USGBC LEED-AP-BD+C - LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C)

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 plant species 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 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.

For LEED BD+C Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Prerequisite: Fundamental Commissioning and Verification, the CxA is responsible for verifying that building systems are properly installed and functioning correctly.

This ensures compliance with the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and basis of design (BOD).

Developing a systems manual (Option D) is required for Enhanced Commissioning, not Fundamental Commissioning.

Reviewing the building after 10 months (Option B) is also part of Enhanced Commissioning, not Fundamental Commissioning.

Training verification (Option C) is beneficial but not a core responsibility for Fundamental Commissioning.

Verifying installation and performance (Option A) is the primary requirement for the CxA under Fundamental Commissioning.

(Source: Official LEED BD+C Reference Manual)

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 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. 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 materials for 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

An energy meter must be installed for hot water at the main service point for the project to meet the requirements for Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Building-Level Energy Metering. According to the LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, this prerequisite requires that “all energy sources used by the building must be metered or submetered” 1. The hot water from the central utility plant is an energy source used by the building, even if it is not directly paid by the office. Therefore, it must be metered at the point where it enters the building. The other options are incorrect because natural gas is not an energy source used by the building in this case, and the flat fee or the ownership of the energy source do not exempt the project from the metering requirement.

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 Reference Guide, 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 project 1. The OPR must include, among other things, the following information related to energy efficiency 1:

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 systems 2.

Peak-hour is a term used to describe the time period when the traffic noise is highest, usually during morning and evening rush hours. Peak-hour noise level is measured by the equivalent continuous sound level (Leq), which is an energy-average of the noise level over a specified sample time. For minimum acoustic performance, LEED requires projects to implement acoustic treatment and other measures to minimize noise intrusion from exterior sources for high-noise sites (peak-hour Leq above 60 dBA during school hours).

This option allows the project to comply with the minimum energy performance prerequisite by following the prescriptive recommendations of the ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG) for the applicable building type and climate zone1. This option simplifies the decision making and analysis process by providing clear and specific guidance on how to achieve 50% energy savings compared to the baseline standard2. This option also reduces the need for energy modeling and documentation, which can save time and money for the project3.

The correct answer is C, the Cx agent for the project must conduct or oversee the Cx of the PV system. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Fundamental Commissioning and Verification, requires that all energy-related systems, including renewable energy systems such as PV, be commissioned by an independent commissioning agent (CxA) or a qualified member of the project team who reports to the owner. The CxA or the qualified team member must perform or oversee all commissioning activities, including developing a commissioning plan, reviewing design documents and submittals, verifying installation and performance, and preparing a commissioning report12 References: 1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite: Fundamental Commissioning and Verification, page 562. 2: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Glossary, page 1020.

the local equivalent standard is more stringent than ASTM E1527-05

According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, a Phase I ESA is required for all projects, except for those located on previously developed land that has not been used for industrial, commercial, or agricultural purposes. The Phase I ESA must follow the ASTM E1527-05 standard or a local equivalent. However, if the local equivalent is more stringent than the ASTM standard, then the project must comply with the local equivalent. Therefore, if the new building project is located in a jurisdiction that has a more rigorous standard for Phase I ESA than ASTM E1527-05, then it must complete a new Phase I ESA, regardless of the previous ESA done for the certified facility.