LEED-AP-BD+C Questions and Answers

These factors are the major determinants of the total irrigation requirement for a landscaping design, because they affect the water demand and supply of the plants1. Plant species have different water needs and tolerances, rainfall provides natural water input, evapotranspiration rate measures the water loss from the soil and plant surfaces, site exposure influences the solar radiation and wind effects, and irrigation efficiency reflects the amount of water delivered to the plants compared to the amount of water applied2.

References: = [LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide], Landscape Water Requirement Calculators, Landscape Irrigation Design Manual.

An economic advantage of the infill site is that it reduces the need for new utility infrastructure. This is because the infill site is located within an existing urban area that already has access to water, sewer, electricity, and other utilities1. The developer can save on the costs of extending or installing new utility lines and services to the rural greenfield site, which may not have adequate or reliable utility infrastructure2. The other options are not economic advantages, but rather environmental benefits of the infill site. Protecting greenfields and farmland, preserving habitat and natural resources, and reducing potential damage to an existing stream are all positive outcomes of avoiding development on the rural greenfield site, but they do not directly translate into monetary savings for the developer3.

References:

•High-priority site, p. 1

•The Economics of Infill Development, p. 2

•LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction, p. 69

Materials and Resources Credit, Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Materials, Option 2. Leadership Extraction Practices

Natural rubber flooring is a bio-based material that can contribute to the achievement of Option 2 of the Sourcing of Raw Materials credit, which requires using products that meet at least one of the responsible extraction criteria for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed building products in the project1.By meeting the Sustainable Agriculture Standard (SAN), the natural rubber flooring demonstrates that it has been produced in a way that conserves biodiversity, protects natural resources, and enhances social and economic well-being2. Therefore, the cost of the substituted flooring ($80,000) can be counted towards the credit threshold.

References:

• Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 – Pages 263-2641
• Sustainable Agriculture Standard | Rainforest Alliance3

Contractor

The contractor is the project team member who should be integrated early into the design phase to assist with earning the Materials and Resources Prerequisite, Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning. The contractor is responsible for implementing the waste management plan, which includes estimating the types and quantities of waste materials, identifying the diversion strategies, selecting the waste haulers and recyclers, tracking and documenting the waste diversion performance, and training the subcontractors and workers. The contractor can provide valuable input on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle the construction and demolition waste, as well as identify potential challenges and opportunities for achieving the prerequisite requirements.

References:

• Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 – Pages 263-2641
• LEED Certification and Sustainable Construction Waste Management1

According to the LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Federal Renewal Community sites are designated by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as areas that are eligible for tax incentives to encourage businesses to locate and hire residents within the community. These sites are considered High Priority Sites for project development, as they support the revitalization of economically distressed areas. The other federal agencies listed do not designate Federal Renewal Community sites. References: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Location and Transportation Credit, High Priority Site, Requirements1; U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Renewal Communities2

The Materials and Resources Credit, Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, rewards projects that reuse existing building structures and envelopes, or salvage materials from off-site or on-site sources. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the project team must calculate the percentage of building being reused by dividing the area of the existing building structure and envelope that is reused by the total area of the completed building structure and envelope1. However, the project team must exclude from the calculation any hazardous materials that are remediated as a part of the project, such as asbestos, lead, mold, or PCBs1. Therefore, the asbestos containing materials found on the perimeter walls will be excluded from the calculation, regardless of the volume.

References:

•LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Materials and Resources Credit: Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, page 5451

•Building life-cycle impact reduction | U.S. Green Building Council2

Retail projects must conduct a waste stream audit for the duration of the project in an existing location or make projections based on historical data for similar establishments. Identify the top-five recyclable waste streams while stating the top-four waste streams where both collection and storage space will be provided.This is the requirement for Retail projects under the Materials and Resources Prerequisite, Storage and Collection of Recyclables, according to the LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide1.The purpose of this prerequisite is to facilitate the reduction of waste generated by building occupants that is hauled to and disposed of in landfills1.The prerequisite applies to all LEED BD+C projects, but Retail projects have a different approach than other project types because of their unique waste streams and operational characteristics1. Retail projects must conducta waste stream audit for the duration of the project in an existing location or make projections based on historical data for similar establishments.The audit or projection must identify the top-five recyclable waste streams by weight or volume using consistent metrics throughout1.The waste stream study period must be a minimum of 24 hours1.Retail projects must also provide dedicated areas that serve the entire building and are accessible to waste haulers and building occupants for the collection and storage of materialsfor recycling for at least four of the top-five recyclable waste streams identified by the audit or projection1.References:

• Prerequisite: Storage and collection of recyclables | U.S. Green Building Council

The only stage of LEED for Neighborhood Development certification that is eligible for points under Building Design and Construction: New Construction, Location and Transportation Credit, LEED for Neighborhood Development Location, is LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot, Stage 3 LEED for Neighborhood Development Certified Project.This is because the credit requires that the project be located within the boundary of a development that has achieved certification under LEED for Neighborhood Development (either Stage 2 or Stage 3 under the Pilot or 2009 rating systems, or Certified Plan or Certified Project under the LEED v4 rating system)1The other stages listed in the question are either conditional approvals or pre-reviews that do not guarantee certification23References:1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Location and Transportation Credit: LEED for Neighborhood Development Location, page 460.2: LEED for Neighborhood Development Location – Above Green33: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide - U.S.Green Building Council1

Discovery

The discovery phase of the integrative process gives the team the greatest chance of success in meeting the project’s environmental goals cost-effectively.The discovery phase is the initial stage of the project, where the team establishes the vision, goals, and performance criteria, conducts a site assessment, identifies synergies and trade-offs among systems, and performs preliminary analysis and modeling of energy and water use1.By engaging in this phase early and iteratively, the team can explore various design options, identify potential savings and benefits, and optimize the project outcomes2.

References:

• Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 – Pages 28-291
• Understanding Integrative Design in LEED v4 - BuildingGreen2

A pilot credit identified by the LEED AP that is relevant to the project would be documented in LEED Online as an Innovation Credit.Pilot credits are proposed credits that are used to test and evaluate a strategy before they can be considered for incorporation into the LEED consensus process for approval by USGBC membership1.All other LEED v4 and v4.1 projects may register for pilot credits and pilot ACPs in LEED Online1.

References:Pilot credits and pilot alternative compliance paths (ACPs)

Achievement of the Location and Transportation Credit, Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses may be affected by the move of the main entrance to the opposite side of the building. This is because the credit requires that the project be located within a minimum density area and within walking distance of diverse uses1. The walking distance is measured from a main functional entry of the project building to the diverse use entry1. If the main functional entry is moved, the distance to the diverse uses may change and affect the credit achievement. The other credits are not affected by the move of the main entrance, as they are based on the location of the project site, not the building entry. The Location and Transportation Credit, High-Priority Site rewards projects that are located on sites that are previously developed, infill, or adjacent to existing development2. The Location and Transportation Credit, Sensitive Land Protection rewards projects that are located on sites that do not contain sensitive land features such as prime farmland, wetlands, or habitats3. The Location and Transportation Credit, LEED for Neighborhood Development Location rewards projects that are located within the boundary of a LEED for Neighborhood Development certified plan4.

References:

•Surrounding density and diverse uses, p. 1

•High-priority site, p. 1

•Sensitive land protection, p. 1

•LEED for neighborhood development location, p. 1

Using a non-native or non-adapted plant species on both the vegetated roof and ground level will impact the Sustainable Sites credit Site Development-Protect or Restore Habitat the most. This credit requires that at least 20% of the site area (excluding building footprint) or 5% of the site area (including building footprint) must be vegetated with native or adapted plants. Non-native or non-adapted plants do not qualify for this credit and may also have negative impacts on the local ecosystem and biodiversity. The other credits are not directly affected by the choice of plant species, although they may have other requirements related to vegetation, such as shading, reflectance, or lighting.References: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Sustainable Sites Category, SSc Site Development-Protect or Restore Habitat, page 648.

For the building to receive one point for Location and Transportation Credit, Green Vehicles, the rate for green vehicles must be 80% less than the regular parking rate.Therefore, if the discounted parking rate is $450 per month, the rate for green vehicles must be $90 per month (20% of $450).References: LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C) V4 resources1

Installing a vegetative roofing system is the best option to address the potential glare resulting from a project’s highly reflective roof. A vegetative roofing system, also known as a green roof, is a roof that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. A vegetative roofing system can reduce the reflectivity of the roof surface and mitigate the glare impact on the surrounding environment. It can also provide other benefits, such as reducing heat island effects, improving stormwater management, enhancing biodiversity, and increasing roof insulation. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. The other options are not as effective or desirable as installing a vegetative roofing system. Changing the design to reduce the amount of roofing area (option B) may not be feasible or desirable, as it may compromise the project’s program or performance. Changing the roofing material to a dark material to eliminate the issue (option C) may reduce the glare, but it will also increasethe heat absorption and emission of the roof, contributing to heat island effects and increasing cooling loads. Increasing the parapet height (option D) may block some of the glare, but it will also increase the material and construction costs, and it may not be sufficient to prevent glare from all angles.For more information on vegetative roofing systems and their benefits, you can refer to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction1or the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities website2.

ASHRAE 62.1-2010 is the standard that an engineer should use when establishing minimum ventilation rates for a new mechanically ventilated space to earn Indoor Environmental Quality, Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance. This is the standard referenced by the LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide for this prerequisite. Local building code, International Mechanical Code 2012, and the ventilation code requiring the greatest volume of outside air are not acceptable alternatives for this prerequisite.References: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Indoor Environmental Quality Category, EQp Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance, page 674.

This option requires the project team to focus on reducing the water consumption of the school project, because it is located in a basin that depends on the seasonal snowmelt for its water supply1. Installing efficient plumbing fixtures, such as low-flow faucets, toilets, and showerheads, can help save water and reduce the demand on the local water resources2. This option can also help the project achieve the LEED credits for outdoor and indoor water use reduction3.

References: = LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures, Water Efficiency | U.S. Green Building Council.

Selecting a high-reflectance interior paint that meets the SCAQMD Rule 1113 can help contribute towards two credits: Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Low-Emitting Materials and Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Interior Lighting.The first credit requires that interior paints and coatings comply with the VOC content limits specified by the SCAQMD Rule 1113 or equivalent standards to reduce indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating, and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants1The second credit aims to provide high-quality lighting that supports visual acuity and occupant comfort, and that responds to the needs of the space and its users.One of the strategies to achieve this credit is to use light-colored finishes with a minimum reflectance of 0.7 for ceilings, 0.5 for walls, and 0.2 for floors to increase the effectiveness of daylighting and electric lighting systems2References:1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Indoor Environmental Quality Credit: Low-Emitting Materials, page 692.2: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Indoor Environmental Quality Credit: Interior Lighting, page 715.

remediate sites already in decline

When a project team sustainably develops a project site, the design should aim to remediate sites already in decline, such as brownfields, degraded lands, or abandoned properties. By doing so, the project can restore the environmental quality, ecological functions, and social value of the site, as well as reduce the pressure on undeveloped lands and natural habitats.LEED offers credits for projects that choose to locate on and remediate sites already in decline, such as the Sustainable Sites Credit, Site Assessment and the Sustainable Sites Credit, Brownfields Remediation1.

New Construction is the appropriate rating system for a new mixed-use building with 300,000 ft2 (27 871 m2) of residential units, 150,000 ft2 (13 935 m2) hotel and 50,000 ft2 (4 645 m2) of retail space.According to the LEED rating system selection guidance1,the New Construction rating system applies to buildings that are being newly constructed or going through a major renovation, and that include any of the following use types: office, retail, hospitality, education, residential, warehouse and distribution centers, or data centers2.The New Construction rating system can also be used for mixed-use buildings that have more than one use type3. Since the project involves new construction of a mixed-use building with residential, hospitality, and retail uses, the New Construction rating system is the most suitable option. The other rating systems are not applicable because they are either specific to one use type (Retail and Hospitality) or to buildings that are not complete at the time of certification (Core and Shell Development).References:

• LEED rating system selection guidance | U.S. Green Building Council
• LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide - U.S. Green Building Council
• LEED v4 Rating Systems | USGBC-LI

This option requires the project to increase the breathing zone outdoor airflow by at least 20% above the minimum rates required by ASHRAE 62.1-2010. Therefore, the minimum design zone outdoor airflow is 0.120 CFM/ft2 x 1.2 = 0.144 CFM/ft2.

References: = [LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide], [Indoor Environmental Quality Credit: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies], [ASHRAE 62.1-2010 User’s Manual].

The reuse calculation for MR Credit Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction includes the surface area of structural elements that are reused in place or salvaged and reinstalled, such as floor decking, columns, beams, and roof decking. Exterior glazing and plumbing fixtures are not considered structural elements and are not included in the reuse calculation.Asbestos insulation is a hazardous material that should be removed and disposed of properly, not reused.References: MR Credit Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction123

Conducting a site analysis is a method to assess the regional context of a building’s design for sustainability. A site analysis involves collecting and evaluating information about the site’s location, climate, ecology, history, culture, infrastructure, regulations, and stakeholders. This can help identify the opportunities and constraints for the project, as well as the potential impacts and benefits for the environment and the community.A site analysis can inform the design decisions regarding site selection, site development, water management, energy efficiency, material selection,indoor environmental quality, and innovation12.References: LEED BD+C Reference Guide, Integrative Process, page 281;Site Analysis for Construction

Green Infrastructure (GI) and Low-Impact Development (LID) rainwater management strategies improve upon the conventional approach for rainwater management by replicating a site’s natural hydrology. GI and LID are design approaches that use various practices to mimic the natural water cycle and reduce the negative impacts of development on the environment. They aim to preserve, restore, or create natural features that can capture, infiltrate, evaporate, or reuse rainwater on site, rather than conveying it to a centralized stormwater system. By doing so, they can reduce runoff volume and peak flow, improve water quality, enhance groundwater recharge, increase biodiversity, and create more attractive and resilient landscapes. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. The other options are not true for GI and LID strategies. Discharging rainwater at a faster rate (option B) would increase the risk of flooding, erosion, and pollution downstream. Increasing a site’s impervious surface (option C) would reduce the infiltration and evaporation of rainwater and increase runoff and heat island effects. Providing a greater volume of rainwater detention (option D) would not necessarily improve the site’s hydrology, as detention is only a temporary storage of rainwater that does not address the runoff quality or quantity issues.For more information on GI and LID rainwater management strategies, you can refer to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction1or the Green CE course on Rainwater Management for LEED v4.1 Projects2.

This option requires the project team to exclude public right-of-way areas, such as streets, sidewalks, and alleys, from the calculations of the surrounding existing density1. This option ensures that the density is measured based on the buildable land area, which is the area available for development or construction2.

References: = [LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide], Surrounding density and diverse uses.

According to the LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, the Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Outdoor Water Use Reduction, Option 2. Reduced Irrigation, requires that a project’s landscape water requirement be reduced by at least 30% from the calculated baseline for the project site’s peak watering month. The baseline is determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense Water Budget Tool, or a local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.The reduction must be achieved through plantspecies selection and irrigation system efficiency1.References: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Outdoor Water Use Reduction, Option 2.Reduced Irrigation, Requirements1

The WaterSense label or local equivalent requirement in Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction ensures that eligible newly installed plumbing fixtures will be both water efficient and high performing. The WaterSense label is a voluntary program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that identifies and promotes water-efficient products that meet EPA’s specifications for water efficiency and performance. The label applies to tank-type toilets, water-using urinals, private lavatory faucets, and showerheads. For projects outside the U.S., local equivalents may be used if they meet the same criteria as WaterSense or are listed on the USGBC website. The label does not imply that the fixtures are LEED compliant, comply with mandatory federal government regulations, or comply with all international plumbing system requirements.References:

• Water Efficiency Prerequisite: Indoor Water Use Reduction in LEED BD+C: New Construction v4.1 - LEED v4.11
• What is the WaterSense Label and How Does it Apply?2
• LEED QUALIFICATION GUIDE - v43
• WaterSense Labeled Homes4

When using the Integrative Process, the best way for the LEED AP to assess the impact of indoor and outdoor water consumption in a Building Design and Construction projectis to perform a preliminary water budget analysis before the completion of schematic design.This analysis should include the following steps1:

• Identify the project’s water sources and uses, such as potable water, reclaimed water, rainwater, graywater, blackwater, irrigation, cooling towers, etc.
• Estimate the baseline water consumption for each use based on the applicable codes, standards, and benchmarks.
• Identify potential water conservation strategies that can reduce the demand or increase the supply of water, such as low-flow fixtures, native landscaping, rainwater harvesting, graywater reuse, etc.
• Evaluate the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits of each strategy using a life-cycle approach.
• Select the most appropriate strategies and document how they inform the design decisions and meet the project goals.
• Compare the projected water consumption with the baseline and calculate the percentage reduction.

Performing a preliminary water budget analysis before the completion of schematic design allows the LEED AP to identify opportunities for water efficiency and innovation early in the design process. It also helps to optimize the integration of water systems with other building and site systems, such as energy, materials, indoor environmental quality, etc.Moreover, it supports the achievement of other LEED credits related to water efficiency, such as WE Prerequisite 1: Outdoor Water Use Reduction, WE Prerequisite 2: Indoor Water Use Reduction, WE Credit 1: Outdoor Water Use Reduction, WE Credit 2: Indoor Water Use Reduction, WE Credit 3: Cooling Tower Water Use2.

References:

• Understanding Integrative Design in LEED v41
• LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction2

A charrette is a collaborative design process that involves multiple stakeholders, such as the owner, the design team, the community, and the users. By including the public in a charrette for a new school before the pre-design phase, potential partnerships with the community can be revealed. For example, the school might share facilities or resources with a nearby library, park, or community center.This can enhance the social and environmental benefits of the project, as well as reduce costs and increase efficiency.References: LEED BD+C Reference Guide, Introduction, page 171; LEED BD+C Reference Guide, Integrative Process, page 291

Light Emitting Diode (LED) is an energy efficient lamp type that is free from mercury. Mercury is a toxic metal that can pose health and environmental risks when released from broken or discarded lamps.LED lamps do not contain mercury or other hazardous substances, and they also have longer lifespans and lower energy consumption than other lamp types12.References:No mercury Lights | LEEDuser;LED Lighting

Extended producer responsibility

Extended producer responsibility is a leadership extraction practice that encourages manufacturers to take back their products or packaging at the end of their useful life and recycle them in a closed-loop system. This reduces the environmental impacts of extraction, transportation, and disposal of raw materials. LEED rewards projects for choosing materials that have extended producer responsibility programs or policies in place.

References:

• Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 – Pages 263-2641
• LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide - U.S.Green Building Council2

The correct answer is D. Document total waste per building floor area.

According to the LEED v4.1 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Option 2 of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management credit requires projects to reduce the total construction waste generated by the project to less than 12.2 kilograms per square meter (2.5 pounds per square foot) of the building’s floor area1.This option rewards projects for implementing waste prevention strategies, such as designing for material optimization, prefabrication, modular construction, deconstruction, and reuse1.To meet the requirements of this option, projects must document the total weight or volume of all construction waste generated by the project, excluding land-clearing debris and excavated soil, and divide it by the building’s floor area1.Projects must also provide a narrative describing the waste prevention measures taken during design and construction1.

Tidal-based electrical production is eligible for the Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Renewable Energy Production. This credit rewards projects that use renewable energy systems to offset building energy cost.According to the LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, renewable energy systems are defined as “those that use resources that are naturally replenished within a 100-year or shorter cycle and that are greenhouse gas neutral on an annual basis”1. Tidal-based electrical production meets this definition, as it uses the kinetic energy of the tides to generate electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. The other options are not eligible for this credit, as ground-source heat pumps are not considered renewable energy systems, municipal solid waste combustion is not greenhouse gas neutral, and passive solar and daylighting strategies do not offset building energy cost.References: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Energy and Atmosphere Category, EAc Renewable Energy Production, page 572.

A rainwater harvesting system on site could be recognized in the Sustainable Sites Credit, Rainwater Management and the Water Efficiency Credit, Indoor Water Use Reduction. The Sustainable Sites Credit, Rainwater Management rewards projects that reduce runoff volume and improve water quality by replicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the site1. A rainwater harvesting system can help achieve this by capturing and reusing rainwater on site2. The Water Efficiency Credit, Indoor Water Use Reduction rewards projects that reduce indoor water consumption by installing water-efficient fixtures and fittings3. A rainwater harvesting system can help achieve this by providing an alternative source of water for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing and irrigation4.

The other options are not correct. The Water Efficiency Credit, Water Metering does not recognize rainwater harvesting systems, but rather requires projects to install permanent water meters that measure the total potable water use for the building and grounds. The Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Outdoor Water Use Reduction does not recognize rainwater harvesting systems, but rather requires projects to reduce outdoor water consumption by using plant species that are native or adapted to the region and by using irrigation systems that are efficient and properly controlled. The Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction does not recognize rainwater harvesting systems, but rather requires projects to reduce indoor water consumption by 20% from the baseline by installing water-efficient fixtures and fittings.

References:

•Rainwater Management, p. 1

•NC-v4 SSc4: Rainwater management, p. 2

•Indoor water use reduction, p. 1

•NC-v4 WEc3: Indoor water use reduction, p. 3

•[Water metering], p. 1

•[Outdoor water use reduction], p. 1

•[Indoor water use reduction], p. 2

The credit may be achieved by using nonroof measures only, such as shading, paving, and vegetation, to reduce the heat island effect on the site. The credit does not require a highly reflective roof for all projects, but allows for flexibility and trade-offs depending on the climate and design conditions.The project can use the Heat Island Reduction1to demonstrate compliance with the credit requirements.The credit is feasible and applicable for this project, and does not need an alternative compliance path.References: SS Credit Heat Island Reduction, LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction234

The Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Minimum Energy Performance, Option 2. Prescriptive Compliance: ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide allows projects to follow the recommendations of the ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDGs) for different building types and climate zones. The AEDGs provide design guidance for buildings that use 50% less energy than those built to the requirements of the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2004 commercial code1. However, not all building types and sizes are covered by the AEDGs. According to the LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction2, the following building types and sizes are eligible for this option:

• Small to Medium Office buildings up to 100,000 ft2 (9 290 m2)
• Medium to Large Retail buildings up to 100,000 ft2 (9 290 m2)
• K-12 School buildings up to 200,000 ft2 (18 580 m2)
• Warehouse and Distribution Center buildings up to 500,000 ft2 (46 450 m2)

Therefore, among the given options, only the school project is eligible to pursue this option, as it falls within the size limit for the K-12 School AEDG3.

References:

• LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4
• Minimum Energy Performance - ASHRAE 90.1 - 2010
• ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings
• Advanced Energy Design Guides | Department of Energy

When calculating the reverberation time of a room, the operating sound level of the nearest HVAC equipment is the least relevant piece of information. The reverberation time is the time it takes for the sound to decay by 60 decibels after the source stops emitting sound. The reverberation time depends on the volume and the surface area of the room, as well as the sound absorption coefficients of the materials that cover the surfaces. The height and width of the room are needed to calculate the volume and the surface area. The noise reduction coefficient of the ceiling surface and the sound absorption coefficient of the floor surface are needed to calculate the total sound absorption of the room. The operating sound level of the nearest HVAC equipment is not relevant for calculating the reverberation time, but it may affect the background noise level and the speech intelligibility in the room.

References:

•LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Indoor Environmental Quality Credit: Acoustic Performance, page 7101

•Sounds of Silence: Acoustic Performance in LEED v4.12

Energy efficiency goals and training requirements are required to be present in the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) when applying the Integrative Process to a Building Design and Construction project.According to the LEED v4 BD+C ReferenceGuide, the OPR is a document that details the ideas, concepts, and criteria that are determined by the owner to be important to the success of the project1.The OPR must include, among other things, the following information related to energy efficiency1:

• The owner’s energy performance goals and expectations
• The owner’s requirements for energy metering and monitoring
• The owner’s requirements for energy modeling and analysis
• The owner’s requirements for commissioning and verification
• The owner’s requirements for training and documentation

The other options are not required to be present in the OPR, as they are either related to other aspects of the project, such as codes and standards, interior finishes, or project team members, or they are not relevant to the Integrative Process, which focuses on early analysis of energy, water, and site systems2.References: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Integrative Process Category, IPc Integrative Process, page 632.

A pedestrian-oriented paving or turf area with physical site elements that accommodate outdoor social activities is necessary to satisfy the requirement for the outdoor space to be physically accessible when calculating the Sustainable Sites Credit, Open Space. This is because the outdoor space must be designed to encourage regular use by occupants and visitors1. A garden space dedicated to industrial food production for use by local communities may not be accessible to the building occupants and visitors2. A garden space with only one vegetation type and species during the summer for visual interest does not meet the requirement of having two or more types of vegetation or overhead vegetated canopy1. A dark paving area with site elements to encourage parking near wetlands or naturally designed ponds is not considered as pedestrian-oriented hardscape and may have negative impacts on the natural environment3.

References:

•Open Space, p. 1

•NC-v4 SSc3: Open space, p. 2

•LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction, p. 72

According to the LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Option 2 of the Location and Transportation Credit, Green Vehicles requires the project to inventory the school fleetto develop and create a plan for all buses to meet the emission requirements. The plan must include a timeline for implementation and a budget. The emission requirements are based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for heavy-duty vehicles1. References: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Location and Transportation Credit, Green Vehicles, Option 2: Green Buses or School-Owned Vehicles1

Healthcare projects are required to consider the perimeter floor area instead of the regularly occupied floor area under the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Daylight calculations. This is because healthcare projects have different daylighting needs and challenges than other project types, and the perimeter area is more likely to have access to natural light and views. The perimeter floor area is defined as the regularly occupied spaces within 15 feet (4.5 meters) of the exterior wall that meets the minimum glazing requirements.References:

• LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction, p.6021
• LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction, p.362

For the Materials and Resources Credit, Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, Option 2.Renovation of Abandoned or Blighted Buildings, up to 25% of the building surface area may be excluded from the credit calculation due to deterioration or damage1.

References:

• LEED Certification- Requirements for Material & Resource Credit: Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction - Firstgreen Consulting Pvt Ltd

The Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Demand Response rewards projects that participate in demand response programs that aim to reduce peak electricity demand and shift the load to off-peak periods. The LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction states that "the intent of this credit is to increase participation in demand response technologies and programs that make energy generation and distribution systems more efficient, increase grid reliability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions"1. The project team must either implement a permanent demand response program or develop a plan to implement a program within a year of occupancy. The project team must also demonstrate that the building has the capability to reduce its peak electricity demand by at least 10% in response to demand response signals.

References:

• LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Energy and Atmosphere Credit: Demand Response, page 2721
• Demand response | U.S. Green Building Council2

According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Option 2 of the Sourcing of Raw Materials credit requires using products that meet at least one of the responsible extraction criteria for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed building products in the project1. Therefore, for a project with a material cost of $100,000, the minimum material value needed to achieve this option is 25% of $100,000, which is $25,000.

A compliant water meter is a device that measures and records the total potable water use of the building and associated grounds. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, a compliant water meter must meet the following requirements1:

•It must be permanently installed and measure the total water use of the building and grounds.

•It must have a remote communication capability or be readable from a location that is accessible to building management.

•It must have a data storage capability of at least 18 months, or be connected to a system that can store data for at least 18 months.

•It must have a resolution of 0.5 gallons (2 liters) or less, or the smallest unit of measure that is appropriate for the expected water use of the building.

References:

•LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Water Efficiency Prerequisite: Building-Level Water Metering, page 3781

•Water metering | U.S. Green Building Council

The Sustainable Sites Credit, Light Pollution Reduction aims to minimize the adverse effects of artificial lighting on the night sky, human health, and wildlife1. However, the credit does not apply to lighting that is required for safety, security, or emergency purposes2. According to the LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, lighting for theatrical performances is considered an emergency purpose and is exempt from the credit requirements3. Therefore, the LEED AP should inform the owner that the LED fixture is exempt from Sustainable Sites Credit, Light Pollution Reduction and does not need to be modified or compared to an alternative. Enclosing the performance areas would not reduce light pollution, but rather increase energy consumption and affect the outdoor experience. Calculating the return on investment over the 20-year life of the project is irrelevant to the credit and would not help achieve it.

References:

• Light Pollution Reduction
• Light Pollution Reduction: Sustainable Site Credit for LEED Existing Building O+M
• [LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4], page 581

Data centers are buildings that house computer systems and associated components, such as servers, storage devices, and network equipment. They typically operate 24/7 and do not have regular commuting patterns of occupants. Therefore, they can exclude weekend transit service from the transit service level calculations for the Location and Transportation Credit, Access to Quality Transit12. This credit aims to encourage development in locations that are served by high-quality transit, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions, transportation costs, and automobile dependence.

References: = LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, NC-v4.1 LTc5: Access to quality transit | LEEDuser

According to the LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, the location of CO2 sensors in naturally ventilated spaces to comply with the Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite, Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance is between 3 ft. and 6 ft. (1 m and 2 m) above the floor. This is one of the requirements for Option 2. Naturally Ventilated Spaces, which applies to projects that rely on natural ventilation for all or part of the occupied spaces.The CO2 sensors must be located in each zone with natural ventilation openings, and must be capable of generating an alarm when the CO2 concentration exceeds the design value1.

The other choices are not correct, because:

• At least 6 ft.(2 m) above the floor is the location of CO2 sensors in mechanically ventilated spaces, not naturally ventilated spaces1.
• At least 3 ft.(1 m) away from windows is a general guideline for locating CO2 sensors, but it does not specify the height above the floor2.
• On the ceiling 3 ft.(1 m) away from adjacent walls is not a recommended location for CO2 sensors, as it may not reflect the actual CO2 concentration at the breathing zone of the occupants2.

References: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite, Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance, Option 2.Naturally Ventilated Spaces, Requirements1; ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2016, User’s Manual, Chapter 6, Section 6.2.72

At the time of registering a project in LEED Online, Regional Priority credits are determined based on the project’s longitude and latitude.Regional Priority credits are bonus points that reward projects for addressing the environmental, social, and public health issues that are most relevant to their location1.The project team must enter the project’s address and confirm the precise location using the Google Maps interface in LEED Online2.The longitude and latitude coordinates are then used to identify the Regional Priority credits that are applicable to the project2.The project can earn up to four Regional Priority points by achieving the base credits that correspond to the Regional Priority credits1.References:

• Regional priority credit lookup | U.S. Green Building Council
• Regional Priority (RP) credits – U.S. Green Building Council

The correct answer is C, the Cx agent for the project must conduct or oversee the Cx of the PV system. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Fundamental Commissioning and Verification, requires that all energy-related systems, including renewable energy systems such as PV, be commissioned by an independent commissioning agent (CxA) or a qualified member of the project team who reports to the owner.The CxA or the qualified team member must perform or oversee all commissioning activities, including developing a commissioning plan, reviewing design documents and submittals, verifying installation and performance, and preparing a commissioning report12References:1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite: Fundamental Commissioning and Verification, page 562.2: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Glossary, page 1020.

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

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

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

• For Thermal Comfort, the project must design the HVAC systems and the building envelope to meet the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55-2010, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, or a local equivalent, and provide individual thermal comfort controls for at least 50% of the individual occupant spaces, and group thermal comfort controls for all shared multi-occupant spaces1.
• For Interior Lighting, Option 1.Lighting Control, the project must provide individual lighting controls that enable adjustments to suit individual task needs for at least 90% of the individual occupant spaces, and provide lighting system controls for all shared multi-occupant spaces that allow occupants to adjust the lighting to meet group needs and preferences2.

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

• Architectural floor plans, mechanical plans, and lamp specifications do not show the lighting controls or the occupant feedback.
• Photometric plans, mechanical schedules, and lamp specifications do not show the thermal comfort design or the occupant feedback.
• Surveys of occupants, photometric plans, and mechanical schedules do not show the lighting controls or the thermal comfort design.

References: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Thermal Comfort, Requirements1; LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Interior Lighting, Option 1.Lighting Control, Requirements2

Makeup water meters, conductivity controllers and overflow alarms

According to the Water Efficiency Prerequisite for Indoor Water Use Reduction, cooling towers and evaporative condensers must be equipped with makeup water meters, conductivity controllers and overflow alarms to reduce water consumption and prevent water waste. These devices help monitor and control the water quality, flow rate and level of the cooling system, and alert the operators of any malfunctions or leaks.

References: As per the LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C) V4 resources, the installation of makeup water meters, conductivity controllers and overflow alarms is a requirement for cooling towers and evaporative condensers under the Water Efficiency Prerequisite for Indoor Water Use Reduction. This prerequisite aims to reduce indoor water consumption by setting baseline and efficiency standards for fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment and processes. For cooling towers and evaporative condensers, the prerequisite also requires efficient drift eliminators that reduce drift to a maximum of 0.002% of recirculated water volume for counterflow towers and 0.005% of recirculated water flow for cross-flow towers. For more detailed information, you can refer to the web-based reference guide in the credit library atUSGBC’s official website.

Every location in the U.S. identifies four regional credits that are of particular importance for that region. These credits are selected by the USGBC regional councils and chapters based on the environmental, social, and public health issues that are relevant for their areas. A project can earn up to four bonus points by achieving these regional credits.

References:

•LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, page 6081

•Regional Priority (RP) credits – U.S. Green Building Council2

This credit can be earned if the VOC budget method is applied for VOC content. The VOC budget method allows the use of some products that exceed the VOC content limit, as long as the total VOC content of all products within a category does not exceed the total allowable VOC content for that category1. The adhesive is a product within the wet-applied and aerosol adhesives category, which has a VOC content limit of 70 g/L1. The contractor must calculate the VOC budget for this category and ensure that it does not exceed the limit. The other options are not valid ways to earn this credit. The adhesive must be included in the LEED documentation, as all products used in the project must be accounted for1. The credit requires that 100% of the adhesives used comply with the VOC content limit and emissions requirements, not 75% or 95%1.

References:

•Low-emitting materials, p. 2

To achieve the maximum number of Energy and Atmosphere points, the project team must include an energy modeler and a commissioning agent.The energy modeler is responsible for performing the whole-building energy simulation that demonstrates the energy performance improvement over the baseline building, which is required for Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite 2 and Credit 11.The commissioning agent is responsible for verifying that the building’s energy systems are installed, calibrated, and perform according to the owner’s project requirements, basis of design, and construction documents, which is required for Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite 1 and Credit 31.The commissioning agent also ensures that the renewable energy systems are properly integrated and functioning2. The contractor and the construction manager are not directly involved in the energy modeling or commissioning process, although they must follow the design specifications and coordinate with the commissioning agent. The facilities manager is not required for achieving the Energy and Atmosphere points, although they may benefit from the training and documentation provided by the commissioning agent.References:

• LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction, p.361
• Understanding Integrative Design in LEED v4, p.92

This rating system is suitable for projects where the developer controls the design and construction of the entire core and shell base building, but has no control over the design and construction of the tenant fit-out. Since the building will have a data center and retail stores in the future, but these are not the primary function of the entire building, LEED BD+C: Core & Shell is more appropriate than LEED BD+C: Data Centers or LEED BD+C: Retail.

References: = LEED rating system selection guidance, LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide

Adding a concrete walkway will increase the site’s impervious cover, which is the percentage of the site area that does not allow water to infiltrate into the ground1. Impervious cover can affect the site’s stormwater management, heat island effect, and habitat quality.The project team should consider using permeable paving materials, vegetated roofs, or rain gardens to reduce the impervious cover and mitigate its impacts2. The other options are not directly impacted by adding a concrete walkway.Project density calculations are based on the floor area ratio and the number of occupants, not the site features3.Erosion and sediment control plan during construction is required for any site disturbance, regardless of the type of material used4.Air quality as a result of off gassing that occurs as concrete cures is not a significant issue for outdoor applications, and can be minimized by using low-emitting concrete products5.

According to the LEED Campus Guidance, the campus approach allows projects that share a single location and site attributes to achieve separate LEED certification for each project, building space, or group on the master site. The campus approach can be used for certain credits that are influenced by the site conditions and infrastructure, such as Sustainable Sites credits. The LEED Campus Guidance provides a list of eligible credits for the campus approach, which includes the following Sustainable Sites credits1:

•Site Assessment

•Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat

•Open Space

•Rainwater Management

•Heat Island Reduction

•Light Pollution Reduction

Therefore, Heat Island Reduction, Light Pollution Reduction, and Rainwater Management are Sustainable Sites credits that are eligible to be used as a campus approach. Places of Respite, Site Master Plan, and Direct Exterior Access are not Sustainable Sites credits, but other credits or prerequisites that are not eligible for the campus approach1.

References:

•LEED Campus Guidance1

This option requires the project to classify wood derived fuel as a recycled material that contributes towards the credit, because it is a waste material that is converted into a useful energy source1. Wood derived fuel can be used for heating, electricity generation, or co-firing with other fuels2. According to the LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, recycled materials are those that have been reprocessed or remanufactured from recovered materials3.

References: = LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Wood Derived Fuels - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics, Wood-Derived Fuels | Energy and the Environment | US EPA.

The LEED Platinum certification requires the project to achieve exemplary performance in at least one credit that allows it, as specified in the LEED Reference Guide1. One of the credits that meets this criterion is the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, which focuses on providing healthy and comfortable indoor environments for occupants. The credit has two options: Quality Views and Enhanced Commissioning. Quality Views requires the project to have windows that provide views of natural scenery or water bodies, which can enhance the well-being and satisfaction of occupants. Enhanced Commissioning requires the project to have a comprehensive commissioning plan that ensures all systems are properly installed, tested, and operated before occupancy. Both options can help reduce energy consumption, improve indoor air quality, and create a positive sensory experience for occupants.

References:

• LEED Reference Guide v4
• LEED Platinum Certification - LD Products
• LEED Accreditation | LEED Certification & Credentials Overview - GBES

The correct answer is A, site conditions. According to the LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, the Integrative Process Prerequisite, Integrative Project Planning and Design, requires the project team to perform a preliminary “simple box” energy modeling and analysis before the completion of schematic design. The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the energy performance goals of the project and to identify and compare the energy-related design strategies.The analysis should include the following aspects1:

• Site conditions, such as climate, solar orientation, shading, and natural ventilation potential
• Massing and orientation, such as building shape, size, and orientation, and how they affect the heating and cooling loads, daylight availability, and passive design strategies
• Basic envelope attributes, such as insulation levels, window-to-wall ratio, glazing properties, infiltration rates, and thermal bridging
• Lighting levels, such as the target illumination levels, daylighting potential, and lighting power density
• Plug and process loads, such as the equipment and appliances that consume electricity, and their schedules and controls
• Programmatic and operational parameters, such as the occupancy, operating hours, and zoning of the building
• Thermal comfort ranges, such as the acceptable temperature and humidity levels for the occupants
• HVAC system selection, such as the type, efficiency, and control of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system

The other choices are not aspects that should be analyzed when pursuing an integrative design process focusing on energy-related systems, because:

• Potable water availability is related to the water efficiency and water quality goals of the project, not the energy performance goals2.
• Acoustic performance of the project is related to the indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort goals of the project, not the energy performance goals3.
• Applicability of green vehicles to the project is related to the location and transportation and greenhouse gas emissions goals of the project, not the energy performance goals4.

References: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Integrative Process Prerequisite, Integrative Project Planning and Design, Option 1.Energy-Related Systems1; LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction, Requirements2; LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite, Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance, Requirements3; LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Location and Transportation Credit, Green Vehicles, Requirements4

Data centers is the only LEED BD+C rating system that mandates a preliminary LEED meeting with the principal members of the project team to create a LEED action plan that includes the anticipated certification tier, targeted credits and parties responsible for each credit. This is because data centers have unique design and operational characteristics that require a more integrative and customized approach to achieve LEED certification.The preliminary LEED meeting is intended to facilitate early goal setting, alignment, and communication among the project team members12.References: LEED BD+C Reference Guide, Data Centers, page 91;LEED v4.1 BD+C: Data Centers

The Materials and Resources Credit, Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Materials rewards projects that use materials that have optimized extraction processes by limiting or eliminating the extraction of new resources, the reuse of materials or the use of recycled materials1. According to the LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction2, the credit has two options: Option 1. Raw Material Source and Extraction Reporting and Option 2. Leadership Extraction Practices. Option 1 requires the project to use at least 20 permanently installed products from at least five different manufacturers that have publicly released a report from their raw material suppliers which include extraction locations, a commitment to long-term ecologically responsible land use, a commitment to reducing environmental harms from extraction and/or manufacturing processes, and a commitment to meeting applicable standards or programs voluntarily that address responsible sourcing criteria2. Option 2 requires the project to use products that meet at least one of the responsible sourcing 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 (producer) that participates in an extended producer responsibility program or is directly responsible for extended producer responsibility.
• Bio-based materials. Bio-based products must meet the Sustainable Agriculture Network’s Sustainable Agriculture Standard. Bio-based raw materials must be tested using ASTM Test Method D6866 and be legally harvested, as defined by the exporting and receiving country. Exclude hide products, such as leather and other animal skin material.
• Wood products. Wood products must be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or USGBC-approved equivalent.
• Materials reuse. Reused products must include salvaged, refurbished, or reused products.
• Recycled content. Recycled content is the sum of postconsumer recycled content plus one-half the preconsumer recycled content, based on cost. Products meeting recycled content criteria are valued at 100% of their cost for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.
• USGBC approved program. Other USGBC approved programs meeting leadership extraction criteria.

Therefore, among the given options, only Option A is relevant to the use of reused/salvaged materials or recycled content, as they can contribute to the materials reuse or recycled content criteria under Option 2. Option B is a prerequisite that requires the project to develop and implement a construction and demolition waste management plan that identifies the materials to be diverted from disposal and whether the materials will be sorted on-site or co-mingled2. Option C is a credit that requires the project to use at least 20 different permanently installed products from at least five different manufacturers that use any of the following programs to demonstrate the chemical inventory of the product to at least 0.1% (1000 ppm):

• Health Product Declaration. The end use product has a published, complete Health Product Declaration with full disclosure of known hazards in compliance with the Health Product Declaration Open Standard.
• Cradle to Cradle. The end use product has been certified at the Cradle to Cradle v2 Basic level or Cradle to Cradle v3 Bronze level.
• REACH Optimization. The end use product is compliant with REACH Optimization criteria.
• GreenScreen v1.2 Benchmark. The product’s chemical ingredients are inventoried using the GreenScreen v1.2 Benchmark.
• Declare. The Declare product label must indicate that all ingredients have been disclosed down to 1000 ppm.

Option D is a credit that requires the project to use at least 20 different permanently installed products that have environmental product declarations. The products must be sourced from at least five different manufacturers. The environmental product declarations must conform to ISO 14025, 14040, 14044, and EN 15804 or ISO 21930 and have at least a cradle-to-gate scope2.

References:

• LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4
• Recycled content | U.S. Green Building Council
• CS-v4.1 MRc3: Sourcing of Raw Materials | LEEDuser
• How to choose the right materials for a LEED project? - GBCE

According to the LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C) V4 resources, the Water Efficiency Prerequisite for Indoor Water Use Reduction requires the project to reduce aggregate water consumption by 20% from the baseline. Therefore, the project can meet this prerequisite with a 24% water reduction. However, to earn points under the Water Efficiency Credit for Indoor Water Use Reduction, the project needs to achieve a higher level of water reduction, ranging from 25% to 50%. The credit awards points based on the percentage of water reduction achieved, as shown in Table 1. Thus, the project may pursue this credit if it can further reduce its water consumption by installing more efficient fixtures and fittings, appliances, equipment and processes.

References: As per the LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C) V4 resources, the Water Efficiency Prerequisite and Credit for Indoor Water Use Reduction are based on an “efficiency first” approach to water conservation. The prerequisite sets a minimum standard of 20% water reduction from the baseline, while the credit rewards higher levels of performance up to 50% water reduction. The baseline water consumption of fixtures and fittings is based on the volumes and flow rates shown in Table 2. The credit also requires that all newly installed toilets, urinals, private lavatory faucets and showerheads that are eligible for labeling must be WaterSense labeled (or a local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.). For more detailed information, you can refer to the web-based reference guide in the credit library at USGBC’s official website.

The correct answer is D, provide qualifying electrical vehicle supply equipment in 2% of all parking spaces. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the Location and Transportation Credit, Green Vehicles, requires that projects provide preferred parking for green vehicles for 5% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site.Green vehicles are defined as vehicles that achieve a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide1In addition, projects must provide one of the following:

• Install alternative-fuel fueling stations for 3% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. Alternative fuels are defined by the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 1992 and include biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane.
• Install electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for 2% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. EVSE must be Level 2 or higher as defined by SAE International’s J1772 standard.
• Provide a discounted parking rate of at least 20% for green vehicles.The discounted rate must be available to all customers (not limited by time of day or user groups), publicly posted at the entrance of the parking area, and included in all marketing materials for the parking facility1

In this case, the project team has provided preferred parking for green vehicles for 20% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site (4 out of 20 spaces), which exceeds the minimum requirement of 5%. However, they still need to provide one of the additional options listed above to achieve the credit. The most feasible option for a school project with a small parking lot would be to install EVSE for 2% of all parking spaces, which would be equivalent to one space. Therefore, answer D is correct.

The other answers are incorrect because they do not meet the credit requirements. Answer A is incorrect because providing preferred parking alone is not sufficient to achieve the credit; one of the additional options must also be provided. Answer B is incorrect because providing bike racks is not relevant to this credit, which focuses on green vehicles; bike racks are part of another credit, Location and Transportation Credit, Bicycle Facilities.Answer C is incorrect because providing an additional parking space for a low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicle would not increase the percentage of preferred parking above 20%, which is already more than enough; moreover, low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles are defined differently from green vehicles in LEED v4 and have their own credit, Location and Transportation Credit, Reduced Parking Footprint1References:1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Location and Transportation Credit: Green Vehicles, page 467.