LEED Materials and Resources Flashcards

1
Q

A project has construction debris that is nonrecyclable waste. Which of the following actions can the project team take with the waste that will help the project with construction waste management? A. Waste-to-energy B. Send it to a landfill C. Exclude it from the credit calculations D. Bury it on site

A

A. Waste-to-energy - Waste-to-energy is the conversion of nonrecyclable waste materials into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolization, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas (LFG) recovery

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2
Q

For new construction projects, which of the following tools enable the project team to understand the environmental impact of a building over its entire life? A. Cradle-to grave life cycle analysis (LCA) B. ENERGY STAR rating C. LEED Online D. EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

A

A. Cradle-to grave life cycle analysis (LCA)

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3
Q

What should be included in a construction waste management plan? A. New technologies and materials that will help reduce waste B. The distance products were purchased from the construction site C. If any construction waste materials to be recycled will be commingled or separated D. Which existing building materials - if any - will be reused

A

C. If any construction waste materials to be recycled will be commingled or separated

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4
Q

What are the environmental benefits of using salvaged wood flooring in a residential project? A. The wood flooring will have a lower cost since it did not have to be extracted from a forest B. The wood flooring will have a lower installation cost C. The wood flooring will increase the tax base of the local economy D. The wood flooring will reduce the demand for virgin resources

A

D. The wood flooring will reduce the demand for virgin resources

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5
Q

A construction waste management plan should address what items? A. A target diversion rate and what materials should be diverted from the waste stream B. The disposal of hazardous materials and corporate sustainability reporting C. Where onsite waste can be incinerated and where certified wood can be procured D. A community recycling program and source reduction

A

A. A target diversion rate and what materials should be diverted from the waste stream

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6
Q

The project owner of an office park wants to make sure that once a tenant leaves, the tenant space can be quickly and easily renovated. How would the project team meet this goal? A. By selecting a waste hauler that has enough hauling capacity B. By designing for flexibility C. By selecting materials that are sized appropriately D. By finding contractors who are willing to work on weekends

A

B. By designing for flexibility - Designing for flexibility helps reduce construction waste and the need for new building materials. It also allows renovations to occur more quickly because modular systems are frequently used.

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7
Q

How can an architect make sure that the general contractor understands what products to include in a project? A. Send the contractor an email B. Tell the contractor during the LEED charrette C. Include the specifications in the purchasing policy D. Select the materials to use in LEED online

A

C. Include the specifications in the purchasing policy

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8
Q

An environmental product declaration (EPD) for LEED must conform to which of the following standards? A. Green-e B. ASHRAE C. Local code or jurisdiction D. ISO

A

D. ISO - The International Standards Organization (ISO) standards are used for EPDs in LEED.

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9
Q

REACH Optimization would be used in which of the following credit categories? A. Indoor Environmental Quality B. Materials and Resources C. Energy and Atmosphere D. Location and Transportation

A

B. Materials and Resources - REACH is the Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. REACH requires all companies manufacturing or importing chemical substances into the European Union in quantities of one ton or more per year to register these substances.

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10
Q

A manufacturer has a carpet tile that includes an environmental product declaration (EPD) and health product declaration (HPD). The manufacturer has also published a corporate sustainability report (CSR). Which of the following do these documents aid?
A. Transparency B. Material design optimization C. Reducing product costs D. Improving the community

A

A. Transparency

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11
Q

What do the credits in the Materials and Resources (MR) category focus on? A. Minimizing the embodied impacts associated with the entire life-cycle of building materials B. Helping project teams select materials that have the most environmental benefits at the least cost C. Selecting materials that are more energy efficient than traditional building materials D. Reducing the quantity of materials used on a project

A

A. Minimizing the embodied impacts associated with the entire life-cycle of building materials

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12
Q

What is true regarding carpet made from recycled milk jugs? (Choose 2) A. The carpet contains post-consumer recycled content B. The carpet is more durable than conventional carpets C. The material would reduce the need for virgin materials D. The carpet has lower life cycle costs than conventional carpets

A

A. The carpet contains post-consumer recycled content C. The material would reduce the need for virgin materials

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13
Q

Which of the following exemplify strategies of reducing harm to the environment over a building’s entire life? (Choose 3) A. Tearing down a building and putting up a more energy-efficient one in its place B. Developing a new building on prime farmland C. Using salvaged flooring in a new building D. Restoring a historic building E. Conducting a life-cycle assessment to help reduce a building’s environmental footprint

A

C. Using salvaged flooring in a new building
D. Restoring a historic building
E. Conducting a life-cycle assessment to help reduce a building’s environmental footprint

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14
Q

When selecting windows for a building project, along with performance and adaptability, what else should the project team consider?
A. The social context of the windows B. Reusing old windows C. Leverage points in the windows D. Embodied energy of the windows

A

D. Embodied energy of the windows - Embodied energy is an accounting methodology which aims to find the sum total of the energy necessary for an entire product lifecycle. This lifecycle includes raw material extraction, transport, manufacture, assembly, installation, disassembly, deconstruction and/or decomposition.

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15
Q

When reviewing products in the integrative design, which of the following are preferable material attributes that should be considered? (Choose 2) A. Being created in the same or neighboring countries B. Durability C. Supporting the local economy D. Being assembled in factories that pay below average wages

A

B. Durability - Durable materials last longer, reducing the demand for new materials.
C. Supporting the local economy - Materials extracted and manufactured locally support the local economy and are preferable to materials from farther away.

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16
Q

Selecting products that have been developed with a sustainable design is an example of: A. Source reduction B. Waste diversion C. Reuse D. Recycling

A

A. Source reduction

Source reduction reduces the materials brought into a building. This includes products that have reduced packaging and products developed with sustainable design principles.

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17
Q

A floor covering that can be recycled into a new product at the end of its useful life would be what type of product? A. Cradle to grave B. Passive C. Cradle to cradle D. Renewable

A

C. Cradle to cradle - Cradle to cradle is a term used in life-cycle analysis to describe a material or product that is recycled into a new product at the end of its useful life. Cradle to cradle is an example of a closed system.

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18
Q

For what purpose would a project team do a life-cycle assessment? A. To compare the raw materials of different products B. To understand the trade-offs of material selection and energy performance C. To measure the VOC content between different paints D. To calculate a project’s indoor baseline water use

A

B. To understand the trade-offs of material selection and energy performance - One reason to do an LCA of a building is to be able to compare different material choices and see how they impact the project over the building’s life.

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19
Q

Which of the following are the environmental benefits of reusing a building? (Choose 2) A. Preserves a site’s historical, cultural, and aesthetic values B. Increases water efficiency C. Makes landfills last longer D. Reduces demands on virgin resources E. Reduces CFCs

A

C. Makes landfills last longer - Reuse - whether a building or material - prevents the building or material from ending up in the landfill, extending the landfill’s life.
D. Reduces demands on virgin resources - Because less new materials are required, virgin resources are preserved

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20
Q

Which of the following strategies should a hospital project choose to extend the life of the building and conserve building resources as the surrounding population grows? A. Site the building in a dense area B. Design rooms with modular systems C. Purchase additional land on which to construct additional buildings D. Select low-emitting materials

A

B. Design rooms with modular systems

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21
Q

Which of the following legally binding documents describe the quality of the materials to be used on the project? A. Cradle-to-Grave Analysis B. Specifications C. Health Product Declaration (HPD) D. Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

A

B. Specifications - Specifications are created by architects and given to the contractor for the purposes of purchasing the right quantity and type of materials. Specifications include drawings of what is to be built. They are legally binding documents.

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22
Q

A project team for a school project is designing classrooms that will improve the learning experience. Which of the following building components meet this goal while maintaining preferable life-cycle impacts? A. Refurbished desks that contain recycled content B. Single-pane glazing C. Reused acoustic tiles D. New polyester carpet tiles

A

C. Reused acoustic tiles - School projects have a prerequisite for acoustics. This choice is a reused product, which is preferable because it doesn’t require any raw material extraction.

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23
Q

A large home builder is developing a new neighborhood with 200 homes. What strategies would help the builder save on material costs and conserve materials? (Choose 3) A. Choose products made in factories that support worker health B. Advanced framing C. Reducing hallways D. Low VOC paints E. Structural insulated panels F. Select products that ship with less packaging

A

B. Advanced framing
C. Reducing hallways
E. Structural insulated panels

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24
Q

Which of the following actions are aided by completing a life-cycle assessment (LCA) of a building during the design process? (Choose 2) A. Determining the materials that best fit the project over the building’s life B. Reducing the amount of materials used C. Reducing change orders D. Shortening the construction schedule E. Decreasing the project costs

A

A. Determining the materials that best fit the project over the building’s life - One reason to do an LCA of a building is to be able to compare different material choices and see how they impact the project over the building’s life.
B. Reducing the amount of materials used - An LCA provides insight into the building design. Through this process the materials may be reduced.

25
Q

What is greenwashing? A. Changing local zoning codes to be greener B. The implementation of a green cleaning custodial policy C. Advertising a product or policy to be more environmentally friendly than it really is D. Building green buildings in an industrial area

A

C. Advertising a product or policy to be more environmentally friendly than it really is - The term greenwashing is generally used when significantly more money or time has been spent advertising being green, rather than spending resources on environmentally sound practices.

26
Q

Which of the following does LEED use as a standard means of reporting the environmental impacts of a product, such as global warming potential and greenhouse gas emissions? A. Greenhouse Gas Inventory B. MSDS C. Carbon management tool D. Environmental Product Declarations

A

D. Environmental Product Declarations - Typically, an EPD will include information about a product’s impact on global warming, ozone depletion, water pollution, ozone creation, and greenhouse gas emissions.

27
Q

The manufacturer of a foam ceiling acoustic tile has disclosed the ingredients in the product. With this information project teams will be able to do which of the following?
A. Evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions of the product B. Determine if the product is locally sourced C. Select less expensive products D. Make better-informed decisions

A

D. Make better-informed decisions - The purpose of having manufacturers disclose materials is for project teams to make better decisions and encourage manufacturers to make efforts to improve the environmental qualities of their products over time.

28
Q

An environmentally conscience tenant wants to select flooring that is environmentally preferable in an effort to plan ahead for when the tenant will eventually move to a larger office space. Which of the following flooring products meet the criteria? (Choose 2) A. Carpet that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and burns B. Linoleum tile that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and sends to the landfill C. Wood flooring that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and refinishes D. Ceramic tile that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and recycles

A

C. Wood flooring that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and refinishes. D. Ceramic tile that a manufacturer takes back after its end of life and recycles

29
Q

Which of the following is one of the most toxic and common sources of indoor air pollution in an existing building? A. VOCs B. Mercury C. CFCs D. Radon

A

B. Mercury - Standard fluorescent lamps contain mercury.

30
Q

Which of the following reduce the energy use and waste associated with the demolition and construction of buildings? (Choose 3) A. Restoring existing buildings B. Designing buildings with single-pane glazing for daylighting C. Preserving historic structures D. Incinerating construction waste from a demolition E. Rehabilitating blighted buildings

A

A. Restoring existing buildings C. Preserving historic structures E. Rehabilitating blighted buildings

31
Q

Some wood flooring recovered from a local barn demolition is being used for flooring in a new office project. What type of material is the wood flooring considered? A. Recycled and refurbished material B. Recycled content C. Reused material D. Virgin resource

A

C. Reused material

Reused materials are construction materials recovered from building sites and reused on different building sites in the same or a different capacity. Examples can include flooring, brick, beams, and doors.

32
Q

Which of the following materials, if reused, would be considered pre-consumer recycled content? (Choose 3) A. Walnut shells B. Construction and demolition debris C. Sunflower seed hulls D. Sawdust E. Milk jugs

A

A. Walnut shells C. Sunflower seed hulls - Sunflower seed hulls are a type of pre-consumer recycled content. D. Sawdust - Sawdust can be taken from a lumber mill and sent to another manufacturer where they turn it into medium density fiberboard (MDF).

33
Q

Which of the following materials can be certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)? (Choose 3) A. Bamboo floors B. Linoleum floor tiles C. Hardwood cabinets D. Wheatboard desks E. Leather furniture F. Softwood moulding

A

A. Bamboo floors C. Hardwood cabinets F. Softwood moulding

34
Q

A project team is reviewing potential building materials for a school project. What impact would reusing brick and stone found off-site have on the triple bottom line? (Choose 2) A. The reuse would be cost-effective. B. The reuse would take away local jobs. C. The reuse would decrease energy performance. D. The reuse would be sustainable. E. The reuse would reduce peak energy demands

A

A. The reuse would be cost-effective. D. The reuse would be sustainable

35
Q

Which of the following would help with sustainable purchasing during building operations? A. Purchasing cafeteria food from a nearby distribution center B. Ordering toner cartridges online C. Purchasing recycled printer paper D. Removing any ENERGY STAR qualified vending machines

A

C. Purchasing recycled printer paper

36
Q

How can a project team learn about the environmental impacts of a manufacturer’s extraction operations and the product’s supply chain? A. By conducting a life-cycle assessment of the product B. By reviewing the manufacturer’s corporate sustainability report (CSR) C. By analyzing the product’s health product declaration (HPD) D. By checking if the company is a USGBC member

A

B. By reviewing the manufacturer’s corporate sustainability report (CSR) - A CSR report is a third-party verified report that includes information on how the manufacturer extracts or sources materials.

37
Q

A laboratory project requires a lot of special-use equipment and systems to keep the areas inside sterile. What would a sub-contractor need to safely handle a product during installation? A. A Material safety data sheet (MSDS) B. A Health product disclosure (HPD) C. MERV 13 filters D. The quantity of recycled content in a product

A

A. A Material safety data sheet (MSDS) - Material Safety Data Sheets are intended to provide workers and emergency personnel with procedures to safely handle a product during fabrication, installation, or in a life-safety event. The information given in an MSDS is not a comprehensive disclosure of contents, nor does it fully address all potential health hazards that may be associated with a product.

38
Q

The choice of a building material used for a project should be determined by what criteria? (Choose 3) A. The size of the company supplying the materials B. The cost of the material C. How long the material has been used in other projects D. The environmental impact of extracting and manufacturing the material E. If the company is a USGBC member F. The impact the material has on society

A

B. The cost of the material D. The environmental impact of extracting and manufacturing the material F. The impact the material has on society

39
Q

The purchasing policies for the ongoing operations of a building should address which of the following? (Choose 2) A. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) B. Durable goods C. Designing for flexibility D. Utility rates E. Ongoing consumables F. Pest control service

A

B. Durable goods - Durable goods are ‘products with a useful life of approximately two or more years and that are replaced infrequently. Examples include furniture, office equipment, appliances, external power adapters, televisions, and audiovisual equipment.’ - USGBC. Ongoing consumables - Ongoing consumables are ‘a product that has a low cost per unit and is regularly used and replaced in the course of business. Examples include paper, toner cartridges, binders, batteries, and desk accessories. Also known as ongoing purchases.’ - USGBC

40
Q

Which project layout would be the best for reducing demand for new materials? A. Single-home residences in a suburban area B. A dense, mixed-use neighborhood C. A multi-building office project with single-story buildings D. An outdoor shopping mall built on a greenfield

A

B. A dense, mixed-use neighborhood

41
Q

A wood product is environmentally preferable if it has which of the following attributes? A. Wood that is sustainably grown and harvested B. Wood harvested from an unmanaged forest C. Wood harvested from the land of an indigenous tribe D. Wood that does not rot from the treatment of carcinogenic chemicals

A

A. Wood that is sustainably grown and harvested

42
Q

Which of the following is an example of a source control waste reduction strategy? A. Using commingled recycling B. Pre-ordering materials cut to size C. Reusing salvaged materials onsite D. Installing recycling bins onsite

A

B. Pre-ordering materials cut to size

43
Q

Which greenhouse gas is produced in landfills as a result of solid waste disposal? A. Radon B. Methane C. CO2 D. NH3

A

B. Methane - As trash decomposes in landfills methane is produced - a potent greenhouse gas.

44
Q

Which of the following is NOT a strategy to reduce construction waste? A. Recycle materials B. Use salvaged materials C. Sell unused materials D. Maximize the building footprint

A

D. Maximize the building footprint - Increasing the size of the building footprint would likely increase the amount of construction waste.

45
Q

A material that has met which of the following standards would contribute to material ingredient optimization? (Choose 2) A. GreenScreen B. Global Reporting Initiative C. Health Product Declaration D. Cradle-to-Cradle Certified

A

A. GreenScreen (Safer Chemicals is a method for comparative chemical hazard assessment). D. Cradle-to-Cradle Certified

46
Q

What is FSC Certified wood? A. Composite wood that contains post-consumer recycled wood, usually from construction and demolition debris B. Wood that has been procured from well managed forests C. Wood that has been sourced (extracted, manufactured, purchased) within 100 miles (160 km) of the project site D. Composite wood that does not contain any urea formaldehyde

A

B. Wood that has been procured from well managed forests - Wood that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is acceptable for LEED credits.

47
Q

What is an example of adaptive reuse? A. Renovating a historic home B. Renovating an old steel mill into an apartment complex C. Designing classrooms so they can be divided into separate class spaces D. Designing a building with a flexible floor plan that can accommodate offices or apartments

A

B. Renovating an old steel mill into an apartment complex - Adaptive reuse is the practice of redesigning and using a structure for a use that is significantly different from the building’s original use.

48
Q

A tenant is reviewing cabinets for an office kitchen. One option is wheatboard cabinets sourced from different areas and compressed together with glue. A second option is solid oak cabinets extracted and manufactured locally. How can the environmental attributes of the products be compared? A. By a life-cycle assessment B. By a review of the manufacturer’s corporate sustainability policy C. By the product’s MSDS D. By an air-quality sample

A

A. By a life-cycle assessment - Life-cycle assessment is ‘an evaluation of the environmental effects of a product from cradle to grave, as defined by ISO 14040?2006 and ISO 14044?2006.’ - USGBC. The LCA would indicate attributes to compare between the products.

49
Q

Which of the following purchasing decisions would reduce the environmental harm used in the operations of a school project? A. High VOC carpets and carpet pads, low VOC furniture, green cleaning products B. Paper towels that are FSC certified, cafeteria food from a local farm, ENERGY STAR computers C. High VOC paints, low SRI roofing materials, metal furniture D. Power adapters, new textbooks made from new-growth wood pulp, trash cans

A

B. Paper towels that are FSC certified, cafeteria food from a local farm, ENERGY STAR computers

50
Q

In an existing office building, how can the project team determine if there are additional opportunities for increasing the amount of waste diverted from ongoing operations? A. Survey the building occupants B. Conduct a waste-stream audit C. Count the number of recycling bins D. Review the monthly waste-haul receipts

A

B. Conduct a waste-stream audit - What can’t be measured can’t be managed. The audit of the waste streams shows how much and of what type of waste is being generated by the project. Once the quantities are known, researching can be done to learn how to best reduce them.

51
Q

Which of the following are effective ways to lessen the overall environmental consequences of an interior space over its lifetime? (Choose 2) A. Choosing products that have a published Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) B. Installing 1.6 gpf (6 lpf) toilets C. Selecting refurbished furniture D. Selecting a site located 1 mile (1,600 meters) from public transportation E. Installing demountable interior nonstructural walls

A

C. Selecting refurbished furniture. E. Installing demountable interior nonstructural walls - This strategy is part of designing for flexibility which reduces the demand for new building materials over time.

52
Q

When choosing products that have Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), which factor is used in determining if LEED credit can be earned? A. The number of different permanent and temporary products used from one manufacturer B. The cost of the qualifying products as a percentage of the total building envelope material’s cost C. The number of different permanently installed products used from different manufacturers D. The cost of the qualifying products as a percentage of the total project cost

A

C. The number of different permanently installed products used from different manufacturers - When purchasing materials a certain number of products must be selected to meet LEED credit requirements. For LEED a product must be a permanently installed building product, and is defined as ‘an item that arrives on the project site either as a finished element ready for installation or as a component to another item assembled on-site.’ - USGBC

53
Q

Which of the following are strategies that help a project team design for flexibility? (Choose 3) A. Moveable furniture B. Modular casework C. Occupancy sensors D. Demountable partitions E. Operable windows F. Underground parking

A

A. Moveable furniture B. Modular casework D. Demountable partitions

54
Q

A product with a Health Product Declaration (HPD) will assist the project team in selecting products that meet which of the following criteria: A. Have less negative health effects B. Are verified to have been responsibly sourced C. Can be recycled D. Are more durable

A

A. Have less negative health effects - HPDs help determine which products may cause health problems.

55
Q

What document does the project team create for the administrative and procedural requirements for salvaging, recycling, and disposing of non-hazardous demolition and construction waste? A. Building commissioning plan B. Building recycling plan C. Owners Project Requirements (OPR) D. Construction waste management plan

A

D. Construction waste management plan - A construction waste management plan contains the administrative and procedural requirements for salvaging, recycling and disposing of non-hazardous demolition and construction waste.

56
Q

In which of the following ways would a project use environmental product declarations (EPDs)? A. To identify products that contain hazardous chemicals B. To find certified green building products C. To help the project team understand a product’s sustainable qualities D. To select product’s that have met a minimum standard of energy efficiency

A

C. To help the project team understand a product’s sustainable qualities - EPDs act as neither product ratings nor ecolabels; rather, they help architects, designers, specifiers, and other purchasers better understand a product’s sustainable qualities and environmental repercussions. As such, EPDs equip manufacturers with a valuable tool for differentiation and empower customers to make more informed purchasing decisions.

57
Q

For solid waste management, which of the following ranks the highest by the EPA to reduce waste? A. Waste to energy B. Source reduction C. Recycling D. Reuse

A

B. Source reduction - Source reduction, also known as waste prevention or pollution prevention, is the elimination of waste before it is created. It involves the design, manufacture, purchase or use of materials and products to reduce the amount or toxicity of what is thrown away.

58
Q

How can projects reduce sending waste to a landfill? (Choose 2) A. Reuse materials B. Use local materials C. Recycle materials D. Use materials with low lifecycle costs

A

A. Reuse materials C. Recycle materials

59
Q

A door found onsite and turned into a table as part of a major renovation would be considered what type of material? A. Recycled material B. Reused C. Renewable material D. Commingled material

A

B. Reused