQon and Assessment of Chemical and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI) to weight each credit.
The Impact Categories used to determine LEED point allocaQon include the following:
1. Reverse ContribuQons to Global Climate Change

2. Enhance Individual Human Health and Well-Being
3. Protect and Restore Water Resources
4. Protect, Enhance and Restore BioDiversity and Ecosystems
5. Promote Sustainable and RegeneraQve Material Resources Cycles
6. Build a Greener Economy
7. Enhance Social Equity, Environmental JusQce, and Community Quality of Life
Prerequisites
Basic prerequisites for parQcipaQng in LEED include compliance with all environmental laws and regulaQons,
minimum occupancy, building permanence, site boundaries and area-to-site raQos, and obligatory five-year
sharing of whole building energy and water use data from the start of occupancy (for new construcQon) or date
of cerQficaQon (for exisQng buildings). In order to pursue LEED cerQficaQon, projects must always comply with all
LEED prerequisites. They are mandatory.
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The LEED Cer9fica9on Process
LEED cerQficaQon is obtained aler submi|ng an applicaQon that documents a project’s compliance with the
requirements of LEED prerequisites and credits within the raQng system, and paying the relaQvely small
registraQon and cerQficaQon fees. For many LEED credits and prerequisites, buildings applying for cerQficaQon
are compared with a theoreQcal baseline defined by a set of standards.
CerQficaQon is granted solely by the Green Business CerQficaQon Inc (GBCI) (formerly Green Business
CerQficaQon Inc), which is responsible for the third party verificaQon of project compliance with LEED
requirements.
Basic LEED Terminology

• LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
• People are LEED accredited and buildings are LEED cerQfied
• Products cannot be LEED cerQfied, they simply help achieve various credits
LEED Credit Structure

Each LEED credit and prerequisite in any one of the LEED raQng systems includes both an Intent and a set of
Requirements outlining what must be accomplished in order to achieve a certain number of points. Here is a
sample reference guide page:
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The reference guide also includes the 13 addiQonal secQons listed for each credit (see below).
1. Benefits & Issues to Consider 8. Examples

2. Related Credits 9. Exemplary Performance
3. Summary of Reference Standards 10. Regional VariaQons
4. ImplementaQon 11. O & M ConsideraQons
5. Timeline & Team 12. Resources
6. CalculaQons 13. DefiniQons
7. DocumentaQon Guidance
The LEED reference guides and raQng system documents are not required study resources for the LEED Green
Associate exam, however they are useful project resources. LEED credits are worth various points depending on
the LEED raQng system; prerequisites are required and therefore do not contribute to the point total. LEED
Green Associates do not need to study the possible points per credit since they vary across the different LEED
raQng systems.
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LEED Ra9ng Systems
LEED has evolved since its original incepQon to more accurately represent and incorporate emerging green
building technologies and adapt to different project types. Today, LEED consists of a suite of almost a dozen
different raQng systems for the design, construcQon and operaQon of buildings, homes and neighborhoods.
Examples of LEED raQng systems:
• LEED for New ConstrucQon • LEED for Retail: Commercial

• LEED for Core & Shell Interiors
• LEED for Schools • LEED for ExisQng Buildings:
• LEED for Retail: New ConstrucQon OperaQons & Maintenance
and Major RenovaQons • LEED for Neighborhood
• LEED for Healthcare Development
• LEED for Commercial Interiors • LEED for Homes
The majority of concepts covered on the LEED Green Associate exam are consistent across the various LEED
RaQng Systems. For example, the definiQon of post-consumer recycled content is listed in the LEED NC, LEED CI,
LEED CS, LEED EBOM raQng systems, etc., so you don’t need to study one parQcular LEED raQng system over
another. Nonetheless, there are a few specifics that you should know regarding several of the more common
LEED raQng systems:
LEED for New Construc9on (LEED NC)
Applies to the following:
• New Commercial Buildings including:

• Retail
• Office
• InsQtuQonal Buildings
• Hotels
• ExisQng buildings that include “significant envelope modificaQons and/or major HVAC
renovaQons”
NOTE: Projects that earn LEED NC are not required to recerQfy; however, they are encouraged to apply for LEED
EBOM at least 12 months aler conQnuous operaQon.
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LEED for Exis9ng Buildings Opera9ons and Maintenance (LEED O+M)
Applies to the following:

• Owner occupied buildings
• Single and mulQ-tenant buildings
• MulQple building projects
• Buildings previously cerQfied under LEED NC
LEED EBOM buildings must fulfill the following:

• Meet minimum occupancy requirements
• Be conQnuously occupied for at least 12 months
• Use performance periods to measure results and progress over a set amount of Qme
• Develop building policies. LEED EBOM building policies must include a plan for monitoring progress and
results as well as the following structure: Scope, Performance Metrics, Goals, Strategies, Responsible
ParQes, and Time Period.
LEED EBOM is the only raQng system that requires recerQficaQon:

• LEED EBOM buildings may recerQfy as olen as every year and must recerQfy at least every 5 years
• LEED EBOM recerQficaQon fees are less than the iniQal cerQficaQon fee
LEED for Core & Shell
The LEED for Core & Shell RaQng System is typically used when the developer does not control the interior
porQon of the build-out. The scope of LEED for Core & Shell is limited to those elements of the project under
the direct control of the developer/owner. Depending on how the project is structured, this scope can range
greatly from project to project. For example, LEED for Core & Shell can be used for projects where the developer
controls the design and construcQon of the enQre Core and Shell (CS) base building (which may or may not
include Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) systems), but have no control over the design and
construcQon of the tenant fit-out. In projects that are designed and constructed to be parQally occupied by the
owner/developer, the owner/tenant may occupy no more than 50% of the building’s leasable space in order to
be eligible for LEED CS. Projects with greater than 50% of the building’s tenant space occupied by a tenant/
owner should uQlize LEED NC.
Core & Shell is the only system that allows for pre-cerQficaQon to help projects aTract tenants before the
compleQon of construcQon.
LEED for Schools
The LEED for Schools RaQng System addresses acousQcs as a Prerequisite; other system address acousQcs as an
opQonal Credit.
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LEED for Homes
The LEED for Homes RaQng System is the only one that includes an adjustment for square footage to discourage
large “green” mansions.
NOTE: If a project team is unsure which raQng system to use, go to www.usgbc.org for guidance.
Campus Projects
There are two approaches to cerQfying mulQple buildings under the Campus Program:
• Group Approach - allows buildings that are substanQally similar and are in a single locaQon to cerQfy as
one project that shares a single cerQficaQon.
• Campus Approach - allows buildings that share a single locaQon and site aTributes to achieve separate
LEED cerQficaQon for each project on the master site.
The Volume Build and MulQple Building / Campus ApplicaQon Guide is available for projects within a campus
se|ng or for a group of similar buildings cerQfying as a set.
Sample ques4ons: Which ra4ng system addresses acous4cs? Which ra4ng system requires
recer4fica4on? What must be included in LEED EBOM building policies? Which ra4ng system allows for pre-
cer4fica4on? How much of the interior build-out can a developer control in order to remain eligible for LEED CS?
How oPen must LEED EBOM projects recer4fy? What are the 7 Impact Categories that LEED uses for point
alloca4on? What is the difference between the USGBC and the GBCI?
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Minimum Program Requirements
In addiQon to the prerequisites, a LEED project must comply with each applicable Minimum Program
Requirement (MPR) listed below:
1. It must be in a permanent locaQon on exisQng land.

2. It must use reasonable LEED boundaries:
• Includes all conQguous land that is associated with the project and supports its typical operaQons
• Does not unreasonably exclude porQons of the building, space, or site to give the project an advantage
• Accurately communicates the scope of the project and disQnguishes it from any non-cerQfying space
3. It must comply with project size requirements (Minimum size is 1,000 sq l for LEED BD+C & EBOM and 250
sq l for ID+C).
LEED Site Boundary - Addi9onal Guidance

Non-conQguous parcels of land may be included within the LEED project boundary if the parcels are directly
associated with normal building operaQons of the LEED project and are accessible to the LEED project’s
occupants.
FaciliQes such as parking lots, bicycle storage, shower/changing faciliQes, and/or on-site renewable energy that
are outside of the LEED project boundary may be included in certain prerequisites and credits if they directly
serve the LEED project and are not double-counted for other LEED projects.
The LEED project should include the enQre building and complete scope of work.
Buildings or structures primarily dedicated to parking are not eligible for LEED cerQficaQon. Parking that serves
an eligible LEED project should be included in the cerQficaQon.
NOTES: The “Property Boundary” is the legal boundary between two pieces of property. This is different from
the LEED Site Boundary and the Development Footprint.
Two credits affected by the LEED Site Boundary include Protect or Restore Habitat and Light PolluQon ReducQon.
The LEED Site Boundary will in part determine the area beyond which development should be minimized for
Protect or Restore Habitat. Light PolluQon ReducQon requires that light spill be minimized beyond the LEED Site
Boundary.
Sample ques4ons: What is the minimum floor area required for LEED NC projects? What are LEED credit
weigh4ngs based on? What are the parameters of the LEED Site Boundary? How many points are required for
LEED Gold? Which sec4ons are listed in the LEED Reference Guide for each Credit & Prerequisite? What is the
difference between “group” and “campus” cer4fica4ons? What might be affected by the LEED Site Boundary?
16
Managing a LEED Project
Steps to LEED Cer9fica9on

1. IniQal Discovery & Pre-Planning Phase (Research and Analysis)
2. Select LEED RaQng System
3. Check Minimum Program Requirements
4. Establish Project Goals (Budget, Schedule, Performance Targets, etc)
5. Define LEED Project Scope
6. Develop LEED Scorecard
7. Engage IteraQve Process - conQnually perform addiQonal research & analysis refining approach
8. Assign Roles and ResponsibiliQes
9. Develop Consistent & Accurate DocumentaQon
10. Perform Quality Assurance Review and Submit for CerQficaQon
Integrated Project Delivery

“Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) leverages early contribuQons of knowledge and experQse through the
uQlizaQon of new technologies, allowing all team members to beTer realize their highest potenQal while
expanding the value they provide throughout the project life cycle.”
The convenQonal process for a construcQon project involves the iniQal project conceptualizaQon, followed by
pre-design, design, bid, construcQon, and occupancy. An environmentally responsive design process is non-
linear and adds the elements of integrated building design, design and construcQon team collaboraQon, and the
development of environmental design guidelines. These new elements should be incorporated into the project
from the very beginning and carried throughout the project phases to the final occupancy of the building. The
Owner, Architect and Contractor play the largest roles in the IPD process. Engagement with all stakeholders
(those most affected by the project) is criQcal.
Benefits include streamlined communicaQon, cost control, reduced construcQon Qme, and ability to link
schedule, phasing and sequencing.
3 Main Phases of the IntegraQve Process

• Discovery (Pre-Design)
• Design and ConstrucQon (ImplementaQon)
• Occupancy, OperaQons and Performance Feedback
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RELATED KEY TERMS:
Project Vision Statement: Serves to envision and describe the desired process and outcomes of the project at its
compleQon date
Triple Bofom Line: Refers to Profit, Planet & People. Also referred to as Economic, Environmental and Social
Responsibility
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA): A technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a
product, process or service (i.e. from raw material extracQon through materials processing, manufacture,
distribuQon, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling). LEED encourages Life Cycle Analysis over
other methods due to its more holisQc approach.
Life Cycle Cos9ng (LCC): Similar to LCA, LCC is the evaluaQon of the total cost of a building or product over its
useful life, including iniQal maintenance, repair and replacement costs, and savings.
Itera9ve Process: A tesQng process that repeats unQl errors no longer occur. Green building is olen an iteraQve
process as project teams seek to conQnually make improvements and opQmize performance.
Registering a LEED Project
Required InformaQon:
• Title
• Address & LocaQon
• AnQcipated ConstrucQon Start & End Dates
• RaQng System (Cannot be changed aler registraQon)
• Number of Projects to be Registered
• Gross Project Square Footage
• ConfidenQal? (Yes or No)
• Project Type (Hotel, Library, Restaurant, etc.)
• AnQcipated CerQficaQon Level
Project teams are encouraged to register their project as early as possible. While informaQon such as project
square footage and Qtle may change aler registraQon, the two items that cannot be changed aler registraQon
are the type of raQng system and the project zip code.
Sample ques4ons: What are benefits of the IPD process? What does “Triple BoZom Line” refer to? Which 3 team
members play the largest role in the IPD process? Can you define “Life Cycle Cost Analysis”? What is the
minimum number of occupants required to be eligible for LEED? What informa4on is needed when registering a
LEED project?
18
Evalua9ng LEED Costs
Registra9on Costs
Projects are registered at hTps://www.usgbc.org/leedonline. RegistraQon costs are based on membership only:
• $900 for members
• $1200 for non-members
Cer9fica9on Costs
CerQficaQon fees are based on both membership and project size (square footage). They are not based on
cerQficaQon level, project budget or project locaQon.
Other Costs (to be explained in more detail later on)
• $220 for Credit InterpretaQon Requests
• $500 for Credit Appeals (aler the final review)
RELATED KEY TERMS:
Hard Cost: The purchase price of a hard asset such as land, building, inventory, equipment or machine.
Sog Cost: ConstrucQon industry term for expense item that is not considered a direct construcQon cost. Sol
costs include architects fees, engineering fees, project manager fees, other consultant fees, legal fees, moving
costs, and building permit and filing fees.
Managing LEED Online
LEED Online is the website used to manage a LEED project. This is where you complete LEED templates, submit
Credit InterpretaQon Requests and upload documentaQon for review.
The person who registers the project will be automaQcally assigned the role of Project Team Administrator. The
Project Team Administrator has full access to LEED Online and can invite team members to join the project and
assign them roles. The Project Team Manager also has full access to LEED Online.
The “LEED Scorecard” is the screenshot within LEED Online that lists each credit the project is aTempQng.
Within LEED Online, each credit has its own unique LEED template (LEED form) that must be completed and
signed using a digital signature (email address and password). Some of these credit templates have calculaQons
that are built into the LEED template. Many - but not all - credits also have documentaQon that must be
uploaded. A parQcipant’s digital signature “saves” template informaQon to LEED Online. Template informaQon
is not processed unQl the project is submiTed to the GBCI during the review process. All LEED sample credit
templates can be downloaded for free from www.usgbc.org by clicking on “LEED,” then “Resources.” The LEED
19
templates are for use on LEED projects and are not recommended study tools for the LEED Green Associate
exam.
Addi9onal Documenta9on
In addiQon to the documentaQon required for individual credits, there are 6 general items that must also be
uploaded to LEED Online prior to submi|ng for final cerQficaQon.
1. Project site plan
2. Building floor plans
3. ElevaQons
4. Project rendering (if available)
5. Short project descripQon
6. Photos of completed project
General summary informaQon, such as project square footage and esQmated cost, must also be entered.
Credit Interpreta9on Requests (CIRs)
CIRs are established for projects seeking technical and administraQve guidance on how LEED credits apply to
their projects.
• Each Credit InterpretaQon Request costs $220

• CIRs are typically specific to one project and may only reference one credit
• CIRs must be submiTed through LEED Online
• Only the inquiry may be submiTed. CIRs may not include plans, photos, leTers or other supporQng
documentaQon
• CIR text is limited to 600 words (or 5,000 characters)

• CIRs have been used to determine if unique, alternaQve strategies may warrant an InnovaQon in Design
credit. However, InnovaQon in Design strategies do not need to be approved via the CIR process in order
to be accepted.
• Credit InterpretaQon Requests are reviewed and ruled on by the Technical Advisory Group (TAG). The
TAG is a commiTee consisQng of industry experts who assist in interpreQng credits and developing
technical improvements to the LEED raQng system.
LEED Interpreta9ons
LEED InterpretaQons are official answers to technical inquiries about implemenQng LEED on a project. They help
project teams understand how their projects can meet LEED requirements and they provide clarity on exisQng
opQons. LEED InterpretaQons are all of the following:
• Precedent-se\ng: All project teams are required to adhere to all LEED InterpretaQons posted before
their registraQon date. This also applies to other addenda.
20
• Published online: LEED InterpretaQons are published in a searchable database on www.usgbc.org.
• Subject to consensus-based review: LEED InterpretaQons undergo review by USGBC member-selected

volunteer LEED commiTees.
LEED InterpretaQons are similar to project CIRs. The difference is that LEED InterpretaQons, unlike project CIRs,
are precedent se|ng, meaning they are applied to all future LEED projects.
Submihng a Project for Review
1. Once all templates are complete and the required documentaQon has been uploaded, the Project Team
Administrator submits the project to the USGBC for iniQal review.
2. The USGBC issues iniQal review comments within 25 business days and typically lists each credit as Achieved,
Denied or Pending ClarificaQon.
3. The project team has 25 business days to provide requested documentaQon and/or appeal ruling. IniQal
appeals are free.
4. The USGBC then issues the final ruling. Projects may accept ruling or appeal credits ($500 per credit appeal
aler final review).
Design Review vs Construc9on Review
The project team has the opQon of submi|ng all credits at the end of construcQon (ConstrucQon Phase Review)
or spli|ng the project submiTal into the Design Phase Review and ConstrucQon Phase Review.
Credits will not be officially awarded during the Design Review, but may be “AnQcipated” if the documentaQon is
complete and correct.
The main advantage to spli|ng the review into these two phases is that it allows the project team to receive
design review comments in Qme to make any necessary changes. The overall cerQficaQon fees paid to the
USGBC remain the same whether or not documentaQon is submiTed in one or two phases.
Sample ques4ons: What are LEED project Cer4fica4on Fees based on? What is the role assigned to the person
who registers the LEED project? What informa4on is required when registering a project? What is the difference
between a CIR and a LEED Interpreta4on? How much do credit appeals cost aPer the final review?
GENERAL NOTE: For all of the LEED NC Prerequisites and Credits that follow in this study guide, LEED Green
Associate candidates should study the concepts and key terms outlined within each prerequisite or credit.
Candidates do not need to study the credit percentage thresholds (e.g. 10% Recycled Content), the credit
numbers (e.g. EA Credit 6 = Green Power) or the possible points per credit since each of these may change
across the various LEED raQng systems.
21
Integra9ve Process - IP
IP Prerequisite 1: Integra9ve Project Planning and Design (Healthcare Only)
Use cross-discipline design and decision making, beginning in the programming and pre-design phase. At a
minimum, you must ensure the following process occurs:
• Develop a health mission statement and incorporate it in the “Owner’s Project Requirements” (OPR).
Address all Triple BoTom Line values: economic, environmental, and social. Include goals and strategies
to safeguard the health of building occupants, the local community, and the global environment, while
creaQng a high-performance healing environment for the building’s paQents, caregivers, and staff.
Preliminary RaQng Goals: Conduct a preliminary LEED meeQng, also referred to as a “LEED CharreTe” with key
project team members and the owner or owner’s representaQve. Create a LEED acQon plan to determine which
LEED cerQficaQon level to pursue, select LEED credits to meet that level, and idenQfy responsible parQes to
selected credits.
KEY TERMS:
Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR): A wriTen document, developed by the owner and reviewed by the
commissioning agent, that details the ideas, concepts and criteria that are determined by the owner to be
important to the success of the project.
Charrefe: A meeQng in which all stakeholders in a project aTempt to establish project goals, resolve conflicts
and map soluQons.
IP Credit 1: Energy and Water-Related Systems

StarQng in pre-design and conQnuing throughout the design phases, idenQfy and use opportuniQes to achieve
synergies across disciplines and building systems.
Energy-Related Systems: Perform a preliminary energy analysis before the compleQon of schemaQc design that
explores how to reduce energy in the building and accomplish related sustainability goals. Assess potenQal
strategies such as the following:
• Site condiQons
• Massing and orientaQon
• Basic envelope aTributes
• LighQng levels
• Thermal comfort ranges
• Plug and process load needs
• ProgrammaQc and operaQonal parameters
22
Water-Related Systems: Perform a preliminary water budget analysis before the compleQon of schemaQc
design that explores how to reduce potable water loads. Assess and esQmate the
project’s potenQal nonpotable water supply sources and water demand volumes, including the
following:
• Indoor water demand

• Outdoor water demand
• Process water demand
• Supply sources
Implementa9on: Document how the above analysis informed building and site design decisions in the Owner’s
Project Requirements (OPR) and Basis of Design (BOD).
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Loca9on & Transporta9on - LT
The locaQon of a building is as important as how it is built. Through its locaQon, a building can meet the needs of
the local community, support acQve street life, and promote healthy lifestyles. Building locaQon also plays an
important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
LT Credits:
LT Credit 1: LEED for Neighborhood Development LocaQon
LT Credit 2: SensiQve Land ProtecQon
LT Credit 3: High Priority Site
LT Credit 4: Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses
LT Credit 5: Access to Quality Transit
LT Credit 6: Bicycle FaciliQes
LT Credit 7: Reduced Parking Footprint
LT Credit 8: Green Vehicles
24
LT Credit 1: LEED for Neighborhood Development Loca9on
**Projects aTempQng this credit are not eligible to earn points under other LocaQon and TransportaQon credits
because they already receive maximum points.**
Locate the project within the boundary of a development cerQfied under LEED for Neighborhood Development.
Projects may be awarded up to 20 points based on the cerQficaQon level achieved for the previous LEED ND
project.
LT Credit 2: Sensi9ve Land Protec9on

Locate the development footprint on land that has been previously developed or that does not meet the
following criteria for sensiQve land:
• Prime farmland
• Floodplains
• Habitat
• Water bodies
• Wetlands
LT Credit 3: High-Priority Site
Locate the project in one of the following areas:
• Historic District
• Priority Designated Site
• Brownfield
NOTE: Think of a brownfield as essenQally a contaminated site, and a Greenfield Site as raw or untouched land.
LT Credit 4: Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses
OPTION 1 – Surrounding Density
Locate on a site whose surrounding exisQng density within a ¼-mile radius of the project boundary meets
specific density parameters as listed in the LEED NC Reference Guide (The specific density parameters are not
covered on the Green Associate exam and are therefore not listed in this study guide).
25
OPTION 2 – Diverse Uses
Construct or renovate a building or a space within a building such that the building’s main entrance is within a
1/2—mile walking distance of the main entrance of four to seven (1 point), or eight or more (2 points) exisQng
and publicly available diverse uses.
The following restricQons apply:
• A use counts as only one type (i.e. a retail store may be counted only once even if it sells products in
several categories).
• No more than two uses in each use type may be counted (i.e. if five restaurants are within walking
distance, only two may be counted).
• The counted uses must represent at least three of the five categories, exclusive of the building’s primary
use.
Use Types and Categories:
Food retail
• Supermarket
• Grocery with produce secQon
Community-serving retail
• Convenience store
• Farmers market
• Hardware store
• Pharmacy
• Other retail
Services
• Bank
• Family entertainment venue (i.e. theater, sports)
• Gym, health club, exercise studio
• Hair care
• Laundry, dry cleaner
• Restaurant, café, diner (excluding those with drive-thru service only)
26
Civic and community faciliQes
• Adult or senior care
• Child care
• Community or recreaQon center
• Cultural arts facility (museum, performing arts)

• EducaQon facility (i.e. K—12 school, university, etc)
• Government office that serves public on-site
• Medical clinic or office that treats paQents
• Place of worship
• Police or fire staQon
• Post office
• Public library
• Public park
• Social services center
Community anchor uses
• Commercial office
• Housing (100 or more dwelling units)
LT Credit 5: Access to Quality Transit

Locate any funcQonal entry of the project within a 1/4-mile (400-meter) walking distance of
exisQng or planned bus, streetcar, or rideshare stops, or within a 1/2-mile (800-meter)
walking distance of exisQng or planned bus rapid transit stops, light or heavy rail staQons,
commuter rail staQons, or commuter ferry terminals. The transit service at those staQons in
aggregate must meet the minimum number of rides listed in the LEED BD&C Reference
Guide (This table is not tested on the LEED Green Associate exam and is therefore not
included here). Both weekday and weekend trip minimums must be met.
NOTE: According to the USGBC, automobile transportaQon is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas
emissions relaQng to buildings. Public transportaQon reduces personal automobile usage and therefore reduces
CO2 emissions.
27
LT Credit 6: Bicycle Facili9es
Bicycle Network
Design or locate the project such that a funcQonal entry or bicycle

storage is within a 200-yard walking distance or bicycling distance from
a bicycle network that connects to the surrounding community, such
as a school or employment center, and/or a transit stop.
Bicycle Storage and Shower Rooms
Provide short-term bicycle storage for at least 2.5% of all peak visitors, but no fewer than four storage spaces
per building.
Provide long-term bicycle storage for at least 5% of all regular building

occupants, but no fewer than four storage spaces per building.
Provide at least one on-site shower with changing facility for the first 100
regular building occupants and one addiQonal shower for every 150 regular
building occupants therealer.
Bicycle storage must be within 100 feet (30 meters) walking distance of any funcQonal entry.
Number of bike racks and showers is based on Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Occupancy. This includes:
• Full Time Staff

• Part Time Staff (as fracQons of 8hr/day employee. Each 8 hr/day employee is equal to 1 FTE. One 4 hr/
day employee is equal to 1/2 an FTE, etc.)
• Residents
NOTE: Where frac4ons are involved, LEED always requires the project to round to the most conserva4ve value.
For example, if 15.3 bike racks are needed based on the calcula4ons, the project must round up and install 16
bike racks to earn the credit. In contrast, if the energy model shows the project is 15.9% beZer than code, the
project cannot round up to 16%.
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LT Credit 7: Reduced Parking Footprint
Do not exceed the minimum local code requirements for parking capacity.
AND
Provide parking capacity that is a percentage reducQon below the base raQos recommended by the Parking
Consultants Council, as shown in the InsQtute of TransportaQon Engineers’ TransportaQon Planning Handbook.
LT Credit 8: Green Vehicles

Designate 5% of all parking spaces used by the project as preferred parking
for “green vehicles.” Green vehicles must achieve a minimum green score of
45 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual
vehicle raQng guide (or local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.).
A discounted parking rate of at least 20% for green vehicles is an acceptable

subsQtute for preferred parking spaces.
In addiQon to preferred parking for green vehicles, meet one of the following
two opQons for alternaQve fuel fueling staQons.
OPTION 1 - Electric Vehicle Charging
Install electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) in 2% of all parking spaces used by the project.
OPTION 2 - Liquid, Gas, or BaTery FaciliQes
Install liquid or gas alternaQve fuel fueling faciliQes or a baTery switching staQon capable of refueling a number
of vehicles per day equal to at least 2% of all parking spaces.
Sample Ques4ons: What does OPR refer to? What does “charreZe" mean? What are the 5 areas of sensi4ve land
protec4on? What are examples of “Diverse Uses” in each of the 5 categories? What does FTE refer to and how do
you calculate it? What is the organiza4on that sets the minimum mileage rate for green vehicles?
29
Sustainable Sites - SS
SS Prerequisites and Credits
SS Prerequisite 1: ConstrucQon AcQvity PolluQon PrevenQon

SS Credit 1: Site Assessment
SS Credit 2: Site Development–Protect or Restore Habitat
SS Credit 3: Open Space
SS Credit 4: Rainwater Management
SS Credit 5: Heat Island ReducQon
SS Credit 6: Light PolluQon ReducQon
30
SS Prerequisite 1: Construc9on Ac9vity Pollu9on Preven9on
Implement an Erosion and SedimentaQon Control (ESC) Plan that addresses:
• Soil loss during construcQon by stormwater runoff and/or wind erosion
• SedimentaQon of storm sewer or receiving streams
• Airborne dust generaQon
A helpful 4p: think “Soil, Water & Air” to remember the three things that are required for
Construc4on Ac4vity Pollu4on Preven4on.
SS Credit 1: Site Assessment
Complete and document a site survey or assessment that includes the following informaQon:
• Topography - Contour mapping, unique topographic features, slope stability risks.
• Hydrology - Flood hazard areas, delineated wetlands, lakes, streams, shorelines, rainwater collecQon
and reuse opportuniQes.
• Climate - Solar exposure, heat island effect potenQal, seasonal sun angles, prevailing winds, monthly
precipitaQon and temperature ranges.
• VegetaQon - Primary vegetaQon types, greenfield area, significant tree mapping, threatened or
endangered species, unique habitat, invasive plant species.
• Soils - Natural Resources ConservaQon Service soils delineaQon, U.S. Department of Agriculture prime
farmland, healthy soils, previous development, disturbed soils.
• Human use - Views, adjacent transportaQon infrastructure, adjacent properQes, construcQon materials
with exisQng recycle or reuse potenQal.
• Human health effects - Proximity of vulnerable populaQons, adjacent physical acQvity opportuniQes,
proximity to major sources of air polluQon.
The survey or assessment should demonstrate the relaQonships between the site features and topics listed
above and how these features influenced the project design.
31
SS Credit 2: Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat
Preserve and protect from all development and construcQon acQvity for a percentage of the greenfield area on
the site (if such areas exist).
AND
OPTION 1 - On-Site RestoraQon
Using naQve or adapted vegetaQon, restore 30% (including the building footprint) of all porQons of the site
idenQfied as previously developed.
Restore all disturbed or compacted soils that will be revegetated within the project’s development footprint.
OPTION 2 – Financial Support
Financial support must be provided to a naQonally or locally recognized land trust or conservaQon organizaQon
within the same ecoregion or the project’s state (or within 100 miles of the project). For U.S. projects, the land
trust must be accredited by the Land Trust Alliance.
SS Credit 3: Open Space
Provide a physically accessible outdoor space greater than or equal to 30% of the
total site area (including building footprint). The “Open Space” does not have to be
vegetated; pedestrian oriented walkways may also count towards open space. A
minimum of 25% of that outdoor space must be vegetated (turf grass does not
count as vegetaQon).
SS Credit 4: Rainwater Management
OPTION 1 - PercenQle of Rainfall Events
Manage the runoff from the developed site on-site for a certain percenQle of regional or local rainfall events
using low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure.
OPTION 2 – Natural Land Cover CondiQons
Manage the annual increase in runoff volume from the natural land cover condiQon to the post-developed
condiQon on-site.
32
Strategies for both opQons include the following:
• Bioswales & retenQon ponds
• Increasing vegetaQon (green roofs)
• Pervious paving
• Rainwater catchment & reuse
• Mechanical treatment systems (only applies to

Quality Control).
NOTE:
Any water that is absorbed by vegetaQon on site is considered to be

100% treated.
In dense, urban areas where surrounding vegetaQon is not present or feasible, vegetated roofs and mechanical
treatment systems may help to achieve the stormwater credits.
SS Credit 5: Heat Island Reduc9on
OPTION 1 - Non-Roof and Roof

Use any combinaQon of the following strategies to address Heat Island:
Non-Roof Measures
• Install plants that provide shade over paving areas on the site within 10 years of planQng. ArQficial turf does
not qualify.
• Provide shade with structures covered by energy generaQon systems, such as solar thermal collectors,
photovoltaics, and wind turbines.
• Provide shade with architectural devices or structures that have an aged solar reflectance (SR) value of at
least 0.28.
• Provide shade with vegetated structures.
• Use paving materials with an aged solar reflectance (SR) value of at least 0.28.
• Use an open-grid pavement system (at least 50% unbound).
33
High Reflectance Roof
Use roofing materials that have an SRI equal to or greater than the values in
Table 1. Meet the three-year aged SRI value. If three-year aged value
informaQon is not available, use materials that meet the iniQal SRI value.
Table 1. Minimum solar reflectance index value, by roof slope
Vegetated Roof
Install a vegetated roof.
OPTION 2 – Parking Under Cover
Place a minimum of 75% of parking spaces under cover.
KEY TERMS:
Heat Island: Thermal gradient differences between developed

and undeveloped areas.
Heat Island Effect: Refers to the absorpQon of heat by

hardscapes, such as dark, non-reflecQve pavement and
buildings, and its radiaQon to surrounding areas.
Heat Island is addressed by two credits dealing with Roof &

Non-Roof Surfaces.
Solar Reflectance Index (SRI): A surface material’s ability to reject

solar heat (between 0 and 100). A combinaQon of both EmiTance and Reflectance. The SRI of typical new grey
concrete is approximately 35.
Emissivity: The raQo of the radiaQon emiTed by a surface to the radiaQon emiTed by a black body at the same
temperature.
34
Thermal (Infrared) Emifance: A parameter between 0 and 1 that indicates a material’s ability to shed infrared
radiaQon (heat).
Solar Reflectance (Albedo): A surface material’s ability to reflect sunlight on a scale of 0 to 1.
KEY CONCEPTS:
Heat Island Effect is typically worse in dry climates since rainfall helps cool pavement in wet climates.
Be careful not to confuse the defini4ons associated with this credit. “Solar Reflectance” is not the same as “Solar
Reflectance Index.” Know the difference.
Open grid paving helps with both stormwater and heat island (see image for example). Pervious paving,
however, only helps with stormwater unless it is reflec4ve or shaded.
SS Credit 6: Light Pollu9on Reduc9on

Meet specific uplight and light trespass requirements, using either the backlight-uplight-glare (BUG) method
(OpQon 1) or the calculaQon method (OpQon 2). Projects may use different opQons for uplight and light trespass.
Sample Ques4ons: What should be top priori4es when selec4ng a loca4on for the project site? What is a
“brownfield”? What are strategies to address stormwater runoff? Can you define “eutrophica4on”? How is
Solar Reflectance different from Solar Reflectance Index?
35
Water Efficiency - WE
“The US Geological Survey esQmates that buildings account for between 12% - 14% of total water use. Green
building encourages innovaQve water-saving strategies that help projects use water wisely.” - USGBC
WE Prerequisites & Credits:
WE Prerequisite 1: Outdoor Water Use ReducQon
WE Prerequisite 2: Indoor Water Use ReducQon
WE Prerequisite 3: Building-Level Water Metering
WE Credit 1: Outdoor Water Use ReducQon
WE Credit 2: Indoor Water Use ReducQon
WE Credit 3: Cooling Tower Water Use
WE Credit 4: Water Metering
36
WE Prerequisite 1: Outdoor Water Use Reduc9on
Reduce outdoor water use through one of the following opQons:
OPTION 1 - No IrrigaQon Required
Show that the landscape does not require a permanent irrigaQon system beyond a maximum two-year
temporary establishment period.
OPTION 2 - Reduced IrrigaQon
Reduce the project’s landscape water requirement by at least 30% from the calculated baseline for the site’s
peak watering month. ReducQons must be achieved through plant species selecQon and irrigaQon system
efficiency.
The baseline is based off of “convenQonal equipment and design pracQces,” which vary depending on locaQon
and interpretaQon.
Strategies Include:
• Drip irrigaQon
• Greywater
• NaQve or adapted vegetaQon (drought-tolerant)
• Non-potable water
• Rainwater catchment systems
• Weather sensing systems
NOTE:
Rainwater catchment systems are more feasible in wet climates rather than dry climates since they can be sized
smaller and replenished olen.
ReducQons shall be aTributed to any combinaQon of the following items/terms:

• Plant species factor (abbreviated as “Ks”)
• Plant density factor (abbreviated as “Kd”)
• IrrigaQon efficiency
• Use of captured rainwater
• Use of recycled wastewater
• Use of water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for non-potable uses
OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE EQUATION:

Evapotranspira9on Rate: The amount of water lost from a vegetated surface expressed in millimeters per unit
of Qme.
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Microclimate Factor: The microclimate immediately surrounding the site. Abbreviated as “Kmc.”
Evapotranspira4on rates and microclimate factor are both constant values based on the project’s loca4on. In
other words, they are involved in the equa4on for water efficient landscaping, but they do not contribute to
water savings since they stay the same in the baseline and design. No points are awarded for reducing the
landscaped area. Projects are encouraged to include landscaping as long as it is water-efficient.
KEY TERMS:
Blackwater: Refers to water from toilets and urinals unless otherwise defined by local code.
Greywater: Governed by the Uniform Plumbing Code, Appendix G, greywater is untreated wastewater which
has not come into contact with toilet waste. It includes water used from the following fixtures:
• Bathtubs
• Showers
• Bathroom sinks
• Laundry machines
Water from kitchen sinks and dishwashers is not considered greywater.
WE Prerequisite 2: Indoor Water Use Reduc9on

Building Water Use
For the fixtures listed in the table below, as applicable to the project scope, reduce aggregate water
consumpQon by 20% from the baseline.
All newly installed toilets, urinals, private lavatory faucets, and shower heads that are eligible for labeling must
be WaterSense labeled (or a local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.).
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Appliance and Process Water Use
Install appliances, equipment, and processes within the project scope that meet specific requirements as
outlined in the LEED Reference Manual.
NOTE:
The LEED default calculaQons assume people go to the bathroom 3 Qmes in 1 working day. For example, males
would use a urinal twice and a toilet once.
STANDARDS:
The following standards set the above baselines for each fixture: Energy Policy Act (EPA) of 1992, InternaQonal
Plumbing Code (IPC), and Uniform Plumbing Code.
NoQce that Indoor Water Efficiency is based off of Full Time Equivalents (FTE); therefore, you do not need to
know the number of fixtures (toilets, urinals, etc) to calculate water savings, just the number of people and the
types of fixtures.
WE Prerequisite 3: Building-Level Water Metering

Install permanent water meters that measure the total potable water use for the building and associated
grounds.
Commit to sharing the resulQng whole-project water usage data with the USGBC for a five-year period beginning
on the date the project accepts LEED cerQficaQon.
WE Credit 1: Outdoor Water Use Reduc9on

Reduce outdoor water use through one of the following opQons:
OPTION 1 - No IrrigaQon Required
Show that the landscape does not require a permanent irrigaQon system beyond a maximum two-year
temporary establishment period.
OPTION 2 - Reduced IrrigaQon
Reduce the project’s landscape water requirement (LWR) by at least 50% from the calculated baseline for the
site’s peak watering month. ReducQons must first be achieved through plant species selecQon and irrigaQon
system efficiency.
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AddiQonal reducQons beyond 30% may be achieved using any combinaQon of efficiency, alternaQve water
sources, and smart scheduling technologies.
Non-vegetated surfaces, such as permeable or impermeable pavement, should be excluded from landscape area
calculaQons. AthleQc fields, playgrounds (if vegetated), and food gardens may be included or excluded at the
project team’s discreQon.
Table 1. Points for reducing irriga9on water (not covered on the exam, but shown for reference)
WE Credit 2: Indoor Water Use Reduc9on
Further reduce fixture and fi|ng water use from the calculated baseline in WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use
ReducQon. AddiQonal potable water savings can be earned above the prerequisite level using alternaQve water
sources. Include fixtures and fi|ngs necessary to meet the needs of the occupants. Some of these fi|ngs and
fixtures may be outside the tenant space (for Commercial Interiors) or project boundary (for New ConstrucQon).
Points are awarded according to Table 1.
Table 1. Points for reducing indoor water use (not covered on exam, but shown for reference)
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WE Credit 3: Cooling Tower Water Use
For cooling towers and evaporaQve condensers, conduct a one-Qme potable water analysis.
Cooling towers can use excessive amounts of water and olen use chemicals in the water to reduce corrosion.
Strategies can be employed to reduce potable water and chemical treatment in cooling towers.
Process Water: Used for industrial processes and building systems such as dishwashers, clothes washers, ice
machines, cooling towers, boilers, and chillers.
NOTE:
Installing submeters on cooling towers may help to reduce water by providing real-Qme feedback on usage.
WE Credit 4: Water Metering
Install permanent water meters for two or more of the following water subsystems, as applicable to the project:
• IrrigaQon
• Indoor plumbing fixtures and fi|ngs
• DomesQc hot water
• Boilers
• Reclaimed water
• Other process water
Integrated Strategies – Vegetated Roof

In addiQon to the specific informaQon covered within each credit, it’s important to understand how certain
strategies such as a vegetated roof may contribute to various environmental benefits and LEED credits. The
following is a list of potenQal benefits of a vegetated roof:
• Durability – protects the roof membrane
• AcousQcal benefits through sound insulaQon of the growing medium and plants
• Energy efficiency, possibly resulQng in the reduced size of HVAC equipment
• Heat island reducQon
• Stormwater management
• Outdoor water reducQon through drip irrigaQon and efficient species types
• Provides open space (contribuQng to bird habitats and human well-being)
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Study 4p: When studying for the exam, focus your efforts on the informa4on that does not come intui4vely to
you. For example, for most people it makes sense that a vegetated roof helps with stormwater management -
that’s easy. However, “increased durability” as a poten4al benefit may be less obvious. In this case, be sure to
memorize “durability” as a poten4al benefit of vegetated roofs so that you can answer the ques4on with
confidence when it appears on the exam. With the LEED Green Associate exam, it’s oPen less important to
understand the concepts than it is to memorize them.
Sample ques4ons: What is the baseline flush rate for toilets? According to LEED, how many 4mes would a man
use a urinal in one working day? Which fixtures are not considered greywater fixtures? In which climate are
rainwater catchment systems most feasible? What is “process water”? What are the benefits of a vegetated
roof?
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Energy and Atmosphere - EA
“Energy has emerged as a criQcal economic issue and top priority for policymakers. Buildings are on the front
line of this issue because of their high energy consumpQon. Studies show that efficient buildings offer
opportuniQes to save money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” - USGBC
EA Prerequisites and Credits:
EA Prerequisite 1: Fundamental Commissioning & VerificaQon
EA Prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Performance
EA Prerequisite 3: Building-Level Energy Metering
EA Prerequisite 4: Fundamental Refrigerant Management
EA Credit 1: Enhanced Commissioning
EA Credit 2: OpQmize Energy Performance
EA Credit 3: Advanced Energy Metering
EA Credit 4: Demand Response
EA Credit 5: Renewable Energy ProducQon
EA Credit 6: Enhanced Refrigerant Management
EA Credit 7: Green Power and Carbon Offsets
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According to the USGBC, the largest energy users in buildings are:
1. HVAC (HeaQng VenQlaQng & Air CondiQoning)
2. LighQng
EA Prerequisite 1: Fundamental Commissioning & Verifica9on
Intent: To verify that the project’s energy-related systems are installed, calibrated and perform according to the
owner’s project requirements, basis of design and construcQon documents.
Benefits include reduced energy use, lower operaQng costs, reduced contractor call backs, beTer building
documentaQon, improved occupant producQvity, and performance verificaQon.
Commissioned Systems must include the following:
• HeaQng, VenQlaQng, Air CondiQoning & RefrigeraQng (HVAC&R) systems
• LighQng and daylighQng controls
• DomesQc hot water systems
• Renewable energy systems (wind, solar etc.)

Commissioning Authority
By the end of the design development phase, engage a commissioning authority with
the following qualificaQons:
• The CxA must have documented commissioning process experience on at least two building projects
with a similar scope of work.
• The CxA may be a qualified employee of the owner, an independent consultant, or an employee of the
design or construcQon firm who is not part of the project’s design or construcQon team, or a
disinterested subcontractor of the design or construcQon team.
Project teams that intend to pursue EA Credit Enhanced Commissioning should note a difference in the CxA
qualificaQons: the CxA may not be an employee of the design or construcQon firm nor a subcontractor to the
construcQon firm for the credit.
Commissioning Process Scope
Engage a Commissioning Authority to complete the following:
1. Review the OPR, BOD, and project design
2. Develop and implement a Cx plan
3. Confirm incorporaQon of Cx requirements into the construcQon documents
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4. Develop construcQon checklists
5. Develop a system test procedure
6. Verify system test execuQon
7. Maintain an issues and benefits log throughout the Cx process
8. Prepare a final Cx process report
9. Document all findings and recommendaQons, and report directly to the owner throughout the process
KEY TERMS:
Owner’s Project Requirements: A wriTen document, developed by the owner and reviewed by the
Basis of Design: Typically developed by the design team in response to the OPR. It includes design informaQon
necessary to accomplish the owner’s project requirements including system descripQons, indoor environmental
quality criteria, design assumpQons and references to applicable codes, standards, regulaQons and guidelines.
Retro-commissioning: A systemaQc process for idenQfying less-than-opQmal performance in a facility’s

equipment, lighQng and control systems, and making the necessary adjustments. It focuses on improving the
efficiency of systems that are already in place.
EA Prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Performance
This prerequisite differs between the various LEED RaQng Systems. For LEED
for New ConstrucQon, Core & Shell, Schools and Commercial Interiors, the
standard referenced is ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, Appendix G. ASHRAE
stands for the American Society of HeaQng RefrigeraQon and Air CondiQoning
Engineers. Appendix G within ASHRAE specifically refers to high performance
buildings. IESNA stands for the IlluminaQng Engineering Society of North
America.
ExisQng buildings pursuing LEED EBOM must meet a minimum Energy Star
score.
LEED NC currently calls for an improvement of 5% in the proposed building performance raQng compared with
the baseline building performance raQng.
Electricity is measured in kilowaT hours (kWh). Gas is typically measured in Therms.
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EA Prerequisite 3: Building-Level Energy Metering
Install new building-level sub-meters or use exisQng ones that can be aggregated to provide building-level data
represenQng total building energy consumpQon (electricity, natural gas, chilled water, steam, fuel oil, propane,
biomass, etc).
Commit to sharing the resulQng energy consumpQon data and electrical demand data (if metered) with the
USGBC for a five-year period beginning on the date the project accepts LEED cerQficaQon.
EA Prerequisite 4: Fundamental Refrigerant Management
Do not use chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants (CFCs) in new heaQng, venQlaQng, air-condiQoning, and
refrigeraQon (HVAC&R) systems.
When reusing exisQng HVAC&R equipment, complete a comprehensive CFC phase-out conversion before project
compleQon.
SUMMARY OF CONCEPTS:
CFCs and other harmful refrigerants used in base building refrigeraQon equipment and fire suppression systems
cause significant damage to the ozone layer when released into the atmosphere, and may also contribute to
global warming.
The Montreal Protocol called for the following:
• Complete phase-out of CFCs by 2010
• Complete phase-out of HCFCs by 2030. (90% of HCFCs must be phased out by 2015; by 2020 HFCF will
cease to be produced globally)
OTHER KEY TERMS:
Halons: Substance used in fire suppression systems and fire exQnguishers that depletes the ozone layer.
Leakage Rate: The speed at which refrigerant is lost. It’s measured between refrigerant charges or over 12
months, whichever is shorter. Leakage rate is expressed in terms of the percentage of the appliance’s full
charge that would be lost over a 12-month period if the rate stabilized.
CFC: ChloroFluoroCarbon
HCFC: HydroChloroFluoroCarbon
HFC: HydroFluoroCarbon
ODP: Ozone DepleQon PotenQal
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GWP: Global Warming PotenQal
KEY CONCEPT:
HFCs have a higher GWP than HCFCs, but are sQll not as bad as HCFCs because they have a lower ODP. With
respect to refrigerants, a low ODP is more important than a low GWP. Despite being more harmful to the
environment, HCFCs have a slightly higher thermodynamic efficiency compared to the more environmentally
friendly HFCs.
EA Credit 1: Enhanced Commissioning
Requires commissioning acQviQes and requirements in

addiQon to EA Prerequisite 1: Fundamental Commissioning.
The Enhanced Commissioning Agent may not be a member
of the design or construcQon team, nor an employee of
their firm. The owner or a qualified representaQve of the
owner can serve as the Enhanced Commissioning Agent.
Requirements for Enhanced Commissioning

• Review contractor submiTals.
• Verify inclusion of systems manual requirements in
construcQon documents.
• Verify inclusion of operator and occupant training requirements in construcQon documents.
• Verify systems manual updates and delivery.
• Verify operator and occupant training delivery and effecQveness.
• Verify seasonal tesQng.
• Review building operaQons 10 months aler substanQal compleQon.
• Develop an on-going commissioning plan.
Include all enhanced commissioning tasks in the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and Basis of Design (BOD).
EA Credit 2: Op9mize Energy Performance

This is the primary energy efficiency credit that varies significantly across various LEED raQng
systems, and therefore does not include many general LEED Green Associate exam concepts. The following are
basic descripQons about how this credit is structured within the various LEED raQng systems:
47
LEED NC, CS, SCHOOLS — Performing a Building Energy Model is the most common opQon. Points are awarded
based on a percent reducQon in energy cost below ASHRAE 90.1.
LEED CI – Includes specific requirements for LighQng Controls, LighQng Efficiency, HVAC Efficiency, Zoning &
Office Equipment. Primarily relates to tenant controlled systems, not base building systems.
LEED EBOM – Points are based on the Energy Star score (0 to 100). Energy Star provides a comparison
benchmark with similar buildings.
KEY TERMS & CONCEPTS:
Process energy includes the following:

• Computers
• Office Equipment
• Elevators and escalators
• Kitchen cooking and refrigeraQon
• Laundry washing and drying
• Plug in lamps
Regulated (non-process) energy: Generally refers to base building systems such as chillers, boilers, cooling
towers, etc.
Passive Solar Design: In passive solar building design, windows, walls, and
floors are made to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of
heat in the winter (Passive Solar HeaQng) and reject solar heat in the
summer (Passive Solar Cooling). This is called “passive” solar design
because, unlike “acQve” (solar heaQng, photovoltaic, etc.) solar systems,
passive solar systems do not involve the use of mechanical or electrical
devices, fans, pumps, etc. The goal of designing a cost-effecQve passive
solar building is to take advantage of the changing angle of the sun and the
local climate. Elements to be considered include window placement,
orientaQon, size and glazing type, thermal insulaQon, thermal mass, and
shading on warm days.
A project seeking energy savings should first look to reduce the energy demand through strategies such as
passive solar design.
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EA Credit 3: Advanced Energy Metering
Intent: To provide ongoing accountability of building energy consumpQon

over Qme. Requires: InstallaQon of advanced energy metering for the
following:
• All whole building energy sources used by the building.

• Any individual energy end uses that represent 10% of more of the
total energy consumpQon.
Relevant Standard: InternaQonal Performance Measurement & VerificaQon Protocol (IPMVP)
KEY TERMS:
Building Automated System (BAS): A computerized, intelligent network of electronic devices, designed to
monitor and control the mechanical and lighQng systems in a building.
System Level Metering: Installing sub-meters that measure a subset of energy used for a
parQcular purpose in a building.
District Energy Systems: A central plant that provides energy to a group of buildings such as a University
Campus.
EA Credit 4: Demand Response
Design building and equipment for parQcipaQon in demand response programs through load shedding or
shiling.
Demand Response (DR) is defined as changes in electrical usage by end-use customers from their normal
consumpQon paTerns in response to fluctuaQons in the prices of electricity. The goal is to acQvely engage
customers in modifying their consumpQon in response to pricing signals, shiling their electrical usage from on-
peak to off-peak periods. One strategy is Qered electricity pricing, wherein buildings pay more for electricity
during peak-use periods (typically in the alernoon). Another is incenQve programs that reward commercial
customers who agree to change their usage paTerns when the uQlity company sends an alert announcing a
demand reducQon event. By reducing overall demand for electricity, DR helps uQliQes avoid building addiQonal
power generaQon faciliQes, transmission lines, and distribuQon staQons. This in turn reduces some of the
environmental effects of energy infrastructure and consumpQon.
Demand Response is a different concept from energy efficiency, which refers to the use of less power to perform
the same tasks.
Demand Response is a component of smart grid applicaQons, which improve the ability of electricity producers
and consumers to communicate with one another, and make decisions about how and when to produce and
49
consume electrical power. Smart grid applicaQons increase the opportuniQes for demand response by providing
real Qme data on electricity usage.
EA Credit 5: Renewable Energy Produc9on
Use renewable energy systems to offset building energy costs. Points are awarded for using on-site renewable
energy systems to provide a percentage of the building energy cost.
Equivalent cost of usable energy produced

by the renewable energy system
% Renewable Energy ="
Total building annual energy cost
Acceptable forms of renewable energy for LEED include the following:
• Photovoltaics (Solar)
• Wind energy
• Solar Thermal
• Geothermal heaQng & electric
• Low-impact hydro-electric
• Wave & Qdal energy
• Biofuels:
• Untreated wood waste including mill residue
• Agricultural crops or waste
• Animal & other organic waste
• Landfill gas
The following are not considered acceptable forms of renewable energy:
• Geo-exchange systems
• Passive Solar
• Burning landfill trash
• Forestry biomass other than mill residue
• Wood coated with paints or plasQcs
EA Credit 6: Enhanced Refrigerant Management

OPTION 1
Do not use refrigerants at all (mild climates).

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OR
OPTION 2
Select refrigerants and HVAC&R that minimize Ozone DepleQon PotenQal and Global Warming PotenQal.
EA Credit 7: Green Power & Carbon Offsets
Requires projects to offset carbon emissions from a percentage of the building's electricity usage by purchasing
Green Power. The green power purchased must be for 5 years and must be Green-e CerQfied (www.green-
e.org).
To calculate the amount of offsets a project must purchase, you first have to determine the baseline electricity
depending on the LEED raQng system. The baseline electricity usage is
based on one of the following:
• Energy model results

• Department of Energy’s (DOE) database
• Default value based on square footage
• Actual Energy Usage
KEY TERMS:
Renewable Energy Cer9ficates (RECs) are tradable commodiQes that represent one megawaT hour (MWh) of
renewable electricity generated and delivered somewhere on a power grid. Each MWh of clean renewable
electricity results in one less MWh of tradiQonal (dirty) power. RECs encourage the use of grid source,
renewable technologies on a net zero polluQon basis.
There are 3 general approaches for purchasing Green Power:
• In an open electrical market, project teams may be able to select a Green-e CerQfied power provider.
• In a closed electrical market, the uQlity company may have a Green-e accredited program.
• If Green-e CerQfied Power can not be purchased through a local uQlity, the project team can
purchase Green-e CerQfied Renewable Energy CerQficates (RECs) to offset electricity
consumpQon (most common).
NOTE: Green Power is typically measured in kWh or MWh.
Sample energy ques4ons: What does ASHRAE stand for? Which systems must be commissioned? By what year
must CFCs be phased out? What counts as a form of renewable energy? What represents an example of “process
energy”? How many MWh of renewable energy delivered to the grid does each REC represent?
51
Materials and Resources - MR
“Materials are the foundaQon of the buildings in which we live and work. The Materials and Resources credit
category focuses on minimizing the embodied impacts associated with the enQre life-cycle of building
materials.” - USGBC
MR Prerequisites and Credits:
MR Prerequisite 1: Storage & CollecQon of Recyclables
MR Prerequisite 2: ConstrucQon & DemoliQon Waste Management Planning
MR Prerequisite 3: PBT Source ReducQon - Mercury
MR Credit 1: Building Life-Cycle Impact ReducQon
MR Credit 2: Product Disclosure & OpQmizaQon - Environmental Product DeclaraQons
MR Credit 3: Building Product Disclosure & OpQmizaQon - Sourcing of Raw Materials
MR Credit 4: Building Product Disclosure & OpQmizaQon - Material Ingredients
MR Credit 5: ConstrucQon & DemoliQon Waste Management
52
MR Prerequisite 1: Storage & Collec9on of Recyclables
Projects must provide an area of the building to dedicate to recycling.
At a minimum, the following 5 items must be recycled:

• Paper
• Corrugated cardboard
• Glass
• PlasQcs
• Metals
In addiQon to the above materials, take appropriate measures for the safe disposal of 2 of the following:
baTeries, mercury-containing lamps, and electronic waste.
Design consideraQons should include:

• Signage to discourage contaminaQon
• ProtecQon from the elements
• Security for high valued items
• Appropriate sizing of recycling areas
MR Prerequisite 2: Construc9on & Demoli9on Waste Management
Develop and implement a construcQon and demoliQon waste management plan that fulfills the following:
• Establishes waste diversion goals for the project by idenQfying at least five materials targeted for
diversion.
• Specifies whether materials will be separated or commingled. Describes the diversion strategies planned
for the project, where the material will be taken, and how the recycling facility will process it.
Provide a final report detailing all major waste streams generated, including disposal and diversion rates.
Alterna9ve daily cover (ADC) refers to material other than soil placed on the surface of the acQve face of a
municipal solid waste landfill at the end of each operaQng day to control vectors, fires, odors, blowing liTer, and
scavenging. ADC materials include processed green materials, sludge, ash and kiln residue, compost,
construcQon and demoliQon debris, and special foams and fabrics. ADC does not qualify as material diverted
from disposal. Land-clearing debris is not considered construcQon, demoliQon, or renovaQon waste that can
contribute to waste diversion.
53
KEY CONCEPTS:
DiverQng hazardous materials, excavated soil and land-clearing debris do not apply towards this credit.
Waste diversion calculaQons can be done by weight or volume.
Using trapped landfill gases as a sustainable fuel source reduces carbon emissions from landfills.
MR Credit 1: Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduc9on
Demonstrate reduced environmental effects during iniQal project decision-making by reusing exisQng building
resources or demonstraQng a reducQon in material use or impacts through Life-Cycle Assessment.
Points are awarded for the following:
• Historic Building Reuse

• RenovaQon of Abandoned or Blighted Building
• Building and Material Reuse
• Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): the evaluaQon of the environmental impacts of a given product or service, taking
into account the whole life of a product or project from cradle to grave.
MR Credit 2: Building Product Disclosure & Op9miza9on - Environmental Product

Declara9on
Use permanently installed products that have a publicly published Environmental Product DeclaraQon.
An Environmental Product Declara9on (EPD) is a verified document that reports environmental data of
products based on life cycle assessment (LCA) and other relevant informaQon and in accordance with the
internaQonal standard ISO 14025. Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) allows third-party tesQng organizaQons to determine
the environmental consequences of a product, from the extracQon of raw materials, transportaQon to the
manufacturing facility, manufacturing, delivery to the project, installaQon, useful life and removal, to the
transportaQon to the landfill or recycling facility.
EPDs allow stakeholders to accurately assess the environmental impacts of the materials and equipment that go
into their buildings. They are olen referred to as the nutriQon label equivalent of the building industry.
Typically, the reports detail a product’s effect on global warming, ozone depleQon, water polluQon, ozone
54
creaQon, and greenhouse gases. A report may also include informaQon on human toxicity and corporate
responsibility.
EPDs allow building professionals to cut through the “greenwashing” with a cerQfied tesQng protocol and set of
requirements for a product to be labeled “green.” These declaraQons also help consumers make educated
choices affecQng their indoor environment, where most people spend 90% of their Qme.
MR Credit 3: Building Product Disclosure & Op9miza9on - Sourcing of Raw Materials
OPTION 1 - Raw Material Source and ExtracQon ReporQng
Use permanently installed products that have publicly released a report from their raw material suppliers which
includes raw material supplier extracQon locaQons, a commitment to long-term ecologically responsible land
use, a commitment to reducing environmental harms from extracQon and/or manufacturing processes, and a
commitment to meeQng applicable standards or programs voluntarily that address responsible sourcing criteria.
OPTION 2 - Leadership ExtracQon PracQces
Use products that meet at least one of the responsible extracQon criteria below for at least 25%, by cost, of the
total value of permanently installed building products in the project.
• Extended producer responsibility - Products purchased from a manufacturer that parQcipates in an

extended producer responsibility program.
• Bio-based materials - Bio-based products must meet the Sustainable Agriculture Network’s Sustainable
Agriculture Standard.
• Wood products - Wood products must be cerQfied by the Forest Stewardship Council or USGBC-approved
equivalent.
• Materials reuse - Reuse includes salvaged, refurbished, or reused products.
• Recycled content - Recycled content is the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half the pre-
consumer recycled content, based on cost.
• Regional materials - Products extracted, manufactured, and purchased within 100 miles of the project.
• USGBC-approved program - Other USGBC-approved programs meeQng leadership extracQon criteria.
NOTES: For Materials credits involving the purchase of materials, the following generally applies:
• Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) components and specialty items such as elevators and
equipment should be excluded from these credit calculaQons.
55
• Only include materials permanently installed in the project. In general (depending on the raQng system)
furniture may be included, provided it is consistently included throughout.
• CalculaQons are based on cost and are compared to total materials cost. The excepQon is FSC Wood, which
is compared to the total cost of new wood.
KEY TERMS:
Post-Consumer Recycled Content: The percentage of material in a product that was consumer waste. The
recycled material was generated by household, commercial, industrial, or insQtuQonal end users and can no
longer be used for its intended purpose. It includes returns of materials from the distribuQon chain. Examples
are construcQon and demoliQon debris, materials collected through recycling programs, discarded products (e.g.
furniture, cabinetry, decking), and landscaping waste (e.g. leaves, grass clippings, tree trimmings).
Pre-Consumer Recycled Content: The percentage of material in a product that was recycled from manufacturing
waste. Examples include planer shavings, sawdust, walnut shells, culls, trimmed materials, over-issue
publicaQons, and obsolete inventories. Excluded are rework, regrind, or scrap materials capable of being
reclaimed within the same process that generated them.
NOTE REGARDING FSC WOOD:
FSC Wood may be “Pure” or “Mixed,” but not “FSC Recycled.” A Chain of Custody CerQficate (COC) must be
assembled for all FSC products.
MR Credit 4: Building Product Disclosure & Op9miza9on
Use permanently installed products that use USGBC-approved programs to demonstrate the chemical inventory
of the product or that document their material ingredient opQmizaQon.
• Health Product Declara9ons (HPD) provide a full disclosure of the potenQal chemicals of concern in
products by comparing product ingredients to a wide variety of “hazard” lists published by government
authoriQes and scienQfic associaQons.
• Cradle to Cradle is an environmental approach to the design of products. It is a holisQc economic, industrial
and social framework that seeks to create systems that are not only efficient, but also virtually waste free.
The model in its broadest sense is not limited to industrial design and manufacturing; it can be applied to
many aspects of human civilizaQon, such as urban environments, buildings, economics and social systems.
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MR Credit 5: Construc9on & Demoli9on Waste Management
Recycle and/or salvage nonhazardous construcQon and demoliQon materials. CalculaQons can be made by
weight or volume, but must be consistent throughout.
Exclude excavated soil, land-clearing debris, and alternaQve daily cover

(ADC). Include wood waste converted to fuel (biofuel) in the calculaQons;
other types of waste-to-energy are not considered diversion for this
credit.
OPTION 1 - Diversion
Path 1. Divert 50% and Three Material Streams (1 point)
Divert at least 50% of the total construcQon and demoliQon material; diverted materials must include at least
three material streams.
OR
Path 2. Divert 75% and Four Material Streams (2 points)
Divert at least 75% of the total construcQon and demoliQon material; diverted materials must include at least
four material streams.
OR
OPTION 2 – ReducQon of Total Waste Material (2 points)
Do not generate more than 2.5 pounds of construcQon waste per square foot of the building’s floor area.
KEY CONCEPTS / NOTE:
Hazardous materials, excavated soil and land-clearing debris do not apply since these items should not go to the
landfill in the first place.
CalculaQons can be done by weight or volume.
Using trapped landfill gases as a sustainable fuel source reduces carbon emissions from landfills.
Commingling is a strategy whereby recyclable items are sorted at the recycling facility rather than the job site.
PUTTING THE CONCEPTS TO PRACTICE:

Take a look at the back-up documentaQon below for MR Credit 4: Recycled Content to see if you can tell what’s
wrong or what’s missing?
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Answer: The Percent Recycled Content is not broken into pre-consumer and post-consumer as the credit
requires.
NOTE: There are 3 Acceptable Forms of Back-up DocumentaQon for Materials Credits:
1. SpecificaQon Sheets, Cut Sheets or Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). The MSDS also provides
instrucQons on safe handling and disposal of potenQally harmful chemicals in a product.
2. Product Literature
3. LeTers from the manufacturer
Sample ques4ons: Which design considera4ons should be factored into the design of an area for the collec4on of
recyclables? Which items do not apply to construc4on waste diversion? What is the difference between post-
consumer and pre-consumer recycled content? Which materials count as rapidly renewable? What do EPD and
HPD stand for? Can you define “Life Cycle Analysis”?
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Indoor Environmental Quality - EQ
“Indoor Environmental Quality encompasses the condiQons inside a building - air quality, lighQng, thermal
condiQons, acousQcs, and their effects on occupants. Since the personnel costs of salaries and benefits typically
surpass the operaQng costs of an office building, strategies that improve employees’ health and producQvity can
have a large return on investment.” - USGBC
EQ Credits & Prerequisites:

EQ Prerequisite 1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance
EQ Prerequisite 2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control
EQ Prerequisite 3: Minimum AcousQc Performance (Applies to LEED for Schools only; not covered on GA exam)
EQ Credit 1: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies
EQ Credit 2: Low-Emi|ng Materials
EQ Credit 3: ConstrucQon Indoor Air Quality Management Plan
EQ Credit 4: Indoor Air Quality Assessment
EQ Credit 5: Thermal Comfort
EQ Credit 6: Interior LighQng
EQ Credit 7: Daylight
EQ Credit 8: Quality Views
EQ Credit 9: AcousQc Performance
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EQ Prerequisite 1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance
Meet the ASHARE 62.1 requirements on venQlaQon and meet the addiQonal requirements for monitoring.
VENTILATION
ASHRAE Standard 62.1–2010
Meet the minimum requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1,

VenQlaQon for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality or a local equivalent,
whichever is more stringent.
MONITORING
For mechanically venQlated spaces, monitor outdoor air intake.

For naturally venQlated spaces, monitor exhaust airflow and/or
carbon dioxide (CO2) concentraQons in the breathing zone located
between 3 and 6 feet above the floor.
Densely Occupied Spaces are those that have 25 people or more

per 1,000 square feet (40 sq l per person).
NOTE: If CO2 concentraQons are high, first look to increase outside air and then re-evaluate.
EQ Prerequisite 2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control
Prohibit smoking inside the building.
Prohibit smoking outside the building, except in designated smoking areas located at least 25 feet from all
entries, outdoor air intakes, and operable windows.
For residenQal buildings ONLY, you may allow smoking in the building as long as specific requirements are met
to reduce contaminaQon with other spaces.
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EQ Credit 1: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies
OPTION 1 - Enhanced IAQ Strategies
Comply with the following requirements, as applicable:
A. Entryway Systems
Install permanent entryway systems at least 10 feet long in the

primary direcQon of travel to capture dirt and parQculates
entering the building at regularly used exterior entrances.
Acceptable entryway systems include permanently installed

grates, grilles, sloTed systems that allow for cleaning
underneath, rollout mats, and any other materials manufactured
as entryway systems with equivalent or beTer performance.
Maintain them all on a weekly basis.
B. Interior Cross-Contamina4on Preven4on
Sufficiently exhaust each space where hazardous gases or chemicals may be present or used (e.g. garages,
housekeeping and laundry areas, copying and prinQng rooms), using the exhaust rates determined in EQ
Prerequisite 1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance to create negaQve pressure with respect to adjacent
spaces when the doors to the room are closed.
C. Filtra4on
Each venQlaQon system that supplies outdoor air to occupied spaces must have parQcle filters or air-cleaning
devices that meet one of the following filtraQon media requirements:
• Minimum efficiency reporQng value (MERV) of 13 or higher, in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 52.2.
• Class F7 or higher as defined by CEN Standard EN 779, ParQculate Air Filters for General VenQlaQon,
DeterminaQon of the FiltraQon Performance.
Replace all air filtraQon media aler compleQon of construcQon and before occupancy.
D. Natural Ven4la4on Design Calcula4ons
Demonstrate that the system design for occupied spaces employs the appropriate strategies in the Chartered
InsQtuQon of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) ApplicaQons Manual.
E. Mixed-Mode Design Calcula4ons
Demonstrate that the system design for occupied spaces complies with CIBSE Mixed Mode VenQlaQon.
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OPTION 2 - AddiQonal Enhanced IAQ Strategies
Comply with the following requirements, as applicable.
A. Exterior Contamina4on Preven4on

Design the project to minimize the entry of pollutants into the building. Ensure through the results of
computaQonal fluid dynamics modeling that outdoor air contaminant concentraQons at outdoor air intakes are
below the thresholds listed in the USGBC Reference Manual.
B. Increased Ven4la4on
Increase breathing zone outdoor air venQlaQon rates to all occupied spaces by at least 30% above the minimum
rates as determined in EQ Prerequisite 1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance.
C. Carbon Dioxide Monitoring
Monitor CO2 concentraQons within all densely occupied spaces. CO2 monitors must be in the breathing zone
between 3 and 6 feet above the floor.
D. Addi4onal Source Control and Monitoring
For spaces where air contaminants are likely, evaluate potenQal sources of addiQonal air contaminants besides
CO2. Develop and implement a materials-handling plan to reduce the likelihood of contaminant release.
EQ Credit 2: Low-Emihng Materials
This credit addresses the emissions of VolaQle Organic Compounds (VOCs) into
indoor air. The building interior and exterior are organized into six categories,
each with different thresholds of compliance:
• Paints & CoaQngs
• Adhesive and Sealants
• Carpet & Flooring Systems
• Composite Wood
• Ceilings, Walls, Thermal InsulaQon and AcousQc InsulaQon
• Furniture
RELATED TERMS:
Building Interior: Everything within the waterproofing membrane.
62
Vola9le Organic Compound (VOC): A carbon compound that parQcipates in atmospheric photochemical
reacQons (excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides and carbonates, and
ammonium carbonate). Such compounds vaporize (become a gas) at normal room temperatures.
VOC Budget: A weighted average calculaQon which can be used to show that the majority of the products
comply. If performing a VOC Budget CalculaQon, the informaQon needed for each product is the VOC level and
Volume applied.
EQ Credit 3: Construc9on Indoor Air Management Plan

Implement an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan throughout construcQon that addresses the following:
• During construcQon follow the Sheet Metal and Air Condi9oning Na9onal Contractors Associa9on
(SMACNA) IAQ Guidelines for buildings under construcQon. It addresses the following items:
- HVAC ProtecQon
- Source Control
- Scheduling
- Pathway InterrupQon
- Housekeeping
- ProtecQon of absorpQve materials from moisture damage
• If permanently installed air handlers are used during construcQon, use filtraQon media
with a Minimum Efficiency ReporQng Value (MERV) of 8 as determined by ASHRAE 52.2, and replace all
filtraQon media immediately prior to occupancy.
• Prohibit the use of tobacco products inside the building and within 25 feet of the building entrance
during construcQon.
EQ Credit 4: Indoor Air Quality Assessment
OPTION 1 - Flush-Out
Path 1. Before Occupancy
Aler construcQon ends, perform a building flush out with 14,000 cubic feet of outside air per square foot, while
temperature and humidity remain relaQvely constant.
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Path 2. During Occupancy
If occupancy is desired before the flush-out is completed, the space may be occupied aler the delivery of a
minimum of 3,500 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot. Once the space is occupied, it must be venQlated at
an increased rate unQl a total of 14,000 cubic feet per square foot of outdoor air has been delivered to the
space.
OPTION 2: Air TesQng
Conduct IAQ tesQng consistent with EPA Protocol in the breathing zone between 3 and 6 feet above floor.
EQ Credit 5: Thermal Comfort
Meet the requirements for both thermal comfort design and thermal comfort control.
Thermal Comfort Design
OPTION 1 - ASHRAE Standard 55
Design to meet the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55-2004, Thermal Comfort CondiQons for Human
Occupancy. Within ASHRAE 55, the environmental factors addressed are temperature, thermal radiaQon,
humidity and air speed.
The personal factors addressed are acQvity and clothing.
OR
OPTION 2 - ISO and CEN Standards
Design HVAC systems and the building envelope to meet the requirements of the applicable standard:
• ISO 7730:2005, Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment
• CEN Standard EN 15251:2007, Indoor Environmental Input Parameters for Design and Assessment of
Energy Performance of Buildings
Thermal Comfort Control
Provide individual thermal comfort controls for at least 50% of individual occupant spaces. Provide group
thermal comfort controls for all shared mulQ-occupant spaces.
Thermal comfort controls allow occupants, whether in individual spaces or shared mulQ-occupant spaces, to
adjust at least one of the following in their local environment:
64
• Air temperature
• Radiant temperature
• Air speed
• Humidity
NOTE: Thermal comfort surveys are encouraged to gather

feedback and make improvements. If results are poor, projects
should develop a plan of correcQve acQon.
EQ Credit 6: Interior Ligh9ng

Select one or both of the following two opQons:
OPTION 1 - LighQng Control
For at least 90% of individual occupant spaces, provide individual lighQng controls that enable occupants to
adjust the lighQng to suit their individual tasks and preferences, with at least three lighQng levels or scenes (on,
off, midlevel).
AND/OR
OPTION 2 - LighQng Quality
Select high-quality lighQng with characterisQcs such as:
• Light sources with a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 80 or higher
• Light sources that have a rated life of at least 24,000 hours
• Indirect LighQng
NOTE: Operable Windows, LighQng Controls and Ergonomic features contribute to both comfort and control.
EQ Credit 7: Daylight
Select one of the following three opQons:
OPTIONS 1 & 2: Computer SimulaQon CalculaQons
Demonstrate through the use of annual computer simulaQons that specific daylight illuminance levels have been
achieved in the regularly occupied floor area.
OR
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OPTION 3 - Measurement
Achieve specific illuminance levels for a percentage of the floor area.
Note: For all opQons, provide glare-control devices for all regularly occupied spaces.
EQ Credit 8: Quality Views
Achieve a direct line of sight to the outdoors via vision glazing for 75% of all regularly occupied floor area.
The areas with views must have at least two of the following four kinds of views:
• MulQple lines of sight to vision glazing in different direcQons at least 90

degrees apart
• Views that include at least two of the following: (1) flora, fauna, or sky; (2)
movement; and (3) objects at least 25 feet from the exterior of the
glazing
• Unobstructed views located within the distance of three Qmes the head
height of the vision glazing
• Views with a view factor of 3 or greater, as defined in “Windows and
Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor
Environment”
NOTES:
Include in the calculaQons any permanent interior obstrucQons. Movable furniture and parQQons may be
excluded.
Furniture parQQons that are low and/or transparent are encouraged to maximize views.
Views into interior atria may be used for only a porQon of the required area.
EQ Credit 9: Acous9c Performance
For all occupied spaces, address the following with respect to acousQcs:
• HVAC Background Noise
• Sound Transmission
• ReverberaQon Time
• Sound Reinforcement and Masking Systems
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Innova9on - IN
“Through InnovaQon, LEED encourages addiQonal environmental benefits beyond those already achieved
through other raQng system categories. InnovaQve strategies expand the breadth of green building pracQce by
incorporaQng cu|ng-edge techniques, processes and products into the development of a project.” - USGBC
IN Credits
IN Credit 1: InnovaQon (see below for details)
IN Credit 2: LEED Accredited Professional
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IN Credit 1: Innova9on
Project teams can use any combinaQon of innovaQon, pilot, and exemplary performance strategies.
InnovaQon (1-3 points)
Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED green
building raQng system.
IdenQfy the following:
• Intent of the proposed innovaQon credit

• Proposed requirements for compliance
• Proposed submiTals to demonstrate compliance
• Design approach or strategies used to meet the requirements
AND/OR
Pilot (1-3 points)
Achieve one pilot credit from USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit Library.
AND/OR
Exemplary Performance (1-2 points)
Achieve exemplary performance in an exisQng LEED v4 credit that allows exemplary performance, as specified in
the LEED Reference Guide, v4 ediQon. An exemplary performance point is typically earned for achieving double
the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold.
IN Credit 2: LEED Accredited Professional
At least one principal parQcipant of the project team must be a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) with a
specialty appropriate for the project.
68
Regional Priority
Earn up to four of the six Regional Priority credits. These credits have been idenQfied by the USGBC regional
councils and chapters as having addiQonal regional importance for the project’s region. A database of Regional
Priority credits and their geographic applicability is available on the USGBC website, www.usgbc.org.
One point is awarded for each Regional Priority credit achieved, up to a maximum of four.
69
Important Standards
ASHRAE (American Society of Hea9ng Refrigera9ng & Air Condi9oning Engineers)
ASHRAE 90.1 – Energy & LighQng
ASHRAE 62.1 – VenQlaQon
ASHRAE 55 – Thermal Comfort. The environmental factors addressed are temperature, thermal
radiaQon, humidity and air speed. The personal factors addressed are acQvity and clothing.
ASHRAE 52.2 – MERV FiltraQon / Air parQculates
ASHRAE 189.1 - A new, comprehensive standard related to the design of High-Performance Green
Building Except Low-Rise ResidenQal Buildings. It references all areas of the environment including site
sustainability, water use efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, impact on
atmosphere, materials and resources.
SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Condi9oning Contractors Na9onal Associa9on): Relates to maintaining good
indoor air quality during construcQon & demoliQon
GreenSeal: Relates to VOCs in paints and certain adhesives and sealants
Energy Star: Sets benchmark for energy usage comparison for buildings as well as for equipment and appliances
Green Label Plus Program: Relates to low VOC carpets
Green Label Program: Relates to low VOC carpet cushions
GreenGuard: Relates to low VOC furniture
Energy Policy Act of 1992 & Interna9onal Plumbing Code: Set standards for flush and flow fixture performance
for indoor water fixtures
IESNA (Illumina9ng Engineering Society of North America): Governs light levels and lighQng energy usage
Green-e: CerQfies Green Power including Renewable Energy CerQficates
SCAQMD (South Coast Air Quality Management District): Relates to VOCs in adhesives and sealants and certain
paints
Fair-trade Labeling Organiza9ons Interna9onal (FLO): CerQfies fair trade products
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): CerQfies sustainably managed forests
California Air Resources Board (CARB): Governs zero emission vehicles
ACEEE: Sets mileage standards (minimum score of 45 for low-emi|ng vehicles)
70
Important (Random) Facts Covered on the Exam (Memorize)
• Only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh water.
• The U.S. Geological Survey esQmates that buildings contribute to 13.6% of the world’s annual water usage.
• Buildings account for approximately 40% of the total energy and 72% of electricity used today.
• ConstrucQon and demoliQon waste consQtutes approximately 40% of the total solid waste stream in the U.S.
• According to a study by Carnegie Mellon University, green buildings can significantly increase employee
producQvity through strategies such as increased daylight, views to the outdoors, more outside air, finer air
filtraQon, beTer thermal comfort and through the use of low-toxic materials. ProducQvity increases can
range from 17 - 31% according to the most recent study by Carnegie Melon.
• Cul-de-sacs are considered to have a nega4ve effect on walkability because they generally limit pedestrian
pathways.
• According to a report by the Lawrence Berkeley NaQonal Laboratory, the average commissioning costs are:
$0.30/sql for retro-commissioning and $1.16/sql for commissioning of new buildings.
71
Addi9onal Terms
Many of the quesQons on the LEED Green Associate exam involve industry terms, such as the ones included
throughout this study guide, as well as those listed below. It is important to have an understanding of each and
every term before taking the exam.
Aerator: A faucet aerator (or flow restrictor) is aTached to the Qp of a modern faucet and is used as a water
saving strategy by delivering a mixture of water and air, thus reducing the total flow of water.
Ambient Temperature: The temperature of the surrounding air or other medium.
Aquifer: An underground bed or layer of permeable rock, sediment, or soil that contains water.
Authority Having Jurisdic9on: The governmental agency which regulates the construcQon process. In most
cases, this is the municipality in which the building is located.
Basis of Design: Typically developed by the design team in response to the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR).
Includes design informaQon necessary to accomplish the owner’s project requirements, including system
descripQons, indoor environmental quality criteria, design assumpQons and references to applicable codes,
standards, regulaQons and guidelines.
Bioswale: Bioswales are landscape elements designed to remove silt and polluQon from surface runoff water.
They consist of a swaled drainage course with gently sloped sides that's filled with vegetaQon.
Blackwater: Wastewater from toilets and urinals. DefiniQons vary and may be different for state or local codes.
Brownout: An intenQonal or unintenQonal drop in voltage in an electrical power supply system. IntenQonal
brownouts are used for load reducQon in an emergency.
Building Envelope: The exterior surface of a building – the walls, windows, roof, and floor - otherwise referred
to as the building shell.
Chiller: A device that removes heat from a liquid, typically as part of a refrigeraQon system used to cool and
dehumidify buildings.
Closed System: A system which does not allow certain types of transfers in or out of the system. A system with
a closed loop is thought of as more sustainable than an open system. For example, plants growing in a field,
grow, produce oxygen, take in water, then die and decay, which helps them grow. Closed systems can be linked
so one system uses the byproducts of another.
Commissioning (Cx): The process of documenQng and verifying that a building and all of its systems and
assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner’s project
requirements.
Construc9on Lien: A security interest in the property Qtle for the benefit of those who have supplied labor or
materials that improve the property. The lien exists for both real property and personal property.
72
Demand Side Management: The planning, implementaQon, and monitoring of uQlity acQviQes designed to
encourage consumers to modify paTerns of electricity usage, including the Qming and level of electricity
demand. It is similar to Demand ReducQon.
Densely Occupied Space: A space that has at least 25 people per 1,000 sq l (40 sq l or less per person).
Density: A raQo of building coverage to size for a given parcel of land. Density can be measured using floor to
area raQo (FAR), dwelling units per acre (DU/acre) or square feet of building area per acre of buildable land.
Deten9on Basin: A stormwater Best Management PracQce (BMP) designed to protect against flooding and, in
some cases, downstream erosion, by storing water for a limited period of a Qme. These basins are someQmes
called "dry ponds" if no permanent pool of water exists. Some detenQon ponds are also "wet ponds" in that they
are designed to permanently retain some volume of water at all Qmes.
Dry Well: An underground structure that collects runoff and distributes it over a large area, increasing
absorpQon and minimizing erosion.
Energy Management Systems: A control system capable of monitoring environmental and system loads, and
adjusQng HVAC operaQons accordingly in order to conserve energy while maintaining comfort.
ENERGY STAR ® Ra9ng: A joint program of the U.S. Environmental ProtecQon Agency and the U.S. Department
of Energy. For buildings, an ENERGY STAR score is a measure of a building’s energy performance compared with
that of similar buildings, as determined by the ENERGY STAR Por„olio Manager. A score of 50 represents
average building performance. Buildings that score a 75 or greater may qualify for the ENERGY STAR label. The
ENERGY STAR program also applies to equipment and appliances such as fax machines, copiers, refrigerators,
etc.
Eutrophica9on: The process whereby water bodies receive excess nutrients that sQmulate plant (algae) growth.
Floor to Area Ra9o (FAR): The raQo of the total floor area of buildings on a certain locaQon to the size of the
land of that locaQon. As a formula: Floor Area RaQo = Total covered area on all floors of all buildings on a certain
plot / Area of the plot. With respect to LEED, generally the greater the Floor to Area RaQo, the beTer, since it
typically corresponds with a more dense development. Also, building “up” rather than “out” may minimize the
land needed for the building footprint, leaving the possibility for more open space.
Gap Analysis: The comparison of actual performance with potenQal or desired performance. A LEED GAP
Analysis is the basis for making sustainable improvements to exisQng and/or new faciliQes - comparing current
condiQons to opQmal condiQons and using the “gap” between as a basis for making targeted improvements.
Glazing: Refers to glass paneling and/or windows.
Hard Cost: The purchase price of a hard asset, such as land, a building, inventory, equipment or a machine.
(LEED) Impact Categories: Impact Categories are used to determine LEED point allocaQon. LEED Impact
Categories include the following:
73
• Reverse ContribuQons to Global Climate Change
• Enhance Individual Human Health and Well-Being
• Protect and Restore Water Resources
• Protect, Enhance and Restore BioDiversity and Ecosystems
• Promote Sustainable and RegeneraQve Material Resources Cycles
• Build a Greener Economy
• Enhance Social Equity, Environmental JusQce, and Community Quality of Life
Integrated Design: A collaboraQve method for designing buildings which emphasizes the development of a
holisQc design. ConvenQonal building design usually involves a series of hand-offs from owner to architect and
from builder to occupant. In contrast, the integrated design process requires mulQdisciplinary collaboraQon,
including key stakeholders and design professionals from concepQon to compleQon. In addiQon to extensive
collaboraQon, integrated design involves a “whole building design” approach. A building is viewed as an
interdependent system, as opposed to an accumulaQon of its separate components (site, structure, systems and
use). Integrated design frequently begins with a charreTe or eco-charreTe, an intensive design workshop, in
which many stakeholders gather to set goals and idenQfy strategies for achieving the desired outcomes.
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): A project delivery approach that integrates people, systems, business
structures and pracQces into a process that collaboraQvely harnesses the talents and insights of all parQcipants
to opQmize project results, increases value to the owner, reduces waste, and maximizes efficiency through all
phases of design, fabricaQon, and construcQon. Integrated projects are uniquely disQnguished by highly effecQve
collaboraQon between the owner, the prime designer, and the prime constructor, commencing at an early
design stage and conQnuing through to project handover.
Leverage Point: The element in the system that has the largest effect on the whole system.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA): A technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a
product, process or service (i.e. from raw material extracQon through materials processing, manufacture,
distribuQon, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling). I.e. from cradle to grave. LEED encourages
Life Cycle Analysis over other methods due to its more holisQc approach.
Life Cycle Cos9ng (LCC): Very similar to the term above, LCC is the evaluaQon of the total cost of a building or
product over its useful life, including iniQal, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings.
Load-Shiging: Strategies designed to shil energy usage from peak demand Qmes to off-peak Qmes.
Minimum Efficiency Repor9ng Value (MERV): A raQng that indicates the efficiency of air filters in the
mechanical system. MERV raQngs range from 1 (very low efficiency) to 16 (very high efficiency). The standard
that references MERV raQngs is ASHRAE 52.2.
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Mixed-Mode System: A hybrid approach to space condiQoning that uses a combinaQon of both natural
venQlaQon from operable windows and mechanical venQlaQon. It maximizes comfort while avoiding the
significant energy use and operaQng costs of year-round air condiQoning.
Nega9ve Feedback Loop: A system wherein the output may signal the system to stop changing. For example, in
the case of a thermostat, the temperature feedback will tell the system to cut off at a certain point.
Open System: A system that constantly takes in items from outside the system, uses them, then releases them
as waste without a feedback loop. Open systems are generally considered less sustainable than closed systems.
Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR): A wriTen document, developed by the owner and reviewed by the
Passive Solar Design: In passive solar building design, windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and
distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter (Passive Solar HeaQng) and reject solar heat in the
summer (Passive Solar Cooling). This is called "passive" solar design (or climaQc design) because, unlike
"acQve" (solar heaQng, photovoltaic, etc.) solar systems, passive solar systems do not involve the use of
mechanical or electrical devices, fans, pumps, etc. The goal to designing a cost-effecQve passive solar building is
to take advantage of the local climate. Elements to be considered include window placement, orientaQon, size
and glazing type, thermal insulaQon, thermal mass, and shading on warm days.
Phosphorous: A common consQtuent of agricultural ferQlizers, manure, and organic wastes in sewage and
industrial effluent. It is an essenQal element for plant life, but when there is too much of it in water, it can speed
up eutrophicaQon of rivers and lakes. Soil erosion is a major contributor of phosphorus to streams.
Posi9ve Feedback Loop: A system wherein the output of a system is reapplied to the input. Examples include
populaQon growth and climate change.
Post-Consumer Recycled Content: The percentage of material in a product that was consumer waste. The
recycled material was generated by household, commercial, industrial, or insQtuQonal end users and can no
longer be used for its intended purpose. It includes returns of materials from the distribuQon chain. Examples
include construcQon and demoliQon debris, materials collected through recycling programs, discarded products
(e.g. furniture, cabinetry, decking), and landscaping waste (e.g. leaves, grass clippings, tree trimmings).
Potable Water: Water that meets or exceeds the EPA’s drinking water quality standards, and is approved for
human consumpQon by the state or local authoriQes having jurisdicQon. It may be supplied from wells or
municipal water systems.
Pre-Consumer Recycled Content: The percentage of material in a product that was recycled from manufacturing
waste. Pre-consumer content was formerly known as post-industrial content. Examples include planer shavings,
sawdust, walnut shells, culls, trimmed materials, over-issue publicaQons, and obsolete inventories. Excluded are
rework, regrind, or scrap materials capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated them.
75
Process Water: Water used for industrial processes and building systems such as dishwashers, clothes washers,
ice machines, cooling towers, boilers and chillers.
“Prius Effect”: As drivers observe the fuel consumpQon screen, they begin to make a direct connecQon
between the way they drive and the rate of fuel consumpQon. In turn, they become more consciously aware of
their behavior and are moQvated to drive in a way that keeps fuel consumpQon low.
Rain Garden: A stormwater management feature consisQng of an excavated depression and vegetaQon that
collects and filters runoff, and reduces peak discharge rates.
Rapidly Renewable Materials: A material that’s able to regenerate itself in 10 years or less. The goal of using
rapidly renewable content is to reduce the number and quanQty of products made from fossil-fuel derivaQves.
Rapidly renewable materials include linseed, straw, coTon, wheat, natural rubber, bamboo, and cork.
Regenera9ve Design: An approach to design that describes processes that restore, renew or revitalize their
own sources of energy and materials, creaQng sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the
integrity of nature.
Smart Growth: An urban planning and transportaQon theory that concentrates growth in compact, mixed use,
walk-able urban centers to avoid sprawl.
Sog Cost: A construcQon industry term for an expense item that is not considered a direct construcQon cost.
Sol costs include architect fees, engineering fees, project manager fees, other consultant fees, legal fees,
moving costs, furniture, signage, artwork, and building permit and filing fees.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): A measure of how well a window blocks heat from the sun, expressed as a
fracQon of the heat from the sun that enters the window. A lower SHGC is generally preferable, parQcularly in
hot climates.
Solar Reflectance (Albedo): A surface material’s ability to reflect sunlight on a scale of 0 to 1.
Solar Reflectance Index (SRI): A surface material’s ability to reject solar heat (between 0 and 100). A
combinaQon of both EmiTance and Reflectance. The SRI of typical new grey concrete is approximately 35.
Street Grid Density: An indicator of neighborhood walkability. A community with high street grid density and
narrow, interconnected streets is more likely to be pedestrian friendly than one with a low street grid density
and wide streets.
Sustainability Purchasing Policy: A policy used to establish guiding principles for the purchase of
environmentally preferable products and materials across categories such as food, low-mercury lamps and
durable goods, etc. Developing an overall Sustainability Purchasing Policy is a Prerequisite in the LEED EBOM
RaQng System.
Technical Advisory Group (TAG): A commiTee consisQng of industry experts who assist in interpreQng credits
and developing technical improvements to the LEED Green Building RaQng System.
76
Thermal (Infrared) Emifance: A parameter between 0 and 1 that indicates a material’s ability to shed infrared
radiaQon (heat).
Thermal Envelope: The thermal enclosure created by the building exterior and insulaQon.
Total Suspended Solids: ParQcles that are too small to be removed from stormwater via gravity seTling.
Suspended solid concentraQons are typically removed via filtraQon.
U-Value: A measure of thermal conducQvity (olen used for windows) that is the inverse of R-value. A lower U-
value means a more energy efficient window. It is also known as a U-factor.
Vehicle Miles Travelled: A measure of the transportaQon demand that esQmates the travel miles associated
with a project, most olen for single-passenger cars.
Vola9le Organic Compound (VOC): A carbon compound that parQcipates in atmospheric photochemical
reacQons (excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides and carbonates, and
ammonium carbonate). Such compounds vaporize (become a gas) at normal room temperatures.
WaterSense: A U.S. Environmental ProtecQon Agency (EPA) program designed to encourage water efficiency in
the United States through the use of a special label on consumer products. WaterSense is not a regulatory
program, but rather a voluntary program developed by the U.S. Environmental ProtecQon Agency through a
public process. WaterSense covers the following products/services:
• Toilets
• Bathroom sink faucets (and accessories)
• Flushing urinals
• Single family new homes
• Shower heads
• IrrigaQon professionals who have undergone training by WaterSense
Xeriscaping: A landscaping method that makes rouQne irrigaQon unnecessary through the use of drought-
tolerant plants, as well as soil amendments, such as compost and mulching, to reduce evaporaQon.
77
Test Taking Strategies
1. With the LEED exam, if you can’t find the correct answer(s), look for the best answer(s).
2. There’s no penalty for guessing, so make sure you don’t leave any quesQons unanswered.
3. Eliminate any incorrect answers before guessing.
4. Avoid spending too much Qme on confusing quesQons. Mark the quesQon and come back to it at the end.
5. Read each quesQon carefully, but don’t read into each quesQon. Avoid overanalyzing and/or making
unrealisQc assumpQons.
6. At the end of the test, review the summary to make sure you answered all of the quesQons.
7. Don’t eat a large meal beforehand.
8. Take breaks if needed.
78
LEED Exam F.A.Q.
Where do I go for informa9on on signing up for the exam, test taking procedures, and other general exam
informa9on?
Download the free LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook from www.usgbc.org.
What other LEED exam prep resources and prac9ce exams do you recommend?
As menQoned in our introducQon, we emphasize quality over quanQty. Apart from this GreenStep Study Guide
and the GreenStep PracQce Exams, we do not recommend any other resources.
Should I study the credit numbers (SSc2, MRc4.1, etc) and the thresholds listed in the credit requirements
(10% Recycled Content, 50% FSC Cer9fied wood, etc)?
No. Green Associate Exam candidates do not need to memorize credit numbers or credit percentage thresholds
unless otherwise noted.
What informa9on within this workbook is relevant and important to study?
It was our intent for this workbook to be as relevant and concise as possible. As such, we recommend
thoroughly studying all of the material included in our workbook. If certain informaQon is not included, then we
do not consider it relevant to the LEED Green Associate exam.
Some of the credits listed in this workbook contain very lifle informa9on. Why?
See the response above.
When and where is the exam offered?
The exam is offered year-round through a third-party exam provider called Prometric. When you begin the exam
applicaQon process, you will be directed to select the Prometric locaQon, and exam date and Qme of your
choice.
What are the con9nuing educa9on requirements for the LEED Green Associate creden9als?
For the most up to date informaQon on ConQnuing EducaQon, please visit www.usgbc.org. GreenStep offers a
CEU training package where parQcipants earn 15 CEUs for only 5 hours of project-based, real world training.
79
What study resources do you recommend for the LEED AP specialty exams?
We have developed GreenStep Study Guides and PracQce Exams for the LEED AP BD+C, ID+C and EBOM exams -
all of which were developed from the actual exam. These are the only resources needed for the AP exams. They
are available for purchase on our website: www.greenstepeducaQon.com.
Which LEED AP exam should I take?
Whichever LEED system is most relevant to your industry sector. For instance, if you work primarily on
residenQal, single family construcQon, then you would likely take the LEED for Homes exam. If you are a building
engineer responsible for the operaQons of exisQng buildings, then you would likely take the LEED EBOM exam
and purchase the LEED EBOM Reference Manual.
One LEED AP credenQal is not necessarily more recognized than another. From our experience, clients and
potenQal employers are more concerned with whether or not you have a LEED credenQal, as opposed to the
parQcular AP specialty exam that you passed.
80
Conclusion
It is our hope that our exam preparaQon workbook has proven to be both worthwhile and effecQve.
In an effort to conQnuously improve upon our materials, please send any comments or feedback to the contact
page on our website www.greenstepeducaQon.com. We welcome your input. Thank you for choosing GreenStep
as your study resource and best of luck on the exam!
Good luck!
81

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LEED

LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE STUDY GUIDE GREENSTEP

LEED NCv4 Scorecard 5

Background & Overview 10

Managing a LEED Project 17

LocaQon & TransportaQon - LT 24

Energy & Atmosphere – EA 43

Materials & Resources – MR 52

Indoor Environmental Quality – EQ 60

Important Facts Covered on the Exam 72

Test Taking Strategies 79

LEED Exam F.A.Q. 80

LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE STUDY GUIDE GREENSTEP

The LEED Green Associate Exam – Here’s the Scoop

a) Reducing the landscaped area

One more helpful sample quesQon:

a) Agreeing not to develop on wetlands or endangered species habitats

• Follow the exam applicaQons steps.

5. Review our “Test Taking Strategies” secQon once more.

6. Take the exam with conﬁdence.

LinkedIn GreenStep Community

Addi9onal Ques9ons & Answers

READY . . . SET . . . MEMORIZE!

Strategic Goals of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

LEED Point Alloca9on & Impact Categories

• CerQﬁed: 40–49 points

1. Reverse ContribuQons to Global Climate Change

Basic LEED Terminology

LEED Credit Structure

1. Beneﬁts & Issues to Consider 8. Examples

Examples of LEED raQng systems:

• LEED for New ConstrucQon • LEED for Retail: Commercial

LEED for New Construc9on (LEED NC)

Applies to the following:

• New Commercial Buildings including:

Applies to the following:

LEED EBOM buildings must fulﬁll the following:

LEED EBOM is the only raQng system that requires recerQﬁcaQon:

LEED for Core & Shell

LEED for Schools

1. It must be in a permanent locaQon on exisQng land.

LEED Site Boundary - Addi9onal Guidance

Steps to LEED Cer9ﬁca9on

Integrated Project Delivery

3 Main Phases of the IntegraQve Process

Registering a LEED Project

• $900 for members

• $1200 for non-members

Other Costs (to be explained in more detail later on)

• $220 for Credit InterpretaQon Requests

• $500 for Credit Appeals (aler the ﬁnal review)

RELATED KEY TERMS:

Managing LEED Online

Credit Interpreta9on Requests (CIRs)

• Each Credit InterpretaQon Request costs $220

• CIR text is limited to 600 words (or 5,000 characters)

• Subject to consensus-based review: LEED InterpretaQons undergo review by USGBC member-selected

Submihng a Project for Review

Design Review vs Construc9on Review

IP Credit 1: Energy and Water-Related Systems

• Indoor water demand

LT Credit 1: LEED for Neighborhood Development LocaQon

LT Credit 2: SensiQve Land ProtecQon

LT Credit 3: High Priority Site