LEED Project Surroundings and Public Outreach Flashcards

1
Q

Which of the following is most important to the design and construction of a building for emissions reduction? A. Purchasing carbon offsets B. Using on-site renewables C. Choosing sustainable materials D. Building location

A

D. Building location - Consider the same building design for one building located in the suburbs and one located in a dense urban center. Which reduces emissions more?

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2
Q

What non-financial incentives can a municipality offer to encourage developers to build residential projects to green standards?
(Choose 2)
A. Certification training for developers who are unfamiliar with green building practices B. Grants C. Low interest loans D. Marketing assistance for the property

A

A. Certification training for developers who are unfamiliar with green building practices D. Marketing assistance for the property

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3
Q

How does LEED encourage focusing on regional issues?
A. Adhering to all local building codes B. Awarding more points to those projects that have ENERGY STAR ratings C. Using reasonable LEED boundaries D. Regional priority credits

A

D. Regional priority credits

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4
Q

A business owner that purchases a fleet of green delivery vehicles reduces what externality?
A. Pollution added to the environment B. The comfort of the drivers C. Sales tax revenue to the community D. Additional parking spaces for green vehicles

A

A. Pollution added to the environment

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5
Q

The green design approach taken by LEED:
A. Is useful only in urban areas where there is existing infrastructure B. Reduces the environmental harms of buildings and restores the balance of natural systems C. Can only be used on projects with large budgets to offset the higher expenses of green building D. Emphasizes occupant health over saving energy

A

B. Reduces the environmental harms of buildings and restores the balance of natural systems

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6
Q

What are some of the economic benefits of green building?
(Choose 2)
A. Reduced utility costs B. Reduced liabilities due to poor indoor air quality causing health issues C. Reduced disturbance of greenfield sites D. Increasing the tax base to the community

A

A. Reduced utility costs

Water use and energy use should be lower in a green building.

B. Reduced liabilities due to poor indoor air quality causing health issues

One of the goals of the IEQ category is to create a healthier indoor environment for occupants. This results in reduced sick days and hopefully cleaner air. Buildings that have mold or contaminants can cause health problems which can lead to lawsuits from the occupants.

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7
Q

What organization develops building safety and fire prevention codes for the construction of residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools?
A. Department of Energy (DoE) B. International Code Council C. ASHRAE D. Underwriters Laboratory (UL)

A

B. International Code Council

The ICC creates codes for building and safety. Many of these codes are adopted by local jurisdictions and become part of the local building code. The codes are a complete set of comprehensive, coordinated building safety, plumbing, mechanical, fire prevention, energy efficiency codes, and accessibility.

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8
Q

A project building in a colder climate is located in a basin that replenishes the water supply each spring from the snow on nearby mountains. If the design team thinks ahead to the future, how would this influence the design of the project?
A. Adaptive reuse should be considered B. Natural gas for heating should be used C. Commissioning will be important D. Water conservation should be emphasized

A

D. Water conservation should be emphasized

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9
Q

What review practice identifies design alternatives that reduce costs while yielding higher performance?
A. Life cycle assessment B. Value engineering C. Environmentally responsive design D. Life cycle costing

A

B. Value engineering

Value engineering (VE) is review process that identifies and selects the lowest lifecycle cost options in design, materials and processes that achieves the desired level of performance, reliability and customer satisfaction

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10
Q

What is the value of documenting and tracking a building’s resource use?
A. Contributes to knowledge that will advance research in the future B. Reduces first costs C. Reduces a building’s embodied energy D. Reduces end-of-life costs

A

A. Contributes to knowledge that will advance research in the future

USGBC collects water and energy usage from LEED projects. This information helps the development of future LEED rating system versions.

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11
Q

What statement is true regarding green building?
A. LEED teams are achieving certification through widely diverse methods B. LEED buildings were increasingly common until construction costs rose 30% in the last two years C. The construction of green buildings have no major significant cost difference to non-green buildings D. Green design is a cost neutral add-on

A

C. The construction of green buildings have no major significant cost difference to non-green buildings

According to Cost of Green Revisited - The 2006 study shows essentially the same results as 2004: there is no significant difference in average costs for green buildings as compared to non-green buildings.

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12
Q

What specifies the set of rules for the minimum acceptable level of safety for buildings?
A. Local zoning B. Building codes C. American Institute of Architects D. Local ordinances

A

B. Building codes

The main purpose of building codes are to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate authority

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13
Q

What are the long term effects of climate change?
(Choose 3)
A. Longer droughts B. Higher sea levels C. Reduced CO2 emissions D. Higher temperatures E. Increased ozone layer F. Increased glaciers

A

A. Longer droughts
B. Higher sea levels
D. Higher temperatures

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14
Q

What does the built environment refer to?
A. A process of continually improving buildings B. Structures that provide stronger connections to nature C. Any environment that is human-made and provides a structure for human activity D. The green building movement

A

C. Any environment that is human-made and provides a structure for human activity

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15
Q

What process identifies the high-performance building systems that will save money over the life of a project?
A. First costs B. Life-cycle assessment C. Life-cycle costing D. Value engineering

A

C. Life-cycle costing

Life cycle costing (LCC) is the evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful life, including initial, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings. LCC evaluates economic performance.

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16
Q

What is an economic benefit for the triple bottom line that LEED-certified buildings may have?
A. More healthful and productive environments for occupants B. Reduced waste sent to landfills C. Qualification for tax rebates D. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

A

C. Qualification for tax rebates

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17
Q

What is an example of value engineering?
A. Increasing the diversion rate of recycled materials B. Choosing a flooring material that has higher costs and a lower environmental impact over a flooring material that has lower costs and a greater environmental impact C. Selecting insulation with higher upfront costs but lower life cycle costs D. Replacing an asphalt parking lot with less costly crushed gravel that has higher SRI

A

D. Replacing an asphalt parking lot with less costly crushed gravel that has higher SRI

Value engineering (VE) is a review process that identifies and selects the lowest lifecycle cost options in design, materials and processes that achieves the desired level of performance, reliability and customer satisfaction

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18
Q

Relative to the LEED project design what has a low soft cost?
A. Building commissioning B. Carpet installation C. Cost of the LEED charrette D. Facility management costs

A

C. Cost of the LEED charrette

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19
Q

An additional cost that a green building project may have compared to a conventional project is:
A. Added utility costs B. Permit fees for plumbing C. Consultant fees for green building experts D. Increased prices for selecting a sustainable site

A

C. Consultant fees for green building experts

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20
Q

What must be considered in the project budget for a green building project that would not be part of a conventional project?
A. Additional time in the schedule for construction B. Contingencies for research of unconventional techniques or materials C. Added building equipment to make the building more energy efficient D. Selecting only ENERGY STAR appliances

A

B. Contingencies for research of unconventional techniques or materials

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21
Q

What metric is useful for determining the energy, water, solid waste, materials, and transportation impacts of buildings and communities?
A. H2O emissions B. Ozone depletion potential C. CFC leakage rate D. Carbon emissions

A

D. Carbon emissions

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22
Q

What are examples of construction hard costs for an office condominium project?
(Choose 2)
A. Masonry costs paid to a sub-contractor B. Cost for installing a green roof C. Irrigation fees for water use D. Fees to develop tenant agreements

A

A. Masonry costs paid to a sub-contractor B. Cost for installing a green roof

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23
Q

What accounting methodology is used to evaluate the economic performance of a product or system over its useful life?
A. Life cycle costing B. Triple bottom line accounting C. Cradle-to-cradle D. Life cycle assessment

A

A. Life cycle costing

Life cycle costing (LCC) is the evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful life, including initial, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings. LCC evaluates economic performance.

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24
Q

A developer for an office building will lease out spaces to tenants. What is the value to the developer for certifying the building?
A. Certified green office buildings have guaranteed grants from local governments B. Certified green office buildings rent for 2% more than comparable buildings C. Certified green office buildings receive 0% interest loans D. Certified green office buildings do not have to go through the permitting process

A

B. Certified green office buildings rent for 2% more than comparable buildings

Studies show on average a green building can charge higher building rents (2% on average) and have less empty tenant spaces than non-green buildings.

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25
Q

What green building codes can be enforced by law?
(Choose 2)
A. International Green Construction Code B. ENERGYSTAR C. LEED D. ASHRAE 189.1

A

A. International Green Construction Code D. ASHRAE 189.1

An alternate path of compliance to the IgCC is the ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES
Standard 189.1

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26
Q

A building with a vegetated roof is going to require additional costs for more materials to support the structure and for waterproofing, as well as plant materials. What are the life cycle costing benefits of a vegetated roof?
(Choose 2)
A. Longer product life B. Lower maintenance costs C. Reduction in rainwater runoff D. Reduced heat islands

A

A. Longer product life

According to some studies and some LEED documentation vegetated roofs have a longer product life than conventional roofs. Maybe that is due to the yearly maintenance and upkeep that should occur.

B. Lower maintenance costs

Life cycle costing (LCC) is the evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful life, including initial, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings. LCC evaluates economic performance.

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27
Q

Regional priority credits are specific to:
A. The state the project is located in B. LEED credit category C. LEED project type (schools, healthcare, data centers, etc.) D. LEED rating system family (BD+C, ID+C, etc.)

A

C. LEED project type (schools, healthcare, data centers, etc.)

Each LEED project type may have different impacts so each rating system has its own RP credits. For example a warehouse may not have high priority for indoor water use if there are not a lot of occupants.

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28
Q

In the United States buildings account for ____ carbon dioxide emissions.
A. 42% B. 38% C. 34% D. 26%

A
B. 38%  -  In the United States, buildings account for:
14% of potable water consumption
30% of waste output
40% of raw materials use
38% of carbon dioxide emissions
24% to 50% of energy use
72% of electricity consumption
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29
Q

What environmental externalities occur when buildings use significant quantities of potable water indoors?
A. Increased water rates B. Increased environmental burdens on the water supply C. Decreased energy efficiency D. Increased stormwater runoff

A

B. Increased environmental burdens on the water supply

Every company, large or small, has ‘externalities’ that typically do not show up in profit and loss reports.

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30
Q

If a project team increases the ventilation in a building and adds quality views to occupant spaces what will be the result?
A. Increased resource use for the project B. Improved productivity of the occupants C. Decreased air quality for the occupants D. Decreased first costs

A

B. Improved productivity of the occupants

Research shows by improving indoor air quality, adding daylighting and views, occupant productivity goes up.

31
Q

What financial incentives can a municipality offer to a developer that proposes a green building?
(Choose 3)
A. Revolving loan funds B. Tax credits C. Allowing a building to be have an increased height D. Percentage increase in the floor area ratio E. Fee waivers F. Increases in the allowable density

A

A. Revolving loan funds
B. Tax credits
E. Fee waivers

32
Q

Compared to a conventional building, a green building project and construction budget will also include:
A. Costs to implement erosion control plans B. Life cycle costing C. Soft costs D. Fees to review local laws and standards

A

B. Life cycle costing

33
Q

What are examples of structural incentives that may be available to a developer to encourage green building?
(Choose 2)
A. Fee waivers B. Density bonuses C. Tax credits D. Expedited review of permits E. Grants

A

B. Density bonuses D. Expedited review of permits

34
Q

Extracting and sourcing raw materials in a responsible manner is intended to avoid all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Threats to rare and endangered species B. Depletion of the ozone layer C. Deforestation D. Degradation of water sources E. Infringement of indigenous people’s rights

A

B. Depletion of the ozone layer

Ozone depletion is primarily addressed by a building’s energy use and choice of refrigerants

35
Q

A project team wants to install a rainwater harvesting system to provide water to flush toilets but local code does not permit this. What should the project team do?
A. Find alternative solutions for indoor water use reduction B. Request an exception from the LEED project reviewer to allow the reduction anyway C. Have the plumbers install the system anyway D. Submit a CIR to the LEED project reviewer

A

. Find alternative solutions for indoor water use reduction

Other solutions will need to be found to reduce potable water use indoors.

36
Q

From where are most local codes adopted?

A. California laws B. International Code Council C. Federal regulations D. USGBC

A

B. International Code Council

Local building codes represent the minimum codes that a project must adhere to.

37
Q

If a developer is planning on building a multi-family residential project what are the most important things the project team should consider?
(Choose 2)
A. Proximity to waste haulers B. Local zoning C. Nearby LEED BD+C projects D. Available LEED ND projects close by

A

B. Local zoning D. Available LEED ND projects close by

38
Q

What is the term for the analysis of the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service?
A. Life-cycle costing B. ASHRAE Level I audit C. Triple bottom line accounting D. Life-cycle assessment

A

D. Life-cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment evaluates a product’s ‘environmental impact’

39
Q

What is an example of an ongoing operating cost?
A. Carpet installation B. Attorney fees for building contracts C. Salaries for janitorial services in a building D. Design of a sedimentation control plan

A

C. Salaries for janitorial services in a building

40
Q

What term refers to the investigation and valuation of the environmental impacts of a given product or service caused or necessitated by its existence?
A. Hard cost B. Life cycle assessment C. Life cycle costing D. Soft cost

A

B. Life cycle assessment

41
Q

In the United States buildings account for ____ electricity consumption.
A. 56% B. 66% C. 74% D. 72%

A

D. 72%

42
Q

Which of the following does green building help with creating?
(Choose 2)
A. Lower-impact built environments B. Communities that are more vital to a healthy society C. Increased building operational costs D. Increased segregated land use

A

A. Lower-impact built environments B. Communities that are more vital to a healthy society

43
Q

What helps a project take advantage of the environmental assets of the area they live in?
A. Minimum Program Requirements B. Prerequisites C. Local building code D. Regional Priority credits

A

D. Regional Priority credits

Regional priority credits are bonus points projects can earn by addressing environmental concerns (water shortages) and environmental assets (abundant sunlight) in their areas.

44
Q

What are local ordinances?
A. A law usually found in a municipal code B. Building codes based on national model codes C. Recommendations for good building practices D. Local government regulations imposed to promote orderly development of private lands and prevent land-use conflicts

A

A. A law usually found in a municipal code

45
Q

For which of the following are the ICC International Codes used?
A. Establishing energy-efficiency guidelines for public buildings B. Guiding code officials about hazardous chemicals contained in building materials C. Providing minimum safeguards for people at home, at school, and in the workplace D. Defining minimum indoor air quality standards

A

C. Providing minimum safeguards for people at home, at school, and in the workplace

46
Q

A building’s total emissions footprint does which of the following over time?
A. Fluctuates B. Incrementally increases C. Incrementally decreases D. Remains the same

A

B. Incrementally increases

47
Q

What is true if a building code official finds an issue between a proposed energy efficiency strategy and the city’s building electrical code?
A. The electrical contractor can proceed with the design B. The project team must alter the design C. The project administrator should re-run the energy model D. A LEED reviewer must approve the existing strategy

A

B. The project team must alter the design

The strategy will need to be reworked to fit with the local electrical code.

48
Q

Green buildings have on average energy use intensities that are ____ lower than in typical buildings.
A. 16% B. 24% C. 28% D. 12%

A

B. 24%

This comes from an independent study by the New Buildings Institute.

49
Q

What is different about green building design compared to conventional design?
A. Green building uses an integrative process B. Green building costs more C. Green building has longer schedules D. Green building does not have a bidding phase

A

A. Green building uses an integrative process

50
Q

Which percentage of the Earth’s water is fresh water?

A. 10% B. 3% C. 5% D. 7%

A

B. 3%

We have limited water on the planet and a growing population, and drought conditions are stressing our limited existing water supply.

51
Q

Which of the following would be classified as a soft construction cost?
A. Civil engineer consulting fee B. Rental of a dumpster C. Purchase of some steel D. Construction worker labor costs

A

A. Civil engineer consulting fee

52
Q

The built environment, including buildings and transportation systems, account for what percent of all greenhouse gas emissions?
A. 2/3 B. 1/2 C. 1/4 D. 1/3

A

A. 2/3

About 2/3 of GHG emissions are attributed to the built environment

53
Q

A study by the New Buildings Institute found that in green buildings, average energy use intensities (energy consumed per unit of floor space) are _____ than in typical buildings
A. 32% lower B. 24% lower C. 5% higher D. 16% lower

A

B. 24% lower

54
Q

A team for a school project is reviewing potential site locations and building designs. What would have the greatest impact on improving test scores for the students?
A. Locating the building in a walkable neighborhood B. Including an indoor swimming pool C. Orienting the building to maximize daylighting D. Installing low-emitting furniture and desks

A

C. Orienting the building to maximize daylighting

55
Q

Which building project supports the triple bottom line?
A. Energy efficient building that has poor acoustics B. Building renovation in a federal empowerment zone C. Flooring material with a small carbon footprint extracted from an area that displaced local people D. Eco-resort built in an area with threatened species

A

B. Building renovation in a federal empowerment zone

56
Q

What options within LEED credits address different geographic and climactic regions while providing solutions to challenges faced by projects at a regional level?
A. Innovation credits B. Alternative Compliance Paths C. Minimum program requirements (MPRs) D. Regional priority credits

A

B. Alternative Compliance Paths

Alternative Compliance Paths, or ACPs, allow international projects to identify equivalent means of demonstrating compliance to the credit requirements. For example, where an equivalent country’s reference standard exists, an ACP can allow for the use of that standard.

57
Q

Globally transportation is responsible for what percent of greenhouse gas emissions?
A. 25% B. 35% C. 30% D. 20%

A

A. 25%

Selecting sites in dense areas where existing infrastructure exists helps reduce automobile use, as addressed in the Location and Transportation credits.

58
Q

If a state has a green building code and a project team wants to pursue LEED certification:
A. The state building code requirements have precedent over the LEED requirements B. The state building code requirements can be used instead of the LEED requirements C. The project team can follow either the state building code requirements or the LEED requirements D. LEED requirements can be used instead of the state building code requirements

A

A. The state building code requirements have precedent over the LEED requirements

Any state or local building codes have precedent over LEED.

59
Q

Sustainable plans for built environments that improve existing conditions is called:
A. Net-zero energy project B. Passive design C. Regenerative design D. Adaptive reuse

A

C. Regenerative design

60
Q

The triple bottom line can be described as:
A. The cost of green building B. People, planet, profit C. Socially responsible enterprise and investment D. Integration of a building with its natural surroundings

A

B. People, planet, profit

61
Q

What low / no cost structural incentive can a municipality make to a developer to encourage green building?
A. Fee waivers B. Tax credits C. Green building grants D. Allowing increases in the floor area ratio

A

D. Allowing increases in the floor area ratio

62
Q

What is a negative environmental externality of locating a project in an area does not have diverse uses and is not densely developed?
A. Increased air pollution B. Increased development costs C. Increased tax base D. Availability of high-paying jobs

A

A. Increased air pollution

Every company, large or small, has ‘externalities’ that typically do not show up in profit and loss reports. Environmental externalities are transactions in which one or more parties to the transaction are not compensated and may have little choice in the transaction.

63
Q

What is the most impactful way that a project can help to reverse contribution to climate change?
A. Choosing healthy building materials B. Using salvaged materials C. Locating the project near diverse uses D. Reducing fossil-fuel based energy consumption

A

D. Reducing fossil-fuel based energy consumption

64
Q

Economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility define a project’s:
A. Innovation B. Minimum Program Requirements C. Federal, state, and/or local regulations D. Triple bottom line

A

D. Triple bottom line

65
Q

What is an example of a construction hard cost?
A. Payments received from recycled materials B. Reporting on a building’s energy consumption over time C. Permit fees D. On-site renewable energy system

A

D. On-site renewable energy system

66
Q

The linear use of resources where outputs are treated as waste contributes to the toxins accumulating in the atmosphere, water and on the ground. This has accelerated the pace of the planet’s biggest problem which is:
A. Products containing hazardous chemicals B. Indoor air quality C. Climate change D. Poor water quality

A

C. Climate change

67
Q

What is considered a positive externality of LEED-certified buildings on building occupants?
A. Improved daylighting B. Decreased absenteeism C. Reduced water consumption D. Energy efficiency improvements

A

B. Decreased absenteeism

68
Q

Which of the following is an example of the triple bottom line in practice?
A. A building material purchased and shipped from overseas B. A residential project that contributes to neighborhood revitalization C. A building with good indoor air quality and minimal insulation D. An energy efficient building built on a site with endangered species

A

B. A residential project that contributes to neighborhood revitalization

69
Q

What is an example of regenerative design?
A. A net-zero energy building B. A building that generates electricity and sends the excess to the grid C. A building that uses rainwater onsite D. A project with a community recycling program

A

B. A building that generates electricity and sends the excess to the grid

Regenerative design is ‘sustainable plans for built environments that improve existing conditions. Regenerative design goes beyond reducing impacts to create positive change in the local and global environment.’ - USGBC

70
Q

How can the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the built environment be reduced? (Choose 2) A. Implementing a waste-to-energy program B. Building on a greenfield site C. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings D. Improving the energy efficiency of communities E. Installing single pane glazing in buildings

A

C. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings. D. Improving the energy efficiency of communities

71
Q

Before using graywater to irrigate a project’s landscape the landscape architect should review: A. Local codes B. ENERGY STAR WaterSense C. EPA WaterSense Water Budget Tool D. EPA Rainwater Management Model

A

A. Local Codes

72
Q

The operation of buildings, including landscaping, accounts for ____ of total water use in the United States.
A. 20% B. 18% C. 6% D. 12%

A

D. 12%

73
Q

Which of the following has the lowest soft cost?
A. Construction waste hauling fees B. Self-guided education program on the green features of a project C. Legal fees for building contracts D. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)

A

B. Self-guided education program on the green features of a project

Many projects in the past have earned Innovation credits by included an on site education program showing the green features of the building. Install some signs around the project, create a map of the project, promote the tour, and you are well on your way. This would not be that expensive to do.