Chapter 4 - Overview of USGBC and LEED

Question 1

The ________ is the person who is granted actual authority by the owner to register the project and accept the certification agreement.

Answer 1

Agent

Question 2

certification level

Answer 2

A LEED designation based on point thresholds met, such as LEED Certified (40-49), LEED Silver (50-59), LEED Gold (60-79), and LEED Platinum (80+)

Question 3

certification process

Answer 3

A hierarchy of assigned tasks completed through LEED Online.

Question 4

Checklist

Answer 4

A single-page list containing the name of the rating system adaptation and a series of categories that pertain to the site, transportation, water, energy, materials, indoor air, and innovation of the project.

Question 5

Credit

Answer 5

A point or range of points given depending on its credit weighting.

Question 6

credit interpretation request (CIR)

Answer 6

A fee-based inquiry to the USGBC as to how to implement a strategy for a certain prerequisite or credit.

Question 7

Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI)

Answer 7

A third-party organization that provides independent oversight of professional credentialing and project certification programs related to green building.

Question 8

impact categories

Answer 8

The environmental issues that LEED projects aim to address.

Question 9

Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design™ (LEED®)

Answer 9

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED green building program is the preeminent program for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Question 10

LEED AP®

Answer 10

The advanced level of LEED credentials that requires an advanced knowledge in green building as well as expertise in a particular LEED rating system.

Question 11

LEED Fellow nominees must have ___ years of professional green building experience.

Answer 11

10 years

The most prestigious LEED designation recognizes LEED APs who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in technical knowledge and skill, leadership, advocacy, commitment and service, and teaching, mentoring, or research.

Question 12

LEED Green Associate™

Answer 12

The basic level of LEED credentials requires a documented, up-to-date understanding of the most current green building principles and practices.

Question 13

minimum program requirements (MPRs) (3)

Answer 13

The requirements that a building must meet before it can consider LEED certification:
1. Must be in a permanent location on existing land;
2. Must use reasonable LEED boundaries: must include all contiguous land associated with the project;
3. Must comply with project size requirements:
- BD+C and O+M projects must be a minimum of 1000 square feet.
− ID+C projects must be a minimum of 250 square feet.
− ND projects must contain at least two habitable buildings and be no larger than 1500 acres.
− Homes projects must be defined as a “dwelling unit” by code

Question 14

Owner

Answer 14

Person (or entity) who has the authority to hold and control the real and personal property associated with the project and accept the certification agreement.

Question 15

pilot credit library

Answer 15

A database of credits that are being tested for future versions of the LEED rating systems.

Question 16

Prerequisite

Answer 16

A mandatory project requirement that ensures a minimum level of achievement within a category.

Question 17

The ____________ is the person who plays a key quality role by checking that the LEED submission is complete and accurate before submitting the project to GBCI for review and by accepting the review results once the review is complete.

Answer 17

Project administrator

Question 18

Synergy

Answer 18

The interrelationship between credit categories, systems, and components that can be realized through the integrative process to achieve high levels of building performance, human performance, and environmental benefits.

Question 19

technical advisory group (TAG)

Answer 19

A committee formed by members of the USGBC to make consensus-based decisions and to recommend technical solutions to rating system development and maintenance issues, based on expertise.

Question 20

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Answer 20

A nonprofit organization made up of member organizations, chapters, and credentialed professionals that was formed to promote sustainability within the built environment and has been releasing versions of the LEED rating systems since 2000.

Question 21

Before submitting a credit interpretation request (CIR) for clarification on a credit, a project team should review:

Answer 21

LEED Interpretations in the online Addenda database

Question 22

LEED Homes

Answer 22

LEED BD+C: Homes and Multifamily Lowrise (1-3 stories) and Multifamily Midrise (4-8 stories)

Use on average 20% less energy than conventional homes.

People: LEED Homes Energy Rater, Green Rater, Homes Provider

Question 23

Soft costs include:

Answer 23

Architectural fees, engineering fees, legal fees, financing

Question 24

LEED Interpretations

Answer 24

Precedent-setting rulings reviewed by USGBC on formal inquiries submitted by LEED project teams that can be applied to multiple projects.
*Before submitting a CIR, project teams should look through the Addenda Database of LEED Interpretations. This is composed of precedent-setting answers to LEED CIRs that might address the question.
They are addressed by the LEED Technical Advisory Groups (volunteer).

Question 25

International Green Construction Code (IGCC)

Answer 25

Including ASHRAE 189.1
an alternative path to compliance; first of its kind regulatory framework that recognizes entire set of risks not otherwise addressed in the codes.
“a landmark national effort to codify green building practices into adoptable, adaptable, enforceable green building codes”

Question 26

TAG

Answer 26

technical advisory group (TAG)

committee formed by USGBC members to make consensus-based decisions & recommend technical solutions to rating system development and maintenance.

Question 27

There are ____ different rating system adaptations within five categories.

Answer 27

21

Question 28

Recertification for LEED O+M: Existing Buildings must take place at a minimum of every _____ years.

Answer 28

Five

Question 29

In the LT category, ________ is a measure of the total building floor area or dwelling units on a parcel of land relative to the buildable land of that parcel.

Answer 29

density