LEED Materials and Resources AP

Question 1

What do all project types have to document for MR Prerequisite Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy? A. Educational curriculum and description of the delivery method B. Supply chain environmental criteria list C. Waste stream audit report D. Survey for suppliers

Answer 1

C. Waste stream audit report. - This is required of all projects. The other choices are options for retail projects.

Question 2

At a minimum what ongoing purchases must be included in an EPP policy for an office project?
A. The top five most purchased product categories based on total annual purchased under the building management’s control B. Material packaging preferences C. Food and drinks for vending machines D. Waste disposal guidelines

Answer 2

A. The top five most purchased product categories based on total annual purchased under the building management’s control

Classify your annual purchases then determine which five purchasing categories under the building management’s control. You have to include the top five in addition to the ones listed in the prerequisite.

Question 3

What is the mercury content in lamps NOT based on?

A. Lamp life B. Weight C. Lamp type D. Lumens

Answer 3

C. Lamp type

When you have to convert mercury content in milligrams to picograms per lumen hour you need the weight, lamp life, and lumens.

Question 4

An office solid waste management policy must establish storage locations for:
(Choose 2)
A. Hazardous waste B. Landscaping waste C. Food D. Recyclable materials

Answer 4

A. Hazardous waste D. Recyclable materials

Question 5

A hotel project team is documenting an EPP plan. What does the plan need to include in the ongoing purchases?
A. Human health protection measures B. Food C. Recycling of mixed paper D. Audiovisual equipment

Answer 5

B. Food

Food is one of the ongoing consumables that must be addressed by Schools and Hospitality projects

Question 6

What minimum percent of electric-powered equipment must be purchased for MR Credit Purchasing - Ongoing?
A. At least 40% by cost of new equipment B. At least 40% of equipment that is eligible for an ENERGY STAR rating C. At least 40% of the quantity of equipment purchased D. At least 40% by cost of equipment that is eligible for an EPEAT rating

Answer 6

A. At least 40% by cost of new equipment

40% of equipment by cost.

Existing equipment must include a phase-out plan to replace the remaining products at the end of their useful life?

Question 7

A property manager is working with the cooking and cleaning staff at a hotel project to address ongoing solid waste management. What must the project team do during the performance period?
A. Safely dispose of batteries and mercury-containing lamps B. Exclude shredded paper from the credit calculations C. Implement an awareness program that encourages occupants to reduce food waste D. Reduce waste disposal fees by 50%

Answer 7

A. Safely dispose of batteries and mercury-containing lamps

At a minimum the credit requires safely disposing of batteries and mercury containing lamps

Question 8

How can the quantity of durable goods be tracked and calculated for MR Credit Solid Waste Management - Ongoing?
A. By weight, volume, or replacement value B. By weight or volume C. By actual cost paid D. By weight

Answer 8

A. By weight, volume, or replacement value

Waste that is removed from the site during the performance period must be tracked by the weight or volume sent to landfills and/or incineration facilities.

For durable goods weight, volume, or replacement value are acceptable metrics.

Question 9

What items would be included in the environmentally preferable purchase for a facility maintenance and renovation policy?
(Choose 3)
A. Waste baskets B. Flooring C. Small refrigerator D. Movable partitions E. Wall coverings

Answer 9

B. Flooring D. Movable partitions
E. Wall coverings

The purchasing policy covers base building elements, furniture and furnishings, and the components and parts that are required to maintain them.

Base building items are ‘materials and products that make up the building or are permanently and semi-permanently installed in the project (e.g., flooring, casework, wall coverings).’ - USGBC

Question 10

What type of activities would be considered renovations as they apply to the facility maintenance and renovations policy?
(Choose 2)
A. Replacing a carpet square damaged during moving a desk B. Installing a new partition wall to create two separate offices C. Painting a wall a different color to decrease glare D. Replacing all ceiling tiles in a tenant space for better acoustics E. Repairing a hole in drywall

Answer 10

B. Installing a new partition wall to create two separate offices D. Replacing all ceiling tiles in a tenant space for better acoustics

Maintenance includes activities such as painting, recarpeting, furniture, replacement, repair, and more.

Renovations are considered larger projects such as an alteration or addition that can cover materials from gypsum to flooring, ceiling tiles, etc.

Question 11

A 2-story 20,000 square foot office space has 3 rooftop HVAC units. Two units serve each of the floors, and the third unit serves a group of private offices. The air quality test of the private offices shows the maximum concentration limits were exceeded. What should the project team do?
A. Nothing, the private offices do not require a separate IAQ test B. Not apply for the credit C. Conduct an additional flush-out of the private offices with outside air and retest for the noncompliant concentration D. Conduct an additional flush-out of the entire building with outside air and retest for the noncompliant concentration

Answer 11

C. Conduct an additional flush-out of the private offices with outside air and retest for the noncompliant concentration

Question 12

A project team has a facility maintenance and renovation policy for a hospital. During the performance period several operating rooms will be renovated. What does the project team need to do prior to renovation activities begin?
A. Conduct air quality testing to set a baseline for IAQ B. Update the CFR C. Adapt the plan to fit the scheduled activities D. Purchase carbon offsets to mitigate construction emissions

Answer 12

C. Adapt the plan to fit the scheduled activities

The plan for the prerequisite serves as a guideline. For each renovation project the plan has to be updated to reflect the scope of work. The waste management plan for each renovation during the performance period must be submitted for credit documentation.

Question 13

Which product would meet the sustainability criteria for MR Credit Purchasing - Ongoing?
A. Rechargeable batteries B. USDA Organic tomatoes purchased 200 miles (320 km) from the site C. Paper harvested and manufacturer 100 miles (160 km) from the site D. Leather chairs

Answer 13

A. Rechargeable batteries

This counts as an extended use product.

Question 14

Which of the following is a best practice for the safe disposal of batteries?
A. Leaving batteries on office desks for housekeeping to collect B. Commingle the batteries with other metal waste C. Locating collection bins in safe areas such as janitor’s closets D. Placing a clearly labeled collection bin in the lobby

Answer 14

D. Placing a clearly labeled collection bin in the lobby

Question 15

What strategies can be used to assist a building owner with multiple tenants reach the 60% of total purchases for ongoing consumables?
(Choose 2)
A. Focus on low-cost noncompliant items first B. Swap noncompliant products with comparably priced products C. Track data at the end of the reporting period to reduce documentation time D. Select products that meet more than one sustainability criteria E. Focus on low-volume noncompliant items first

Answer 15

B. Swap noncompliant products with comparably priced products

This is a good strategy - paper that doesn’t have recycled content with paper that does is an easy one.

D. Select products that meet more than one sustainability criteria

If a product meets more than one of the criteria in the credit requirements, then count its overall cost contribution by percentage of the product waste for each criteria met. Materials can be double counted if they meet multiple criteria.

Question 16

What information is NOT needed for each lamp to calculate if all mercury-containing lamps comply with the purchasing plan for achievement of MR Credit Purchasing - Lamps?
A. Number of lamps purchased and placed in storage during the performance period B. Mean lumen output C. Rated average life at three-hour instant start D. Actual mercury contain in each lamp, in picograms

Answer 16

A. Number of lamps purchased and placed in storage during the performance period

The data need from the manufacturer for each installed bulb is:

1. Mean lumen output (design or actual)
2. Rated average life at three-hour instant start
3. Mercury content

Question 17

An EPP policy must include at a minimum what durable goods?

A. Deicers B. Office equipment C. Mercury containing lamps D. Paper E. Batteries F. Paint

Answer 17

B. Office equipment

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.

Question 18

Which product would meet the sustainability criteria for MR Credit Purchasing - Ongoing for a hotel project?
(Choose 2)
A. Electric powered leaf blower B. Plastic binders that exceed the recycled content levels listed in the EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines. C. FSC certified paper towels D. Beer distilled at a brewery located 100 miles (160 km) from the project site

Answer 18

B. Plastic binders that exceed the recycled content levels listed in the EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines.

This counts as postconsumer recycled content.

C. FSC certified paper towels

This meets the paper and wood product sustainability criteria.

Question 19

Carpet for a renovation project costs $10,000 excluding installation labor. The carpet has the following sustainability criteria:

Recycled content (70%)
Extended producer responsibility
Cradle-to-Cradle v2 Platinum certified

What value does the carpet contribute towards MR Credit Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation?

A. $27,000 B. $30,000 C. $32,000 D. $20,000

Answer 19

A. $27,000

The recycled content is 70% compliant so it has a contributing value of $7,000
Extended producer responsibility is valued as 50%, or a contributing value of $5,000
Cradle-to-Cradle v2 Platinum certification is valued at 150% of cost, or a contributing value of $15,000

$7,000 + $5,000 + $15,000 = $27,000

Now if the question stated the carpet was sourced within 100 miles (160 km) of the project site, the base cost would have been $20,000 instead of $10,000 (each factor would be multiplied by $20,000 instead of $10,000).

Question 20

$20,000 worth of carpet was purchased from a manufacturer that will take back the carpet at its end of useful life. The carpet was locally sourced. What value does the carpet contribute towards MR Credit Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation?
A. $40,000 B. $20,000 C. $30,000 D. $10,000

Answer 20

B. $20,000

The location valuation factor is 200% of the base contributing cost.

$20,000 X 200% = $40,000

Extended producer responsibility criteria values products at 50% of their cost.

$40,000 X 50% = $20,000

Question 21

Teams will need to work with a licensed recycler who will recycle what items in accordance with federal and state requirements?
(Choose 2)
A. Batteries B. Cleaning equipment that has reached its end-of-use life C. Mercury-containing lamps D. Shredded documents E. Food waste

Answer 21

A. Batteries C. Mercury-containing lamps

Question 22

Project teams should coordinate the solid waste management policy and the environmentally preferred purchasing policy in what areas?
(Choose 3)
A. Social equity practices B. Carbon reduction measures C. Source reduction D. Inventory E. Contract agreements F. Communication with building occupants

Answer 22

C. Source reduction E. Contract agreements F. Communication with building occupants

Areas such as source reduction, contract agreements, communications with building occupants overlap between the two policies.

Question 23

When conducting an inventory of lamps what information would the project team record?
(Choose 3)
A. Quantity installed B. Mean lumen output C. Manufacturer D. Lighting intensity on a scale of 1-5 E. NAED code

Answer 23

A. Quantity installed C. Manufacturer E. NAED code

Question 24

What statement is true regarding the inclusion of lamps in the calculations for MR Credit Purchasing - Lamps?
A. Mercury-free LEDs can be included if they have high enough energy efficiency levels B. All lamps regardless of mercury content must be included in the calculations C. Mercury-free conventional light bulbs must be included in the calculations D. Mercury-free lamps cannot be included because they would skew the calculations

Answer 24

A. Mercury-free LEDs can be included if they have high enough energy efficiency levels

Question 25

A school project has existing electric-powered landscaping and cleaning equipment that does not have an EPEAT rating. What must the project team do with the existing equipment to comply with MR Credit Purchasing - Ongoing?
A. Create a phase-out plan to replace the equipment with compliant equipment at the end of its useful life B. Replace any equipment that exceeds the emissions limits set in the policy C. Replace the equipment with EPEAT rated equipment prior to the performance period ending D. Replace the equipment with ENERGY STAR equipment within 10 years

Answer 25

A. Create a phase-out plan to replace the equipment with compliant equipment at the end of its useful life

A phase-out plan is needed that includes replacing the equipment when it reaches its end-of-life.

Question 26

Under what circumstances would tracking the content of waste containers by the project team before collection be necessary?
A. When the value of the waste needs to be estimated B. When the containers contain hazardous materials C. When the waste containers are comingled D. When waste haulers cannot to provide data required for credit documentation

Answer 26

D. When waste haulers cannot to provide data required for credit documentation

Measuring the volume of containers may be necessary if waste haulers can’t provide the data for MR Credit Solid Waste Management - Ongoing?

Question 27

In a multi-tenant project several tenants have contracts with waste haulers that recycle materials separately from the building waste. How would the project team handle this situation for MR Credit Solid Waste Management - Ongoing?
A. Estimate the waste based on the percent size of the tenant spaces compared to the overall building’s waste stream B. If the tenant spaces are equal to 20% or less of the gross floor area they can be excluded C. Exclude the waste from the calculations D. Include the metrics in the waste calculations

Answer 27

D. Include the metrics in the waste calculations

The data from the haulers may improve the projects overall diversion rate so it should be included.

Question 28

Which team member will ultimately be responsible for approving the facility maintenance and renovation policy?
A. Architect B. Building owner or property manager C. LEED AP D. Local waste hauler

Answer 28

B. Building owner or property manager

Question 29

When creating the policies for facility maintenance and renovation who determines at what point maintenance work becomes renovation?
A. The LEED reviewer B. The building owner C. The code official responsible for enforcing building permits D. The project team decides

Answer 29

D. The project team decides

The point at which maintenance work becomes a renovation is determined by the project team.

For the purposes of the policies routine maintenance must be clearly distinguished from renovations.

Question 30

A $50 plastic chair contains 10% post-consumer recycled content by weight. What value of the product contributes to credit achievement of MR Credit Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation?
A. $5 B. $50 C. $75 D. $25

Answer 30

A. $5

Most products are weighted at 100% of cost. Some may be higher or lower (Extended producer responsibility is lower - 50%, Cradle to Cradle v2 Platinum is higher - 150%).

Question 31

A project had one renovation at the beginning of the performance period where 60% of FMR waste was diverted and a second renovation at the end of the performance period where 80% of FMR waste was diverted. What is true about the project’s ability to earn MR Credit Solid Waste Management - Facility Maintenance and Renovation?
A. The project would achieve the credit if the total diverted FMR waste was at least 70% during the performance period B. The project would earn exemplary performance C. The project can achieve the credit by extrapolating from portions of the performance period. D. The project would earn the credit

Answer 31

A. The project would achieve the credit if the total diverted FMR waste was at least 70% during the performance period

70% diversion is required for the entire performance period.

Question 32

What does a facility maintenance and renovation policy address that an ongoing purchasing and solid waste management policy does not?
A. IAQ B. Purchasing C. Sustainable purchasing education D. Waste management

Answer 32

A. IAQ

Facility maintenance and renovation includes IAQ requirements.

Question 33

In the establishment period what is an office project team going to create for MR Prerequisite Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy?
A. One ongoing purchases policy and one durable goods purchases policy B. One environmentally preferable purchasing policy and one solid waste management policy C. Sustainable purchasing education D. One policy that addresses recycling and ongoing purchases

Answer 33

B. One environmentally preferable purchasing policy and one solid waste management policy

Two policies are created - EPP policy and a solid waste management policy.

Question 34

What is the easiest way for a project to earn MR Credit Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation?
A. Select products and materials that do not contain substances that meet REACH criteria for substances of very high concern B. Don’t make any alterations to the project space and don’t purchase any furniture C. Do not install any wood products during FMR D. Choose products with low emissions of VOCs

Answer 34

B. Don’t make any alterations to the project space and don’t purchase any furniture

This is option 3 of the credit which rewards project teams for not buying anything new or using additional resources for building.

Question 35

A sustainable purchasing plan for reducing mercury in lamps must target mercury levels of:
A. An average of 70 picograms per bulb B. A maximum of 70 picograms per bulb C. A maximum of 70 picograms per lumen-hour or less D. An average of 70 picograms per lumen-hour or less

Answer 35

D. An average of 70 picograms per lumen-hour or less

Question 36

To earn MR Credit Purchasing-Lamps what percent of mercury-containing lamps purchased during the performance period must comply with the purchasing plan and have an overall target for mercury content of 70 picograms per lumen-hour?
A. 80% B. 70% C. 100% D. 90%

Answer 36

C. 100%

All mercury-containing lamps purchased for the building and associated grounds within the project boundary are included in the calculations

Question 37

What furniture criteria would contribute to the minimum purchases required for MR Credit Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation?
(Choose 2)
A. Salvaged and used furniture more than 1 year old at the time of use B. Furniture with low emissions of formaldehyde C. Furniture made of plastic D. Furniture that contains wood components that are FSC certified

Answer 37

A. Salvaged and used furniture more than 1 year old at the time of use

This counts as furniture materials reuse.

D. Furniture that contains wood components that are FSC certified

If a product’s components have some sustainability criteria a portion of the product or material can count based on the percent weight of the component.

Question 38

A project team is conducting a waste audit on during a typical period of waste generation in a building. What waste must be included in the audit?
A. Enough waste to extrapolate volumes or weights B. Only waste that will be diverted from landfills C. Only the non-hazardous waste D. All waste leaving the building

Answer 38

D. All waste leaving the building

All the waste leaving the building must be audited. Every single bag, including the waste that would be directed to a landfill and waste directed to the recycling facilities is included. Then divide waste up into four or five different categories

Question 39

What equipment would not be excluded from the credit calculations of MR Credit Purchasing - Ongoing?
A. Gas-powered equipment with no electric alternative B. Electric powered equipment not rated by ENERGY STAR or EPEAT C. Appliance not rated by ENERGY STAR or EPEAT D. TV screens without an EPEAT rating but that has an ENERGY STAR rating

Answer 39

D. TV screens without an EPEAT rating but that has an ENERGY STAR rating

This one counts because it has an ENERGY STAR rating.

Question 40

What should be considered when developing a recycling policy for lamps containing mercury?
A. Including recycling bins with wheels on them B. Storing the lamps in a decentralized location C. An on-site permanent disposal site D. EPA guidelines

Answer 40

D. EPA guidelines

The EPA publishes guidelines for establishing recycling programs for mercury-containing light bulbs.

Question 41

What elements are excluded from the calculations for MR Credit Solid Waste Management - Facility Maintenance and Renovation?
A. Steel that was recycled B. Recycled copper piping C. Gypsum wallboard that was reused D. Carpet that was diverted to a landfill E. Wood that was reused

Answer 41

B. Recycled copper piping

Exclude mechanical and electrical, and plumbing components, and specialty items such as elevators.

FF&E that poses health concerns gets excluded too - mold

Question 42

What is a best practice for the handling of mercury-containing lamps?
A. Ensure only people who have been trained handle the lamps B. Provide eye shielding to allow occupants to break lamps easily to reduce the volume of storage required C. Store lamps outside the building next to the trash dumpsters D. Use tape or rubber bands to hold and group lamps together

Answer 42

A. Ensure only people who have been trained handle the lamps

Ensure that employees charged with handling the mercury-containing lamps are adequately trained or use outside experts as contractors to do this work.

Question 43

A school project is located in an area the does not provide composting services. What can the project team do during the performance period to earn MR Credit Solid Waste Management - Ongoing?
A. Install ENERGY STAR garbage disposals to get rid of food waste B. Select food delivery vendors that use 25% less packaging for food deliveries C. Increase the diversion rate of ongoing waste from 50% to 75% D. Implement an awareness program that encourages occupants to reduce food waste

Answer 43

D. Implement an awareness program that encourages occupants to reduce food waste

An education program has to be in place for the credit during the performance period.

Question 44

On a project a waste hauler weighs cardboard waste in pounds but the project team measured the waste in cubic yards. What should the project team do?
A. Exclude the cardboard from the calculations B. Determine a proper weight conversion for the density of cardboard from pounds to cubic yards C. Estimate the weight of the cardboard D. Count the cardboard as being sent to a landfill

Answer 44

B. Determine a proper weight conversion for the density of cardboard from pounds to cubic yards

Project teams must use consistent metrics.

If different units are used for different products or materials, use an appropriate conversion factor such as weight-to-volume or volume-to-weight to convert all ongoing consumables and all durable goods into a common metric.

Question 45

An office building with multiple tenants has one tenant undergoing a renovation during the performance period. What is the minimum scope of work required for products and materials to be eligible for MR Credit Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation?
A. The scope of work must include the replacement or purchase of elements permanently attached to the base building B. The scope of work must include at least one base building element C. There is no minimum scope of work required D. At least 10% of the tenant’s gross floor area must undergo a renovation.

Answer 45

C. There is no minimum scope of work required

The credit requires no minimum scope of renovation or new construction work.

Question 46

A project team for a commercial office building with multiple tenants is creating a facility maintenance and renovation policy. At a minimum what should they include in the policy?
(Choose 3)
A. HVAC upgrades B. Replacing worn out entryway mats C. MEP work that does not require significant alteration to the base building D. Tenant fit-outs E. Building improvements F. Paint touch-ups

Answer 46

A. HVAC upgrades D. Tenant fit-outs

E. Building improvements

Question 47

Which non-mandatory steps could a project team take prior to conducting air-quality testing that would improve the test results?
(Choose 2)
A. Test and balance the HVAC system B. Clean with low-emitting cleaning products C. Vacuum using a vacuum cleaner with filtration media D. Install finishes and furniture E. Complete punch-list items that would generate VOCs or other contaminants

Answer 47

B. Clean with low-emitting cleaning products

This is non-mandatory before a flush-out or air testing.

C. Vacuum using a vacuum cleaner with filtration media

This is non-mandatory before a flush-out or air testing.

Question 48

All LEED O+M projects must have an environmental preferable purchasing policy for products purchased during:
A. Tenant improvements B. Renovations C. Remodeling D. Regular building operations

Answer 48

D. Regular building operations

MR Prerequisite Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy is required of all projects. The EPP policy addresses regular building operations.

Question 49

A commercial office building has several tenant spaces. A solid waste management policy has to cover products purchased within what spaces?
A. Spaces that are under the building and site management’s control B. All tenant spaces C. All regularly occupied spaces D. All spaces within the building

Answer 49

A. Spaces that are under the building and site management’s control

The policies must cover spaces that are under the building and site management’s control.

Question 50

What type of lamps should be purchased to achieve targeted mercury reductions in lamps?
(Choose 2)
A. Lamps with higher costs B. Lamps with 90 picograms of mercury per lumen-hour or less C. Lamps with long life D. Lamps with high light output

Answer 50

C. Lamps with long life
D. Lamps with high light output

To reduce the average mercury content in lamps choose lamps with low mercury, long life, and high light output.

Question 51

Once the ongoing purchasing and waste policies have been established, how can teams maintain a solid waste management program throughout the performance period?
(Choose 2)
A. Divert 75% of ongoing waste and achieve MR Credit Solid Waste Management - Ongoing B. Conduct a waste stream audit of ongoing consumables at least once every 5 years C. Conducting a supply chain survey at least once every 5 years D. Installing an education program for building occupants that occurs at least yearly

Answer 51

A. Divert 75% of ongoing waste and achieve MR Credit Solid Waste Management - Ongoing
B. Conduct a waste stream audit of ongoing consumables at least once every 5 years

Question 52

When a project team develops the IAQ procedures for maintenance and renovations what else should be considered to earn additional points?
A. ETS Control B. Housekeeping for EQ Credit Green Cleaning - Products and Materials C. Addressing the IAQ elements in EQ Credit Indoor Air Quality Management Program D. MR Credit Purchasing - Ongoing

Answer 52

C. Addressing the IAQ elements in EQ Credit Indoor Air Quality Management Program

The plan for the prerequisite overlaps the EQ credit so their requirements can be coordinated.

Question 53

Some carpet purchased for a project contains 70% recycled content. The costs related to the carpet are as follows:

Material     $10,000
Tax             $500
Shipping          $0
Delivery        $200
Installation  $1,000

What value does the carpet contribute towards MR Credit Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation?

A. $7,490 B. $10,700 C. $11,700 D. $10,000

Answer 53

A. $7,490

When calculating costs be sure to include taxes, shipping and delivery. Exclude labor costs for installation, mechanical and electrical equipment, exclude plumbing components and specialty equipment such as escalators and elevators.

$10,000 + $500 + $200 = $10,700

However the carpet contains 70% recycled content.

$10,700 X 70% = $7,490

Question 54

A project building includes several tenant spaces. When inventorying the installed lamps for MR Credit Purchasing - lamps what lamps can be excluded from the calculations?
A. Portable indoor lamps B. Lamps containing no mercury if they are less efficient than comparable mercury-containing lamps C. Lamps in tenant spaces if the tenant is responsible for buying their own lamps D. Hard-wired outdoor lamps

Answer 54

B. Lamps containing no mercury if they are less efficient than comparable mercury-containing lamps

Lamps containing no mercury may be counted only if their energy efficiency at least equals that of their mercury-containing counterparts.

This choice has a lamp that is less efficient so its excluded.