LEED Indoor Environmental Quality Flashcards
A healthcare project team in the pre-design phase is discussing ways to protect patient privacy. Which of the following strategies would help achieve this goal? A. Reducing the building’s footprint B. Designing waiting areas with views to the outdoors C. Using sound isolation D. Placing recovery rooms toward the core of the building
C. Using sound isolation - Sound isolation is part of acoustic performance. In healthcare, patient privacy is important - discussions between doctors and patients should be private. Sound isolation helps achieve this.
What can a project team do to reduce the need for pesticides?
A. Develop a coordinated program of nonchemical strategies B. Install hardscapes around the entire building perimeter C. Do not permit smoking around building entrances D. Use only native plants in the landscaping
A. Develop a coordinated program of nonchemical strategies
IPM begins with monitoring and baiting to reduce the need for chemical pesticides
A project team is trying to maximize the number of points they can achieve for their LEED project by identifying synergies. Which elements, when combined, would best achieve this goal?
(Choose 3)
A. Occupant lighting controls B. Daylight sensors C. CO2 sensors D. Operable windows E. Occupancy sensors
A. Occupant lighting controls
B. Daylight sensors
E. Occupancy sensors
Which responsibilities would belong to the general contractor during construction to improve indoor air quality?
(Choose 2)
A. Verifying construction waste is placed in the proper trash bins B. Overseeing the rainwater management plan C. Making sure someone is sweeping periodically to control dust D. Implementing a pest control management plan E. Capping the ducts to mechanical systems
C. Making sure someone is sweeping periodically to control dust E. Capping the ducts to mechanical systems
Which of the following should a green cleaning policy include?
A. Standards for selecting products and technologies and certification of cleaning equipment B. A waste stream audit of recyclable materials and instructions for calibrating indoor air quality sensors C. Measures to prevent against unwanted pests and the amount of waste to divert from the waste stream D. The replacement of Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) filters and the selection of low VOC materials, furniture, and finishes
A. Standards for selecting products and technologies and certification of cleaning equipment
A green cleaning policy should include:
- The standards used to select products and technologies such as Green Seal or California Code of Regulations.
- Certification of cleaning equipment from the carpet and rug institute.
A project design with a focus on creating a healthy building includes materials with low VOC emissions, grates used in the entryway, higher-rated MERV filters, and air intakes located in an open-air parking garage. Which of these design strategies negatively impacts good indoor-air quality?
A. The higher-rated MERV filters B. The materials with low VOC emissions C. The grates used for the entryway D. The location of the air intakes
D. The location of the air intakes
A building in a warm climate will not have operable windows or natural ventilation due to a limited number of days each year that these strategies would be beneficial. Which of the following would help the project team give ventilation control to occupants?
A. Window blinds B. Movable furniture C. Adjustable height partitions D. Adjustable air diffusers
D. Adjustable air diffusers
Adjustable air diffusers help with ventilation control.
Designing a building with a natural ventilation system will impact what credit categories?
(Choose 2)
A. Energy and Atmosphere B. Materials and Resources C. Sustainable Sites D. Indoor Environmental Quality
A. Energy and Atmosphere
A natural ventilation system (aka passive ventilation) will reduce the energy demands of a building. No mechanical cooling system will need to installed and run.
D. Indoor Environmental Quality
Properly designed daylighting results in which of the following?
A. The need to add operable windows B. A decreased need for artificial lighting C. An increased lighting power density D. A decreased need for glare control
B. A decreased need for artificial lighting
A business owner wants to have an open office plan in a tenant space. To increase daylighting and optimize views, which of the following should the plan include?
(Choose 2)
A. Low partitions B. Single-pane glazing C. Vision panels D. Task lighting E. Solid doors
A. Low partitions C. Vision panels
In a naturally ventilated building, which of the following would provide occupants with control over their temperature?
A. CO2 sensors B. Operable windows C. A single-office thermostat D. Outdoor air monitors
B. Operable windows
Operable windows allow users near those windows to control their environment.
What are the best design strategies for improving indoor air quality during operations and maintenance of a building?
(Choose 2)
A. Orient the building for optimal sun exposure B. Use air filters with high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) ratings C. Use natural refrigerants D. Increase the ventilation in the building E. Use soft surfaces on the interiors
B. Use air filters with high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) ratings D. Increase the ventilation in the building
A government project with an open office plan will have partitioned cubes with frosted glass above eye level position for privacy. This design choice would negatively impact which of the following elements?
A. Individual occupant controls B. CO2 monitoring C. Views to the outside D. Individual thermal comfort
C. Views to the outside
Frosted glass would block the views to the outside.
How can a project team in a hot climate reduce a building’s energy use and increase daylighting?
A. By siting the building in an area surrounded by other buildings that can provide shade B. By installing glass over the entire exterior of the building C. By installing appropriately sized and located windows D. By locating private offices along the perimeter of the building walls
C. By installing appropriately sized and located windows
When thinking about room layouts early in the design process, which of the following should be considered?
A. Acoustics B. Environmental tobacco smoke control C. Using materials with recycled content D. Entryway systems
A. Acoustics
Acoustics are often overlooked, but they should be considered early in the design process when designing room layouts in order to select a room design that aids this element.
In which of the following ways does integrated pest management (IPM) help a building owner save money?
(Choose 2)
A. Because over application can be avoided B. Because pests are never present on the site C. Because only beneficial insects that contribute to a healthy ecosystem are allowed to thrive on the site. D. Because only appropriate chemicals are used
A. Because over application can be avoided D. Because only appropriate chemicals are used
A tenant of an office space wants an open office layout. What is one trade-off of this decision?
A. The acoustics may be poor. B. The room will have decreased air quality. C. The space will not be able to include task lighting. D. Daylighting will be harder to achieve.
A. The acoustics may be poor
At which point during the project schedule would a flush-out occur?
A. After the building envelope is weather-tight B. Prior to the building water being turned on C. After HVAC ducts have been sealed and protected D. Prior to occupants moving in
D. Prior to occupants moving in
An effective thermal comfort strategy considers the six primary factors that affect thermal comfort. A close collaboration between the owner, architect, and who else is critical to achieving thermal comfort success?
A. Engineer B. Building code inspectors C. Landscape designer D. Lighting designer
A. Engineer - From ASHRAE 55, the six primary factors of thermal comfort are:
Surface temperature Air temperature Humidity Air movement Metebolic rate Clothing
The developer of a school project in a sunny region suggests using light shelves to bring daylight into some of the classrooms. Which of the following issues would arise as a result of this this strategy?
A. Glare B. Reduction of low-emitting materials C. Interference with outside views D. Decreased acoustic performance
A. Glare
Anytime daylight is brought into the building, glare needs to be considered, no matter what method is used to bring in the daylight.
For which of the following reasons is it important to conduct occupant surveys?
A. Surveys identify areas that need improvement. B. Surveys are a Minimum Program Requirement. C. Surveys are required for ongoing commissioning. D. Surveys reduce the ongoing waste stream.
A. Surveys identify areas that need improvement.
A survey will provide facility managers with information on areas of the building that may be underperforming.
Changing the building envelope from single-pane glazing to double-pane glazing would result in which of the following?
A. Improved occupant controls B. Increased energy efficiency C. Increased daylighting D. Decreased energy demand
D. Decreased energy demand
A project team member is discussing adding soft surfaces to an exterior building room. What would be the result of doing this?
A. Improved daylighting B. Reduced glare C. Reduced contaminants D. Improved acoustics
D. Improved acoustics
Acoustic surfaces such as soft surfaces, building geometry, and duct insulation all help improve the acoustics of a space.
A building owner wants to have improved IAQ after construction to improve occupant health. Which of the following products would a project team need to verify have low-VOCs?
(Choose 3)
A. Computer workstations B. Acoustic insulation C. No smoking signs located outside the building D. Ceiling paint E. Granite countertops
A. Computer workstations B. Acoustic insulation D. Ceiling paint