Guide to the LEED Green Associate V4 Exam

MICHELLE COTTRELL, LEED® AP BD+C, ID+C, O+M, Homes is President of Design Management Services. She has helped project teams nationwide pursue LEED® certification, including the new North American BASF Corporate Headquarters, ultimately earning double Platinum LEED® certification under both the Core & Shell and Commercial Interiors Rating Systems. She has published 6 books, including the Guide to the LEED® Certification Process: LEED® for New Construction, LEED® for Core & Shell, LEED® for Commercial Interiors, and the LEED® exam prep series.

• Acknowledgments xiIntroduction xiiiPart I: Ramping Up 1Chapter 1 Understanding the Credentialing Process 3The Tiers of the Credentialing Process 3LEED Green Associate 3LEED Accredited Professional with Specialty 4LEED Fellow 4LEED Professional CertificatesTM 5The Exam Registration Process 5Register! 6Schedule! 6Why Earn LEED Credentials? 6Quiz Time! 7Online Resources 8Notes 8Chapter 2 Introduction to The Concepts of Sustainable Design 9The Benefits of Green Buildings 10The Triple Bottom Line 11Systems Thinking 12Feedback Loops 12Leverage Points 13Life‐Cycle Approach 13Do Green Buildings Cost More? 15Quiz Time! 15Notes 17Chapter 3 Integrative Process 19The Project Team Members 19The Traditional Approach 20The Integrative Approach to Design and Construction 21Discovery 21Design and Construction 24Occupancy, Operations, and Performance Feedback 26Quiz Time! 27Online Resources 28Notes 29Chapter 4 Third‐Party Verification 31USGBCR and GBCI™ 31Roles and Responsibilities 32The Policies of USGBC and GBCI 32Quiz Time! 34Online Resources 36Notes 36Chapter 5 The Leed Green Building Certification Program 37LEED for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) 38LEED for New Construction and Major RenovationsTM 38LEED for SchoolsTM 38LEED for HealthcareTM 39LEED for Core & ShellTM 39LEED for Retail: New ConstructionTM 40LEED for Data CentersTM 40LEED for Warehouses and Distribution CentersTM 40LEED for Hospitality2. LEED for Homes: Homes and Multifamily LowriseTM and LEED for HOMES: Multifamily MidriseTM40LEED for Homes 40LEED for Homes: Homes and Multifamily LowriseTM and LEED for HOMES: Multifamily MidriseTM 40LEED for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) 41LEED for Commercial InteriorsTM 41LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) 41LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance 41LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) 42LEED for Neighborhood Development: PlanTM and LEED for Neighborhood Development: Built ProjectTM 42The Categories of LEED 42Prerequisites and Credits 43Credit Weightings 45Quiz Time! 45Online Resources 48Notes 49Chapter 6 Essential Leed® Concepts 51LEED‐Online 51Minimum Program Requirements 52MPR 1. Must Be in a Permanent Location on Existing Land 52MPR 2. Must Use Reasonable LEED Boundaries 53MPR 3. Must Comply with Project Size Requirements 53Boundary Types 53The Steps to Certification 54Devising a LEED Work Plan 54The Certification Process 55LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & MaintenanceTM 57The Time Frames of Certification Reviews 58Special Projects 59Quiz Time! 59Online Resources 63Notes 63Part II: Diving In: The Strategies and Technologies of LEED® 65Chapter 7 Location and Transportation 67Location 67Strategies 69Transportation 71Strategies 71Documenting Transportation Strategies 74Neighborhood Pattern and Design 75Strategies 76Quiz Time! 77Online Resources 80Notes 80Chapter 8 Sustainable Sites 81Site Design and Management 82Strategies 82Rainwater Management 86Strategies 86Heat Island Effect 90Strategies 90Quiz Time! 92Online Resources 95Notes 95Chapter 9 Water Efficiency 97Indoor Water Use 100Process Water 100Strategies 100Outdoor Water 103Strategies 104Quiz Time! 106Online Resources 108Notes 108Chapter 10 Energy and Atmosphere 109Commissioning 109Minimum Energy Performance 110Process Energy versus Regulated Energy 111Refrigerants 115Existing Buildings 115Strategies to Satisfy EA Prerequisites and Credits 115Energy Demand 116Energy Efficiency 118Renewable Energy 124Ongoing Energy Performance 124Quiz Time! 126Online Resources 129Notes 130Chapter 11 Materials and Resources 131Conservation of Materials 132Strategies 132Environmentally Preferable Materials 133Strategies 137Calculating Green Building Products for LEED 138Waste Management 142Strategies to Reduce Waste during Construction 143Strategies to Reduce Waste during Operations and Maintenance 144Quiz Time! 145Online Resources 150Notes 150Chapter 12 Indoor Environmental Quality 151Indoor Air Quality 152Strategies for Designing for Good IAQ 153Strategies for Improving IAQ during Construction 154Strategies for Improving IAQ during Operations and Maintenance 154Thermal Comfort 158Strategies 158Lighting 160Strategies 162Acoustics 162Strategies 162Quiz Time! 164Notes 168Chapter 13 Innovation and Regional Priority 169Innovation 169Regional Priority 171Quiz Time! 172Online Resources 173Notes 173Part III: Study Tips and Appendices 175Chapter 14 Study Tips 177Preparing for the Leed® Green Associate™ Exam: Week Seven 177Practice Exam Approach 178The Testing Center Environment 178Exam Structure 179When at the Testing Center 180Exam Scoring 180After the Exam 181Online Resources 181Appendix A Rating Systems Overview 183Appendix B Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) 185Notes 186Appendix C Leed® Certification Process 187Appendix D Main Category Summaries 189Appendix E Trade‐Offs and Synergies 193Appendix F Sample Leed for New Construction™ Scorecard 195Appendix G Sample Credit 197SS Credit Open Space 1971 Point 197Notes 197Appendix H Referenced Standards 199Appendix I Abbreviations and Acronyms 207Appendix J Answers to Quiz Questions 211Notes 220Index 221Sample Flashcards