LEED Mock Exam 1

Which of the following is an environmental benefit of green building?

• Conserve natural resources

• Reduce solid waste

• Improve air and water quality

• Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity

• All of the above

How much time, on average, do Americans spend indoor?

• 90%

• 30%

• 25%

• 10%

Answer explanation

According to the EPA website, Americans typically spend about 90 percent of their time indoors.

According to the Department of Energy’s website, space heating is the largest energy use in the United States, followed by lighting. True or false?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Thirty‐eight percent of energy in the United States is used for space heating, followed by lighting with 20

percent of energy usage.

Which of the following describes a high‐performance green building?

• Conserves water and energy

• Uses spaces, materials, and resources efficiently

• Minimizes construction waste

• Creates a healthy indoor environment

• All of the above

Answer explanation

All of the four options listed describe high‐performance green building strategies.

Which of the following statements are true? (Choose two)

• The built environment refers to any man‐made environment.

• The built environment refers to any element in nature.

• The built environment provides structure for human activity.

• The built environment refers to animal‐made shelters.

Answer explanation

When studying about LEED, you will see multiple references to the built environment and must understand what the term is referring to.

When working on a green building project, when is the best time to incorporate an integrative design approach?

• Schematic design

• Construction documents

• Design developmen

• Beginning of construction

Answer explanation

Incorporating green building strategies and technologies is best started from the very beginning of the design process. Schematic Design is the earliest phase of the design process, and therefore the correct answer.

Life‐cycle assessments (LCAs) are a beneficial tool to determine which of the following?

• Economics of building systems during the life of the building

• Maintenance implications, including cost, during the life of the building

• Maintenance implications, including cost, during the life of the building

• Environmental benefits and potential impacts of a material, product, or technology

Answer explanation

It is important to remember that LCAs not only look at the present impacts and benefits during each phase of the process but future and potential impacts as well.

The project team is looking to conduct a life‐cycle cost analysis as a method of evaluating alternative flooring products. Which of the following should they take into consideration as inputs to that analysis? (Choose two)

• First costs, excluding the cost of installation

• First costs, including the cost of installation

• Maintenance, life expectancy, and replacement cost

• Maintenance and replacement cost, but not life expectancy

Answer explanation

LCAs include the purchase price, installation, operation, maintenance, and upgrade costs for each technology and strategy proposed.

Which of the following are true statements concerning charrettes? (Choose two)

• An agenda and clear goals of the charrette are needed.

• A strong facilitator needs to be flexible and have good listening skills.

• The facilitator should be biased.

• The charrette should only include the stakeholders and the architect.

Answer explanation

Charrettes are an important part of the iterative process to ensure an integrative approach for green building projects. An agenda and stipulated goals are needed in order to produce specific deliverables. The facilitator has an extremely important role as his or her approach can dictate a charrette’s success.

Which of the following are not true concerning establishing goals for a project? (Choose two)

• Goals should reflect reasonable spatial scale and time horizons.

• Goals can be qualitative but not quantitative.

• Goals can be quantitative but not qualitative.

• Goals should include metrics and targets.

Answer explanation

Goals can be both quantitative and qualitative