USGBC LEED-AP-Homes - LEED AP Homes (Residential) Exam
How many total Regional Priority credits are available for a project team to choose from in any region?
Four credits
Six credits
Seven credits
Eight credits
The Answer Is:
BExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includesRegional Priority (RP) Credits, which provide bonus points for addressing location-specific environmental priorities. Each region has a set number of RP credits available, from which a project can earn up to four points.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
Regional Priority Credits (1–4 points)
In each region, six Regional Priority Credits are available, based on the project’s ZIP code or location, addressing critical environmental issues. A project can earn up to four bonus points by achieving any combination of these six credits.
Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Regional Priority Credits, p. 190.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:
Regional Priority Credits
Six RP credits are identified for each region, from which a project team can choose to pursue up to four for bonus points, based on local environmental priorities.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
The correct answer issix credits(Option B), as six Regional Priority Credits are available for a project team to choose from in any region, with a maximum of four points achievable.
Why not the other options?
A. Four credits: This is the maximum number of points a project can earn, not the total number of RP credits available.
C. Seven credits: No region has seven RP credits; the standard is six.
A developer is planning to build 40 single-family homes on a two-acre (0.8 hectare) site. Under the Location and Transportation Credit, Compact Development, what is the maximum number of points that the developer can achieve?
Zero points
One point
Two points
Three points
The Answer Is:
DExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includes theLocation and Transportation (LT) Credit: Compact Development, which awards points for higher-density development to reduce environmental impacts and promote efficient land use.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
LT Credit: Compact Development (1–3 points)
Achieve the following dwelling unit densities (units per acre of buildable land):
1 point: ≥ 7 units per acre.
2 points: ≥ 12 units per acre.
3 points: ≥ 20 units per acre.Calculate density by dividing the number of dwelling units by the buildable land area (in acres).Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Location and Transportation Credit: Compact Development, p. 57.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:
LT Credit: Compact Development
For single-family homes, achieve 3 points by developing at least 20 dwelling units per acre on buildable land.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
Calculation:
Site area: 2 acres (0.8 hectare).
Number of homes: 40 single-family homes.
Density: 40 units ÷ 2 acres =20 units per acre.
This meets the threshold for3 points(≥ 20 units per acre).
The correct answer isthree points(Option D), as the density of 20 units per acre qualifies for the maximum points under the credit.
Why not the other options?
A. Zero points: The density (20 units/acre) far exceeds the minimum threshold (7 units/acre).
B. One point: This applies to ≥ 7 units/acre, below the project’s density.
A project team wants to earn credit for Location and Transportation Credit, Site Selection, Option 3: Open Space. A qualifying lot should be located within:
1/2 mi. (0.8 km) of a 3/4 acre (0.3 hectare) cornfield
3/4 mi. (1.2 km) of a publicly accessible park that is 3/4 acre (0.3 hectare) in size
1/2 mi. (0.8 km) of a pond surrounded by a 1/2 acre (0.2 hectare) walkway, and across the street from a 1/4 acre (0.1 hectare) publicly accessible park
3/4 mi. (1.2 km) of a 1/4 acre (0.1 hectare) publicly accessible park, across the street from a 1/4 acre (0.1 hectare) lot which is private land open to the public
The Answer Is:
CExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includes theLocation and Transportation (LT) Credit: Site Selection, Option 3: Open Space, which encourages projects to be located near publicly accessible open spaces to promote recreation and environmental benefits.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
LT Credit: Site Selection, Option 3: Open Space (1 point)
Locate the project within a 1/2-mile (0.8-kilometer) walking distance of a publicly accessible open space that is at least 0.75 acre (0.3 hectare) in size. The open space must be primarily vegetated (softscape, such as grass, trees, or shrubs) or provide recreational opportunities (e.g., playgrounds, trails). Acceptable open spaces include parks, playgrounds, or nature preserves, but not water bodies or privately restricted areas.
Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Location and Transportation Credit: Site Selection, p. 55.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:
LT Credit: Site Selection, Option 3: Open Space
The open space must be at least 0.75 acre (0.3 hectare), publicly accessible, and within 1/2 mile (0.8 km) of the project. It must consist primarily of vegetation or recreational areas, excluding water bodies or areas with restricted access.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
Evaluation of options:
A. 1/2 mi. (0.8 km) of a 3/4 acre (0.3 hectare) cornfield: A cornfield is agricultural land, not a publicly accessible recreational or vegetated open space as defined by LEED, so it does not qualify.
B. 3/4 mi. (1.2 km) of a publicly accessible park that is 3/4 acre (0.3 hectare) in size: The distance (3/4 mi.) exceeds the 1/2-mile (0.8 km) requirement, so it does not qualify.
C. 1/2 mi. (0.8 km) of a pond surrounded by a 1/2 acre (0.2 hectare) walkway, and across the street from a 1/4 acre (0.1 hectare) publicly accessible park: The pond is excluded (water bodies do not qualify), and the walkway (0.2 hectare) and park (0.1 hectare) together total 0.3 hectare (0.75 acre), meeting the size requirement within 1/2 mile. Assuming the walkway is vegetated or recreational, this qualifies.
D. 3/4 mi. (1.2 km) of a 1/4 acre (0.1 hectare) publicly accessible park, across the street from a 1/4 acre (0.1 hectare) lot which is private land open to the public: The distance (3/4 mi.) exceeds 1/2 mile, and the combined area (0.2 hectare) is below 0.3 hectare. Private land, even if publicly accessible, may not fully qualify without clear documentation.
The correct answer isOption C, as it meets the 1/2-mile distance and the combined 0.75-acre size requirement, assuming the walkway is vegetated or recreational.
TheLEED AP Homes Candidate Handbookemphasizes LT credits, including Site Selection, and references theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Constructionas a key resource. The exam is based onLEED v4, ensuring the relevance of open space criteria.
A project team targets concrete as a material to receive Environmentally Preferable Products credit for fly ash content. Due to weather conditions, the structural engineer suggests reducing the fly ash content in a small portion of the suspended slab areas to speed the curing process and achieve the required strength. The adjusted calculation shows that reduced fly ash in these areas will result in failure to achieve the targeted point. Which of the following is the most effective strategy that the LEED AP could pursue?
Submit a CIR requesting the low fly ash suspended slab be removed from the calculations
Ignore the engineer’s recommendation and proceed with the original design
Apply for a Regional Priority exemption since the local climate interfered with the project team’s best effort to achieve the point
Demand the project team slow the construction schedule so additional curing time will allow the required amount of fly ash to be used
The Answer Is:
BExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)awards points for theMaterials and Resources (MR) Credit: Environmentally Preferable Productsbased on the use of materials with sustainable attributes, such as concrete with fly ash (a recycled material that reduces the environmental impact of cement production). The scenario indicates that reducing fly ash content in some suspended slab areas due to weather-related curing concerns would cause the project to fall short of the credit’s threshold (e.g., 25%, 50%, or 90% by cost).
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
MR Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products (1–4 points)
Use products that meet one or more of the following criteria for at least 25%, 50%, or 90% (by cost) of the total materials in the project:
Recycled content: Materials with pre- or post-consumer recycled content, such as fly ash in concrete.The percentage is calculated based on the total cost of qualifying materials across the project.Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Materials and Resources Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products, p. 160.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms this:
MR Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products
Concrete with fly ash qualifies as an environmentally preferable product if it contributes to the required percentage of material cost. Project teams must ensure compliance across all relevant components.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
The most effective strategy is toignore the engineer’s recommendation and proceed with the original design(Option B). This ensures the project maintains the intended fly ash content to meet the credit threshold. Fly ash typically slows concrete curing, but modern mix designs and admixtures (e.g., accelerators) can mitigate weather-related delays without reducing fly ash content. The LEED AP should collaborate with the structural engineer to explore alternative solutions, such as adjusting the mix or using curing blankets, to maintain both structural integrity and credit compliance.
Why not the other options?
Sustainable Sites Prerequisite, No Invasive Plants requires that all site vegetation:
Be native to the project’s region
Be drought tolerant
Be listed by USDA Cooperative Extension Service or equivalent
Provide shading to 25% of hardscapes
The Answer Is:
CExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includes theSustainable Sites (SS) Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants, which ensures that landscaping does not introduce invasive species that could harm local ecosystems.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
SS Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants
All site vegetation must be non-invasive, as verified by the USDA Cooperative Extension Service or an equivalent authority (e.g., local native plant societies or university extension programs). Invasive species are those that are non-native and likely to cause environmental harm.
Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Sustainable Sites Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants, p. 72.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:
SS Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants
All plants must be verified as non-invasive by the USDA Cooperative Extension Service or equivalent to ensure they do not disrupt local ecosystems.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
The correct answer isbe listed by USDA Cooperative Extension Service or equivalent(Option C), as this ensures that all site vegetation is non-invasive, meeting the prerequisite.
Why not the other options?
For a site in a town with a population of 10,000 to qualify under Location and Transportation Credit, Site Selection, Option 2: Infill Development, what portion of the site’s perimeter must border previously disturbed land?
25%
50%
75%
100%
The Answer Is:
CExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)outlines the requirements for theLocation and Transportation (LT) Credit: Site Selection, which includesOption 2: Infill Development. This credit encourages development on sites that minimize environmental impact by utilizing previously disturbed or developed land. For a site to qualify as infill development, a specific portion of its perimeter must border land that has been previously disturbed.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4), the requirement forOption 2: Infill Developmentis as follows:
Option 2. Infill Development (1 point)
Select a lot such that at least 75% of the perimeter of the project site immediately borders parcels that are previously developed or that have been graded or otherwise altered by direct human activities.
Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Location and Transportation Credit: Site Selection, p. 54.
This means that75% of the site’s perimetermust border previously disturbed land to meet the infill development criteria. The population of the town (10,000 in this case) does not directly affect the infill development requirement but may be relevant for other LT credits, such asAccess to Quality TransitorNeighborhood Pattern and Design, which consider community size or density. However, forSite Selection, Option 2, the focus is solely on the perimeter bordering previously disturbed land.
TheLEED v4.1 for Homesrating system aligns with this requirement, as it maintains the same infill development criteria for residential projects under the LT category:
LT Credit: Site Selection, Option 2. Infill Development
At least 75% of the project site’s perimeter must border previously developed or disturbed parcels.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
TheLEED AP Homes Candidate Handbookconfirms that the exam tests knowledge of theLEED v4rating system, including the LT credits, and references theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Constructionas a primary study resource. The handbook does not alter the technical requirements but emphasizes understanding credit intent and compliance paths, such as the infill development perimeter rule.
Why not the other options?
A. 25%: This is too low and does not meet the minimum threshold for infill development, which requires significant adjacency to previously disturbed land to ensure compact,sustainable development.
B. 50%: While closer, 50% still falls short of the 75% requirement, which is designed to prioritize sites fully integrated into existing developed areas.
D. 100%: Requiring 100% of the perimeter to border previously disturbed land is overly restrictive and not specified in the LEED v4 or v4.1 requirements.
How is credit earned under Regional Priority Credit, Regional Priority when the credit has multiple thresholds?
Points are awarded at the minimum threshold
Points are awarded at the maximum threshold
Points are awarded when the maximum threshold has been exceeded
Points are awarded at particular levels of achievement
The Answer Is:
CExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includesRegional Priority (RP) Credits, which provide bonus points for achieving existing credits identified as environmentally significant for a project’s region. For credits with multiple thresholds, exemplary performance can earn additional points.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
Regional Priority Credits (1–4 points)
Regional Priority Credits are awarded for achieving designated credits that address location-specific environmental priorities. For credits with multiple thresholds (e.g., Water Efficiency Credit: Outdoor Water Use), an additional bonus point is awarded when the maximum threshold has been exceeded, demonstrating exemplary performance.
Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Regional Priority Credits, p. 190; Innovation Credit: Innovation, p. 190.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:
Regional Priority Credits
When an RP credit has multiple thresholds, a project earns the bonus point by meeting the base credit requirements, and an additional point may be earned for exemplary performance by exceeding the maximum threshold of the underlying credit.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
The correct answer ispoints are awarded when the maximum threshold has been exceeded(Option C), as RP credits with multiple thresholds award bonus points for exemplary performance beyond the highest threshold.
Why not the other options?
A. Points are awarded at the minimum threshold: RP credits require achieving the base credit, not just the minimum threshold.
B. Points are awarded at the maximum threshold: Points are awarded for exceeding the maximum threshold, not just meeting it.
For a two-bedroom unit in a multi-family building, a kitchen’s minimum airflow requirement for intermittent local exhaust is:
100 cfm (47 lps)
200 cfm (94 lps)
1 cfm per ft² (5.08 lps per m²)
2.5 cfm per ft² (12.7 lps per m²)
The Answer Is:
AExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)addresses kitchen ventilation requirements in theIndoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Prerequisite: Ventilation, which referencesASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010for minimum airflow rates in residential buildings, including multi-family units.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
EQ Prerequisite: Ventilation
For intermittent local exhaust in kitchens, ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010 requires a minimum airflow rate of 100 cfm (47 lps) for each kitchen to effectively remove cooking-related pollutants and moisture, regardless of the number of bedrooms.
Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite: Ventilation, p. 142.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:
EQ Prerequisite: Ventilation
Intermittent local exhaust in kitchens must provide at least 100 cfm (47 lps) per ASHRAE 62.2-2010 to ensure adequate ventilation in multi-family units, including two-bedroom units.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
The correct answer is100 cfm (47 lps)(Option A), as this is the minimum airflow requirement for intermittent kitchen exhaust per ASHRAE 62.2-2010.
Why not the other options?
B. 200 cfm (94 lps): This exceeds the minimum requirement for intermittent kitchen exhaust.
C. 1 cfm per ft² (5.08 lps per m²): Kitchen exhaust is not based on floor area but on a fixed rate (100 cfm).
Minimum outdoor air ventilation in a LEED for Homes project is addressed by which of the following standards?
IECC 2012
ENERGY STAR for Homes
ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010
The Answer Is:
CExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)addresses minimum outdoor air ventilation requirements in theIndoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Prerequisite: Ventilation, which ensures adequate indoor air quality through proper ventilation design.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
EQ Prerequisite: Ventilation
Meet the minimum outdoor air ventilation requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings. This standard specifies minimum ventilation rates and other measures to provide acceptable indoor air quality in residential buildings.
Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite: Ventilation, p. 142.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:
EQ Prerequisite: Ventilation
Comply with ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010 for minimum outdoor air ventilation rates in single-family and low-rise multifamily homes to ensure healthy indoor air quality.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
The correct answer isASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010(Option C), as it is the specific standard referenced for minimum ventilation requirements in LEED for Homes.
Why not the other options?
One strategy to help achieve Location and Transportation Credit: Community Resources in a multi-family building is to provide:
Shared parking with an adjacent single-family development
Retail on the street level of the development
Additional parking for adjacent retail developments
Shuttle service for the residents to their places of employment
The Answer Is:
BExplanation:
TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includes theLocation and Transportation (LT) Credit: Community Resources and Services, which awards points for locating a project near or integrating community services to reduce transportation needs, particularly in multi-family buildings.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
LT Credit: Community Resources and Services (1–2 points)
In multi-family buildings, provide access to community services (e.g., retail, grocery, pharmacy) within the development or within 1/4 mile (0.4 km) walking distance. Including retail on the street level of the development contributes to earning points by enhancing access to services for residents.
Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Location and Transportation Credit: Community Resources and Services, p. 56.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:
LT Credit: Community Resources and Services
Providing retail on the street level of a multi-family building qualifies as a strategy to meet the credit by integrating community resources directly within the project, reducing resident travel.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
The correct answer isretail on the street level of the development(Option B), as this directly enhances access to community services, contributing to the credit’s requirements.
Why not the other options?
