Location & Transportation | LEED Green Associate

A project has identified transit stops within half mile (800 meter) walking distance of an existing light rail station. Which of the following should the project team do to earn LT Credit Access to Quality Transit? (Choose 2)

• Classify transit by type

• Confirm walkability and finally count aggregate trips available at all qualifying transit stops

• Identify more transit stops within half mile radius

• Count transit types

Answer explanation

Here is a summary of all the steps projects should follow to earn this credit: Identify transit stops within half mile radius, classify transit by type, confirm walkability, and  count aggregate trips available at all qualifying transit stops.

Which of the following sites should a project not build on to earn a LT Credit?

• Seven acres of farmland plowed to grow a crop

• A man made pond built on land that was previously a shopping mall

• 5 acre parking lot between existing buildings in an urban area

• A contaminated site which has unremediated toxins present

Answer explanation

Seven acres of farmland plowed to grow a crop is undeveloped and in a natural state or has been used for agriculture. LT Credit Sensitive Land Protection encourages projects to avoid the development of environmentally sensitive lands and reduce the environmental impact from the location of a building on a site.

What is one strategy a project team can use to reduce automobile use?

• Giving incentives for the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles.

• Construction of an underground parking lot

• Creating a ride share board

• Creating less convenient parking further from the building entrance

Answer explanation

Creating a ride share board. An effective strategy to limit the automobile use would be to increase carpooling opportunities such as ride share boards.

To protect sensitive land what could be done?

• Locate the project within the boundary of a development certified under LEED for Neighborhood Development

• Locate development footprint on a previously developed land (other options exceeded the limit from wetland, food plains and streams

• Protect 40% of the greenfield area on the site from all development

• Locating a building in an area with existing infrastructure

Answer explanation

Sensitive Land Protection Requirements: Option 1. Locate the development footprint on land that has been previously developed.

What types of land does LEED prefer project teams build on?

• Floodplains

• Farmland

• Greenfields

• Brownfields

Answer explanation

Brownfields are previously used or developed land that may be contaminated with hazardous substances or pollutants. A LEED Credit can be earned for projects that remediate the site and build on it.

Developing on a greenfield can result in: (Choose 2)

• Reducing stormwater runoff

• Fragmentation and loss of habitat

• An increased development footprint

• Revitalization of urban areas

Answer explanation

An increased development footprint Greenfields require more infrastructure for the development. Existing roads and utilities are not as close to the development and must be added to support the development Fragmentation and loss of habitat: One of the negative impacts of greenfield development is the encroachment and division of natural habitats. Selecting sites that are adjacent to or within existing developments can reduce fragmentation of habitat. The other choices are: Revitalization of urban areas: Greenfields are found in suburban areas. Building in suburban areas does not revitalize urban areas.

What is one way LEED encourages the purchase and use of low emitting and/or fuel efficient vehicles?

• Setting up a carpool notification system

• Providing discounted parking to the owners of low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles

• None of these

• Locating the project in a densely developed neighbourhood

Answer explanation

Providing discounted parking passes to the owners of low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles may encourage their purchase by offsetting any parking costs. The incorrect choices are: Locating the project in a densely developed neighbourhood helps channel development to urban areas with existing infrastructure, protect greenfields and preserver habitat and natural resources. Setting up a carpool notification system helps with mass transit.

Which of the following strategies will help a project to minimize the environmental harms associated with parking facilities? (Choose 2)

• Building on a site farthest from a light rail and bus line

• Building on a site with more open space

• To sell parking passes

• Implement a compressed work week schedule

Answer explanation

To sell parking spaces and to implement compressed work week. Some basic strategies for achieving this credit would be incorporating a lack of parking spaces on the project site. This will spark interest in alternative transportation which promotes the use of telecommuting and shuttle services. Another strategy to reduce parking is to sell parking passes and/or create a transit subsidy program. Another one would be to implement a compressed work week schedule reducing the number of days employees will need to travel to work.

Why would a project team calculate the density radius?

• To locate parks near the project that can be counted as open space

• To identify any building near the project site to include in project density calculations

• To locate basic services near a project site

• To estimate distance to mass transit

Answer explanation

To locate parks near the project that can be counted as open space: Open space not within the project boundary is not counted as open space for the project and therefore is not relevant for a project team to consider.To identify any building near the project site to include in project density calculations. The density radius is calculated using a formula provided by LEED. Any building within the radius is included in the calculations to determine the average density of the area. Projects are awarded credit for building within dense areas. Public roads and waterways are excluded from the calculations.

The incorrect choices are:

To locate parks near the project that can be counted as open space: Open space not within the project boundary is not counted as open space for the project and therefore is not relevant for a project team to consider.

To locate basic services near a project site: Basic services are identified by drawing a half mile circle around a project site on a map, not by using the density radius.

To estimate distance to mass transit: Mass transit is identified by using a map and measuring the walking distance to the transit.

A school project has it’s functional entry within a fourth mile (400-meter) walking distance of an existing bus. Which of the following should be true about the project’s ability to earn LT Credit Access to Quality Transit?

• The project should submit a CIR

• The school project should also provide separate bus services for all students

• The school projects should also locate the project on a site that allows pedestrian access to the site from all residential neighborhoods that house the planned student population

• The school project does not have to do anything extra

Answer explanation

In addition, schools projects should locate the project on a site that allows pedestrian access to the site from all residential neighbourhoods that house the planned student population or walkshed boundary.In order to earn this credit all projects including schools should locate any functional entry of the project within a fourth mile (400 meter) walking distance of existing or planned bus, streetcar, or rideshare stops, or within a half mile (800 meter) walking distance of existing or planned bus rapid transit stops, light or heavy rail stations, commuter rail stations, or commuter ferry terminals.

In addition, schools projects should locate the project on a site that allows pedestrian access to the site from all residential neighbourhoods that house the planned student population or walkshed boundary.