17 concepts you should know to pass the

LEED v4 Green Associate

exam

1. Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) “All projects applying for LEED certification must meet a set of

minimum program requirements” according to the USGBC The Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) are the minimum

characteristics or conditions that make a project appropriate to pursue LEED certification.

MPRs serve the purpose of giving clear guidance to customers, protecting the integrity of the LEED program, and reducing challenges that occur during the LEED process

All LEED projects (except LEED for Homes and Neighborhood Development) must meet all MPRs to become certified. MPRs include: 1. Must be in a permanent location on existing land 2. Must use reasonable LEED boundaries 3. Must comply with project size requirements

Reference: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide

2. Integrative project planning and design

Integrated Project planning and design is involves people, systems, and business structures and practices. The process utilizes talents of all project participants to create the best results, reduce waste, and ensure efficient throughout all phases of the design process.

It requires: Preparation of an Owner’s Project Requirements Document (OPR),

Preliminary Rating Goals, Selection of an Integrated Project Team, and Design Charrette

Reference: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide

3. Credit Interpretation Process

The Credit Interpretation Process supports high-performance, cost-effective project outcomes through an analysis of the interrelationships among systems. It is used to identify and achieve synergies across

disciplines and building systems. CIRs cost $220 each.

4. LEED Boundaries

In order for a project to become LEED certified, teams must follow and report specific site boundaries meaning land in and around the project space that are affected as a result. This includes the site area affected by the construction,

including parking and open space.

The LEED project boundary may not be “gerrymandered” or be designed to exclude portions of a space simply for the purposes of seeking LEED certification.

5. Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses For the Location and Transportation Credit, LEED requires that

buildings being constructed or renovated must enhance community connectivity in order to do the following: Conserve land and protect farmland and wildlife habitat by encouraging

development in areas with existing infrastructure. Promote walkability, and transportation efficiency and reduce vehicle

distance traveled. Improve public health by encouraging daily physical activity.

The are multiple ways to meet this credit. One example is being close to other services in the community. For example, laundromats, cleaners, parks, libraries, and/or restaurants.

6. Sustainable Sites (SS) Sustainable Sites minimize a project's impact on the

surrounding environment The Sustainable Sites category rewards projects with credits

that emphasize the relationships among buildings, ecosystems, and ecosystem services.

It focuses on restoring project site elements and preserving the biodiversity.

To gain credits, project teams “use low-impact development methods that minimize construction pollution, reduce heat island effects and light pollution, and mimic natural water flow patterns to manage rainwater runoff.”

Reference: BD+C v4 Reference Guide

7. Water Efficiency (WE) The Water Efficiency (WE) category aims to promote "efficiency first" by

reducing potable water consumption through effective efficiency strategies and also by encouraging the use of non-potable "greywater" where possible.

LEED encourages 40% less water use in green buildings than conventional buildings.

There are specific prerequisites and credits in Water Efficiency on the exam. Water Efficiency Terms to Know:

Potable water Process water Graywater Blackwater Tertiary Standards or Tertiary Treatment

8. Flow Rates

In order for a project to meet LEED indoor water use requirements, it must include high-efficiency water fixtures.

You must know specific flow rates for different fixtures which you can see in the LEED v4 GA Study Guide.

There are specific requirements for flow rates when installing high-efficiency (low-flow) fixtures or fittings.

9. Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Calculations Full Time Equivalents are regular building occupants

who spend 40 hours a week in the project building. For the exam, you should know how to calculate FTEs.

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) calculations are sometimes used in LEED to estimate the number of full-time employees, part-time employees, residents and transient visitors (optional to include) in the building on an average day.

One part-time employee counts as 1/2 a full time employee .

10. EA Prerequisite Refrigerant Management

The purpose of the EA Refrigerant Management credit is reduce stratospheric ozone depletion as well as comply with the Montreal Protocol.

The USGBC prohibits use of “chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigerants in new heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems.”

Project teams can do the following: not use refrigerants or use natural refrigerants, or minimize refrigerant use with low-impact refrigerants

When reusing existing HVAC&R equipment, teams should complete a comprehensive CFC phase-out conversion before project completion.

11. Renewable Energy

Uses of on-site renewable energy for a LEED project must comply with renewable energy standards.

The purpose of the renewable energy credit is to encourage the use of renewable energy, such as solar photovoltaics and wind power, as an on-site alternative to fossil fuel energy.

The calculation for determining the building’s annual energy costs should use the following:

12. HVAC Requirements

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

HVAC Standards are a component of the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit for providing optimal comfort for occupants in the most efficient way possible.

Project Teams are required to provide thermal comfort for at least 50% of occupant spaces.

Teams can either meet ASHRAE Standard 55-2010, ISO, or CEN Standards for Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment.

13. Low Emitting Materials Standard

The purpose of this standard is to reduce the concentration of toxic chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to increase air quality, human health and productivity in the environment.

Project Teams should use Product Category Rules (PCRs) or VOC budgets to test for VOC emissions.

This standard can be met either by complying with thresholds for interior paints and coatings, interior adhesives and sealants, etc. or by using the Budget Calculation Method, which is a weighted average calculation that includes the VOC information for each product.

Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

14. Material Reuse (MR) Recycled Content The Material Reuse Recycled Content standard promotes

reducing, reusing and recycling of materials. One way to receive an MR credit is to use at least 25% (by

cost) of permanently installed building products that are post-consumer content + 1/2 pre-consumer content Pre-consumer content is material diverted from the waste

stream during the manufacturing process. Ex: Shavings, sawdust, walnut shells

Post-consumer content is material produced by households, commercial, industrial or institutional facilities which can no longer be used for its original purpose.

Ex: Newspapers, plastic bottles, soup cans

15. Biobased materials

Biobased materials are required to meet the Sustainable Agriculture Standard

Biobased materials are defined as commercial or industrial products (other than food) that are composed of biological products, renewable agricultural materials or forestry materials. Leather and other animal hides are not considered

biobased material.

16. Rapidly Renewable Materials List Rapidly Renewable materials are building materials made from plants that are

typically harvested in a ten year or shorter life cycle. Projects that use rapidly renewable materials are awarded one point for at least

2.5% of all building materials used on the project, based on cost. LEED encourages the use of regional materials to reduce the byproducts of

construction materials transportation to a building site. Regional materials are defined as… Bamboo Corkstraw cotton insulation (recycled jeans?) Agrifiber natural linoleum (Marmoleum) Wool Wheatboard strawboard

17. Exemplary Performance (EP)

EPs are points awarded for using innovative design measure and exemplary performance (going above and beyond the credit requirements).

Projects eligible for EPs achieve between 1-2 additional points “for achieving double the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold.”

Some standards do not award Eps

Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

For More Study Materials…

For more materials you can visit our website for Free LEED Exam Prep materials.

Also, learn more about our Super Study Pack which includes: Poplar’s 131 page LEED v4 Green Associate Study Guide (PDF) with

100 question practice test 400 practice questions with exam simulator 9 module Online LEED v4 Green Associate training course 2 hour downloadable MP3 Audio Study Guide 400 Downloadable/Printable PDF Flashcards Bonus LEED Exam Memorization Guide (only available with the Super

Study Pack)