USGBC LEED-Green-Associate - LEED Green Associate GAFRE Exam (LEED GA)

LEED certification is a process that evaluates the environmental performance and sustainability of a building project based on a set of rating systems. To earn LEED certification, a project must satisfy all the mandatory requirements, or prerequisites, of the chosen rating system, and earn a minimum number of points by meeting optional criteria, or credits. The number of points determines the level of certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points), or Platinum (80+ points)123.

Employing a LEED AP (Accredited Professional) on the project team is not a requirement for LEED certification, but it can provide an advantage, as LEED APs have demonstrated their knowledge and expertise in green building and LEED rating systems. Having a LEED AP on the project team can also earn one point under the Integrative Process credit4.

Conducting a whole-building life-cycle assessment is not a requirement for LEED certification, but it can be an option for earning points under the Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction credit. A life-cycle assessment is a method of evaluating the environmental impacts of a building over its entire life span, from extraction of materials to disposal or reuse3.

Earning a minimum of 50 points or meeting a prerequisite is not a sufficient condition for LEED certification, as it does not account for the other prerequisites or the level of certification. A project must meet all the prerequisites and earn at least 40 points to qualify for the lowest level of certification

Building orientation is the element of design that can be used to take advantage of natural ventilation, solar energy and daylight. Building orientation refers to the position and direction of a building in relation to the sun, wind, and other environmental factors. By orienting a building properly, it can maximize the benefits of passive design strategies such as daylighting, natural ventilation, and solar energy. For example, a building can be oriented to face the south or north in temperate climates to capture more sunlight for heating and lighting, or to face the east or west in hot climates to avoid excessive solar heat gain and glare. A building can also be oriented to align with the prevailing wind direction to enhance natural ventilation and cooling. Building orientation can also affect the shape, size, and placement of windows, doors, roofs, and other architectural elements that influence the performance and comfort of a building. References: Passive Design Strategies | Sustainability Workshop, section “Building Massing & Orientation”; Back to Basics: Natural Ventilation and its Use in Different Contexts | ArchDaily, section “Orientation”; Courtyard configuration to optimize shading, daylight and ventilation …, section “Introduction”

According to the LeadingGreen Guide:

“Individual controls for lighting have a significant effect on occupants’ comfort. Meeting the unique needs of each occupant can be accomplished through effective design of lighting controls…”

LEED credits under EQc6 emphasize providing lighting comfort and energy savings through such controls.

LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) is the rating system that applies to existing buildings and interior spaces that have been fully operational and occupied for at least one year1. It focuses on performance-oriented sustainable strategies and outcomes, such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, indoor environmental quality, and transportation2. LEED O+M can help existing buildings reduce their environmental impacts and improve their operations1.

 2 LEED rating system | U.S. Green Building Council1 LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) | Harvard Energy & Facilities.

The Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) reviews and provides the final LEED certification report to projects. GBCI was established in 2008 as a separately incorporated entity with the support of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). GBCI administers project certifications for LEED and other green business certification programs. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

A waste reduction, reuse and recycling program must collect and measure the waste diverted through recycling and reuse, which is the amount of waste that is prevented from going to landfills or incinerators by being recovered, reused, or recycled. This is one of the key indicators of the environmental performance and benefits of a waste management program, as it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources, save energy and water, and create jobs. LEED v4.1 recognizes and rewards this strategy in the Construction and Demolition WasteManagement credit1, which aims to reduce construction and demolition waste disposed of in landfills and incineration facilities2. The other options are not directly related to the waste reduction, reuse and recycling program, as they involve different types of materials or metrics that are not relevant for measuring waste diversion. References: LEED Link: Construction and Demolition Waste Management, section “LEED v4.1 BD+C: Construction and Demolition Waste Management”; LEED v4 Waste Management Credits - Zero Waste, section “LEED v4 Waste Management Credits”

Energy use intensity (EUI) is a measure of energy use per unit of floor space. It is calculated by dividing the total energy consumed by the building in one year (measured in kilowatt-hours or kilo-British Thermal Units) by the total gross floor area of the building (measured in square feet or square meters). EUI is a useful metric for comparing the energy performance of different buildings or benchmarking against national averages. EUI can vary depending on building type, climate, occupancy, and other factors. Generally, a lower EUI indicates better energy efficiency and lower environmental impact. References: What is Energy Use Intensity (EUI)?2; Energy Use Intensity (EUI)3

Water Efficiency is the only credit category that does not have a prerequisite in LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction. Prerequisites are the minimum requirements that all projects must meet to be eligible for LEED certification. They are mandatory and non-weighted, meaning they do not contribute to the project’s score. The other credit categories have at least one prerequisite each, as shown in the table below:

Harvesting rainwater reduces reliance on potable water for non-potable uses like irrigation and flushing. LEED supports this approach under Water Efficiency credits for reducing potable water consumption​​.