GBES Flash Cards
What must your erosion control plan adhere to?
2003 EPA Construction General Permit (or local standards, whichever is more stringent)
What is a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment?
A report prepared for a real estate holding that identifies potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities
How is a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment more in-depth?
A further investigation that collects original samples of soil, groundwater, or building materials to analyze for quantitative
What are the types of sensitive sites to avoid building on?
- Prime farmland
- Flood plain
- Endangered species habitat
- Land with 50’ of wetlands
- Land within 100’ of a water body
Who defines Prime Farmland?
The US Department of Agriculture
What is the building requirement for projects in places without legally adopted flood hazard map?
Cannot build on a floodplain subject to a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year
Define Development Footprint
The total land area of a project site covered by buildings, streets, parking areas, and other typically impermeable surfaces constructed as part of the project
What are the requirements for surrounding density?
Locate on a site whose surrounding existing density within 1/4 mile radius of the project boundary meets either the ‘separate residential and nonresidential densities’ or ‘combined density’ values.
What are the minimum surrounding density requirements?
0.5 Non residential density (FAR) and 7 Residential density (DU/acre) -OR- 22,000 SF/acre of buildable land combined density
What are the requirements for diverse use?
Construct or renovate a building or a space within a building such that the building’s main entrance is within a 1/2 mile walking distance of the main entrance of four to seven (1 point) or eight or more (2 points) existing and publicly available diverse uses.
What are the five use categories for diverse uses?
- Food Retail
- Community serving retail
- Services
- Civic and community facilities
- Community anchor uses (BD+C and ID+C only)
What are the distances for Access to Quality Transit?
1/4 mile walking distance of existing or planned bus, streetcar, or rideshare stops, or within 1/2 mile walking distance of existing or planned bus rapid transit stops, light or heavy rail stations, commuter rail stations or ferry terminals.
Where is Access to Quality Transit measured from?
A functional entry - a building opening designed to be used by pedestrians and open during regular business hours. It does not include any door exclusively designated as an emergency exit, or a garage door not designed as a pedestrian entrance.
How many bike racks are required for a commercial building?
Short-term storage for at least 2.5% of all peak visitors (no fewer than 4 spaces per building) and long-term storage for 5% of all regular building occupants (no fewer than 4 spaces per building)
How many bike racks are required for a residential project?
Short-term storage for at least 2.5% of all peak visitors (no fewer than 4 spaces per building) and long-term storage for 30% of all regular building occupants.
How many shower and changing facilities are required for a commercial project?
At least one for the first 100 FTE and one additional for every 150 regular building occupants thereafter.
How do you calculate an FTE?
An 8-hour occupant has an FTE value of 1.0; a part-time occupant has an FTE value based on work hours per day divided by 8
How many preferred parking spaces are required for Green Vehicles?
Provide preferred parking for green vehicles for 5% of the total vehicle parking of the site.
How many EVSE stations must be installed for Green Vehicles?
2% of all parking spaces (preferred parking spaces may not be counted)
How is preferred parking defined?
The parking spots closest to the main entrance of a building (exclusive of spaces designated for handicapped persons). For employee parking, it refers to the spots that are closest to the entrance used by employees.
For previously developed or graded sites, how much habitat needs to be restored?
30% (including the building footprint) of all portions of the site
What is an example of a monoculture planting, which would not help with restoring/protecting habitat?
Turf grass
What areas can be excluded from the vegetation and soil requirements to restore/protect habitat?
Vegetated landscape areas that are constructed to accommodate rainwater infiltration
For school projects what areas can be excluded from soil restoration criteria to restore/protect habitat?
Athletic fields
What amount of financial support can be provided to restore/protect habitat?
$0.40 / SF ($4 / m2)
What are the distance limitations when providinig financial support to protect/restore habitat
Financial support must be provided to a nationally or locally recognized land trust or conservation organization within the same EPA Level III ecoregion or the project’s state (or within 100 miles of the project [160 kilometers] for projects outside the U.S.). For U.S. projects, the land trust must be accredited by the Land Trust Alliance.
What should be included in a sustainable landscape plan?
List of all plant species, noting whether or not they are native/adapted; info about invasive species and pests those plants may harbor; best maintenance practices for the chosen plants, and site maps showing boudaries for the protected habitat areas
What are the IESNA lighting zones?
LZ0 -Wilderness; LZ1 -Dark (parks, rural areas); LZ2 -Low (residential, light industrial); LZ3 -Medium (commercial, industrial, high density residential); LZ4 -High (metro areas)
When an organization/agency is providing space for shared use to students, what should be included?
Auditorium, Gym, Cafeteria, One or more classrooms, Swimming Pool, or Playing Field
What slope is important for heat island effect - roof?
2:12 slope; > means steeped slope and requires an initial SRI of 39 or greater; 2:12
What causes skyglow?
Stray light from unshielded light sources and light reflecting off surfaces that then enter the atmosphere and illuminate and reflect off dust, debris, and water vapor.
BD+CFor Schools to achieve Site Master Plan, how many other credits must be met?
At least 4 of 6 of these credits:
- LT Credit High Priority Site
- SS Credit Site Development
- Protect or Restore Habitat
- SS Credit Open Space
- SS Credit Rainwater Management
- SS Credit Heat Island Reduction
- SS Credit Light Pollution Reduction
What is the default gender ratio for indoor water use reduction calculations?
1 to 1; i.e. 50/50 male to female
What fixtures and fittings must be included in the indoor water use reduction calculations?
Water closets, urinals, lavatory faucets, showers, kitchen sink faucets, and pre-rinse spray valves
What is the discount parking rate for Green Vehicles?
20% discount
When can wetlands count as open space?
Wetlands or naturally designed ponds may count as open space and the side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical: horizontal) or less and are vegetated.
What are the benefits of commissioning?
- Verification that Systems perform with Owner’ Project Requirements
- Reduced Energy Use
- Lower Operating Costs
- Reduced Contractor Callbacks
- Better Building Documentation
- Improved Occupant Productivity
What documents get created during fundamental commissioning and verification?
Cx reportCurrent facility requirementsOperations and maintenance plan
What energy-related systems must be commissioned?
-Mechanical, including HVAC&R equipment and controls-Electrical lighting and daylighting controls-Plumbing, including domestic hot water systems-Renewable energy systems
What do the Owner’s Project Requirements typically include?
Owner and User Requirements, Environmental and Sustainability Goals, Energy Efficiency Goals, Indoor Environmental Quality Requirements, Equipment and System Expectations, Building Occupant and O&M Personnel Requirements.
What should the Basis of Design include?
Primary Design Assumptions, Standards, & Narrative Descriptions
Process Energy is considered to include, but is not limited to what?
Miscellaneous Equipment, Computers, Elevators, Escalators, Kitchen Cooking & Refrigeration Equipment, Laundry Washing & Drying, Lighting Exempt from Power Allowance (e.g., Medical Equipment), and other (e.g., Waterfall or Fountain Pumps)
Regulated or (non-process) Energy includes?
Lighting (interior, parking garage, surface parking, façade, orbuilding grounds) HVAC, service water heating for domestic or space heating purposes.
What generates both electrical power and thermal energy from a single fuel source?
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) or Cogeneration
What device is used to regulate humidity and temperature, making building systems more energy efficient?
An economizer
What refrigerant management procedure governs reducing annual leakage of CFC-based refrigerants to 5% or less?
EPA Clean Air Act, Title VI, Rule 608
What are the three (3) compliance path options described in Optimize Energy Performance (EA Prerequisite 2)?
Option 1. Whole Building Energy Simulation, Option 2. Prescriptive Compliance Path: ASHRAE 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide Option 3. Prescriptive Compliance Path: Advanced Buildings Core Performance Guide
What are the six (6) components of ASHRAE 90.1?
Building envelope, HVAC, Service Water Heating, Power, Lighting, Other Equipment
What four fundamental strategies can increase energy performance?
Orientation, Site Energy Sources, Efficient Envelope, Energy Recovery Systems
What arethethresholdsfor renewable energy production credit?
LEED BD+C (except Core and Shell): 1%, 5%, 10%LEED BD+C: Core and Shell: 1%, 3%, 5%
What are the eligible types of systems for Renewable Energy Production?
Photovoltaic systems, Wind energy systems, Solar thermal systems, Biofuel-based electrical systems, Geothermal heating or electric systems, Low-impact hydroelectric power systems, Wave & tidal power systems
What biofuel systems are NOT eligible for Renewable Energy Production?
Combustion of municipal solid waste, Forestry biomass waste other than mill residue, Coated Wood, or Treated Wood.
What are the two (2) Options for Enhanced Refrigerant Management?
Option 1. No refrigerants or Low-Impact RefrigerantsOption 2. Calculation of Refrigeration Impact
What types of equipment are NOT subject to the Fundamental Refrigerant Management requirements?
Small HVAC units (less than 0.5 lbs [225 grams] of refrigerant), standard refrigerators, small water coolers.
What is the duration and % a project must engage in to earn points under Green Power and Carbon Offsets?
5-year contract AND 50% provision of the project’s energy from green power, carbon offsets, or renewable energy certificates.
What are the two (2) Options to determine electricity use for Green Power and Carbon Offsets?
Option 1. Use the calculated energy consumption results from EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance or Option 2. Estimate electricity use using CBECS database
RECs can be used to mitigate what type(s) of emissions for Green Power and Carbon Offsets?
Scope 2, electricity use.
Carbon offsets can be used to mitigate what type(s) of emissions for Green Power and Carbon Offsets?
Scope 1 or Scope 2 emissions.
What are the three (3) basic methods for ventilating buildings?
Mechanical Ventilation (active ventilation), Natural Ventilation (passive ventilation), Mixed-Mode Ventilation (both mechanical & natural ventilation)
What is the distance ALL naturally ventilated spaces must be in proximity to an operable wall or roof opening to the outdoors?
25’ feet
What is the typical permitted distance for Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control (IEQ Prerequisite 2)?
25’ feet
What is the maximum background noise level allowed for HVAC equipment in classrooms required for Minimum Acoustical Performance (IEQ Prerequisite 3)?
45 dBA
What acoustic issues need to considered for Acoustic Performance?
HVAC background noise sound transmission Reverberation time Sound reinforcement and masking systems
At what % must an outdoor air delivery monitoring system generate an alarm for insufficient airflow values or carbon dioxide?
10% variation from design values
What is considered a densely occupied space when monitoring CO2 concentrations for mechanically ventilated spaces?
25 people or more per 1,000 square feet
For increased ventilation, what % must mechanically ventilated spaces increase outdoor air ventilation rates required by ASHRAE 62.1?
30% above rates required by ASHRAE 62.1
What filtration media is required for Enhanced IAQ strategies?
MERV 13 or F7 (CEN Standard EN 779-2002)
How does a project confirm natural ventilation is an effective strategy?
Follow the CIBSE flow diagram.
What is required for Construction IAQ Management Plan?
Meet or exceed SMACNA guidelines Protect absorptive materials stored on-site Use MERV 8 (F5) filters on operating air-handlers Prohibit smoking in the building and within 25’ (7.5 meters) of entrances
What are the five (5) areas SMACNA standards for recommended IAQ Control Measures?
HVAC protection Source control Pathway interruptionHousekeepingScheduling
What are the two (2) Options for Indoor Air Quality Assessment?
Option 1. Flush-out, Option 2. Air testing
What are the two (2) building flush-out paths a project can consider for IAQ Assessment?
14,000 Cubic Feet of Outdoor Air per SF of Floor Area @ 60°F & 60% relative humidity OR 3,500 Cubic Feet of Outdoor Air per SF of Floor Area @ Minimum Rate of 30 (cfm) until reaching 14,000 Cubic Feet per SF
At what height must air samples be collected at for IAQ Assessment?
3 to 6 feet (900 to 1,800 mm) above floor to represent the breathing zone
What are the general emissions evaluation standards associated with low-emitting adhesives and sealants?
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010 and German AgBB Testing and Evaluation Scheme (2010)
How long must permanent entryway systems be in the primary direction of travel for Enhanced IAQ Strategies?
10’ (3 meters) in the primary direction of travel at regularly used exterior entrances.
What MERV rating must mechanically ventilated buildings design HVAC systems to filter supply air prior to occupancy?
MERV 13 (F7) or higher
What types of rooms would require negative air pressure, self-closing doors, and deck-to-deck partitions or hard-lid ceilings for interior cross-contamination prevention?
GaragesHouskeeping and laundry areasCopying and printing rooms
What % of the building occupants must have individual lighting controls for Interior Lighting?
At least 90% of individual occupant spaces and 100% of shared multi-occupant spaces
How many modes must lighting systems be able to operate in?
3: On, off, and mid-level
What % of the building occupants must have individual comfort controls for Thermal Comfort?
At least 50% of individual occupant spaces and 100% for all shared multi-occupant spaces