LEED Water Efficiency AP

Question 1

Which of the following would be classified as a private lavatory faucet? A. A public restroom in a hospital B. A sink faucet in a school classroom used for hand washing C. A bathroom faucet in a condominium unit D. A locker room faucet in a private gym

Answer 1

C. A bathroom faucet in a condominium unit. ‘The Uniform Plumbing Code, International Plumbing Code, and the National Standard Plumbing Code each define private as those fixtures in residences, hotel or motel guest rooms, and private rooms in hospitals. All other applications are deemed to be public.’ - USGBC

Question 2

Which action must a project team take to achieve WE Prerequisite Building-Level Water Metering?
(Choose 3)
A. Commit to sharing five years of data with USGBC B. Install a building automation system to detect water leaks C. Install permanent water meters for any water subsystem consuming at least 10% of the project’s water use D. Measure total potable water use of the site grounds E. Measure total potable water use of the whole building

Answer 2

A. Commit to sharing five years of data with USGBC D. Measure total potable water use of the site grounds
E. Measure total potable water use of the whole building

The building and grounds have to be metered for potable water use. The data must be shared with USGBC for a period of 5 years.

Question 3

For teams using the metered water use option of WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction how is the water consumption baseline determined?
A. The amount of water used if the project uses all WaterSense labeled fixtures B. The fixture water use allowed by UPC/IPC C. The amount of water used in all fixtures and fittings, minus any alternative water supplies D. One year’s worth of data for metered fixtures and fittings

Answer 3

D. One year’s worth of data for metered fixtures and fittings

Meter fixtures and fittings and record metered data for one year to establish a water-use baseline.

Question 4

How can a project owner share building-level watering meter data with USGBC on a monthly basis?
(Choose 2)
A. Through a third party data source B. By submitting data to the LEED project reviewer C. Through ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager D. By uploading to LEED Online

Answer 4

A. Through a third party data source C. Through ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager.

Third-party data source. The project owner commits to providing water consumption data to USGBC and
acknowledges that USGBC will only accept the data in an approved third-party source or format.

USGBC-approved data template. The project owner commits to providing water consumption data to USGBC and acknowledges that USGBC will only accept the data using ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager import facility data.

Question 5

For a project that has an irrigation meter installed how would the project team establish an irrigation water use baseline?
A. By taking the annual average of at least three years of consecutive data from the past five years B. Use the utility data to find the the prior year’s peak month irrigation demand C. Using EPA’s WaterSense water budget tool D. By subtracting out the building-level water use from the project’s total annual water use

Answer 5

A. By taking the annual average of at least three years of consecutive data from the past five years

This is required for Option 3.

Question 6

The WaterSense Water Budget tool uses which variables to determine how much water a project needs?
(Choose 2)
A. Smart scheduling technologies B. Sources of alternative water C. Evapotranspiration levels D. Each location’s rainfall

Answer 6

C. Evapotranspiration levels

D. Each location’s rainfall

Question 7

Project teams pursuing points under WE Credit Indoor Water Use Reduction by calculating water use must show which requirements have been met?
A. The project fixtures in aggregate meet the requirements. B. Every individual fixture meets the credit requirements. C. 20% of the fixtures are WaterSense labeled (or equivalent). D. Every fixture is WaterSense labeled (or equivalent).

Answer 7

A. The project fixtures in aggregate meet the requirements.

The calculated water use option requires teams to perform calculations to show that the fixtures comply with the requirements in aggregate. Under this compliance path, every individual fixture doesn’t need to meet the requirements, but the project fixtures in aggregate do.

Question 8

A school project in Arizona will include no irrigation for the landscaping. How many points would the project earn for this approach?
A. 3 B. 1 C. 0 D. 2

Answer 8

D. 2.

Since the landscaping requires no irrigation, Option 1 of WE Credit Outdoor Water Use Reduction has been achieved

Question 9

How is cooling tower or evaporative condenser water efficiency measured?
A. By the amount of dissolved solids in the water expressed as a percentage B. By the amount of makeup water added each hour to the system C. By the number of cycles through which the water can be recirculated before it is removed by blowdown D. By minimum concentration levels

Answer 9

C. By the number of cycles through which the water can be recirculated before it is removed by blowdown

This is how the efficiency is measured.

Question 10

A team member is entering toilet information for calculating the installed case for indoor water use. In addition to the fixture type and its flush rate, which information must be entered into the calculator for the toilet?
(Choose 2)
A. Gender ratio of the occupants using the toilet B. Percentage of occupants using the toilet C. The percent of alternative water (if any) used when flushing the toilet D. Manufacturer and model

Answer 10

B. Percentage of occupants using the toilet D. Manufacturer and model

Question 11

Members of a project team are discussing blending potable and reclaimed water for use in a cooling tower. Which issue should be addressed when considering this strategy?
A. The life cycle of the cooling tower will be extended as a result. B. Blending is not acceptable for LEED credit. C. The building maintenance staff will first need additional training. D. Both types of water should be tested first.

Answer 11

D. Both types of water should be tested first.

The different water types should be tested to see what dissolved solids exist.

Potable water with high phosphates and a reclaimed water supply with high calcium may form calcium phosphate, which will lead to scaling in the condenser.

Question 12

The entire water supply for a building is provided by a public water supply and uses a single water meter. The meter is not accessible for reporting to achieve WE Prerequisite Building-Level Water Metering. Which action can the project team take to track water usage?
A. Estimate the monthly usage based on the occupancy rate B. Install a second private water meter downstream of the public water supply meter C. Use the design case calculations for the indoor and outdoor water use prerequisites D. Use the baseline water use calculations minus any non-potable water use sources

Answer 12

B. Install a second private water meter downstream of the public water supply meter.

Location, access, and reporting are three things that should be verified for the prerequisite. The project team needs to be able to obtain the metered data for reporting. A private meter installed downstream but before all water subsystems is a way to get data.

Question 13

A project team is documenting a buildings fixtures and fittings of a building built in 1980. The building has had major renovations to some of the restrooms since 1995. What would the project team need to do to set a baseline for WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction.
A. Use a baseline of 120% B. Use a prorated baseline C. Use a baseline of 150% D. Meter fixtures and fittings and record metered data for one year to establish a water-use baseline.

Answer 13

B. Use a prorated baseline

Older buildings that have had major renovations to some of the restrooms since 1995 use a prorated baseline.

Question 14

A project team is reviewing available site derived non-potable water sources that can be used to offset a portion of the potable water use for makeup water. What are the best sources of makeup water?
(Choose 2)
A. Stormwater runoff from the ground surface B. Air-conditioning condensate C. Graywater D. Rainwater collected from building roofs

Answer 14

B. Air-conditioning condensate D. Rainwater collected from building roofs.

When considering alternative water, it is important to consider the water type. Some alternative water sources have lower concentration of solids such as rainwater and condensate, whereas graywater and ground runoff may need additional treatment.

Question 15

A project includes landscaping with irrigation. What would reduce irrigation needs?
A. Restoring areas with native species B. Irrigating during the daytime C. Using turf for groundcover D. Increasing the frequency of fertilizer applications

Answer 15

A. Restoring areas with native species

Question 16

A project team will use a non-potable water source to increase the number of cycles in a cooling tower. What minimum number of cycles will earn the project additional points for WE Credit Cooling Tower Water Use?
A. 11 B. 5 C. 10 D. 8

Answer 16

C. 10

At least 10 cycles must be achieved to earn the additional point.

Question 17

A project team decides to install a weather-based irrigation controller system in a building that doesn’t have an irrigation meter. How will this decision impact WE Credit Outdoor Water Use Reduction?
A. The system will earn the project a 15% reduction in landscape water requirements (LWR) B. The irrigation controller can be substituted for the irrigation meter for establishment C. The irrigation controller has no impact on the credit D. The irrigation controller would earn the project 2 points for performance

Answer 17

A. The system will earn the project a 15% reduction in landscape water requirements (LWR)

This is one of those small pieces of information that gets overlooked. Using smart controllers earns a project a 15% reduction in the credit.

See Further Explanation / About WaterSense in the reference guide

Question 18

A project team is implementing a fixture and fitting replacement and retrofit policy. Which information should be documented by the MEP engineer for new purchases?
A. Aggregate fixture calculations B. All fixtures meeting the baseline water consumption of EPAct 1992 C. Occupancy usage-based calculations D. Product cutsheets and fixture schedules

Answer 18

D. Product cutsheets and fixture schedules

The credit documentation would include product cutsheets and fixture schedules showing that all fixtures are WaterSense labeled or equivalent.

Question 19

Which strategies optimize irrigation?
(Choose 3)
A. Choosing native plants B. Intensive irrigation for brief periods C. Planting a Xeriscape landscape D. Using graywater for irrigation E. Testing for salinity F. Using grass only for playing fields and similar activities

Answer 19

A. Choosing native plants C. Planting a Xeriscape landscape F. Using grass only for playing fields and similar activities

Question 20

Which water subsystems must have 100% of the source submetered for WE Credit Water Metering?
(Choose 2)
A. Reclaimed water B. Cooling towers C. Irrigation D. Domestic hot water

Answer 20

A. Reclaimed water

B. Cooling towers

Question 21

Which types of fixtures are NOT eligible for WaterSense labels?
(Choose 3)
A. A 0.5 gpf (1.9 lpf) urinal B. A private lavatory faucet C. A residential clothes washer D. Pre-rinse spray valves E. A water closet F. A waterless toilet

Answer 21

C. A residential clothes washer

D. Pre-rinse spray valves F. A waterless toilet

Question 22

Which water-using equipment can be excluded from the reduction threshold of WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction?
(Choose 3)
A. Hotel bathroom sink B. Janitor’s sink C. Showerheads in a locker room D. Fixtures regulated by health codes E. Coffee maker F. Residential kitchen faucet

Answer 22

B. Janitor’s sink D. Fixtures regulated by health codes

E. Coffee maker

Question 23

The groundskeeper for a project has determined a new building will not require long-term irrigation for the property. Which pieces of information will need to be documented in the plant species and water requirement narrative for WE Credit Outdoor Water Use Reduction?
(Choose 2)
A. A water budget B. An indication of why average rainfall will be sufficient C. A site plan showing the location of any temporary sprinkler heads D. A description of the plants

Answer 23

B. An indication of why average rainfall will be sufficient

For Option 1: No Irrigation Required, the narrative must include why average rainfall will be sufficient.

D. A description of the plants

For this credit, a description of the plants and where they are located within the site plan is needed.

Question 24

When occupancy data is entered into the indoor water use calculator, it is split by default to a 50/50 gender ratio. Under which circumstance should this be ratio changed?
A. In a private school exclusively for girls B. In a public library with 5 female employees C. In an office with more than 70% male employees D. In a boys’ locker room of a public high school

Answer 24

A. In a private school exclusively for girls

A project can alter the default ratio if it is justified. Same-sex schools are one example.

Question 25

An office project is estimated to have 200 FTE occupants and 30 daily visitors. The project team is attempting to earn points under WE Credit Indoor Water Reduction. When using the indoor water use calculator, which information will the project team need to enter to accommodate the visitors?
A. Nothing, the calculator accounts for reduced usage of fixtures by visitors B. The estimated visitor usage as determined by an occupant survey C. A separate calculation tab needs to be added for the visitors D. The hours of operation the space will be available to visitors

Answer 25

A. Nothing, the calculator accounts for reduced usage of fixtures by visitors

The calculator accounts for reduced usage of certain fixtures by visitors by assuming lower daily usage rates for items such as kitchen faucets, which are unlikely to be used by visitors.

Question 26

A project team hired a water-treatment professional to analyze the makeup water for a cooling tower and received the following results:

Parameter/Maximum allowable concentrations/Makeup water concentrations
Calcium (CaCO3): 1,000 ppm, 200 ppm
Alkalinity: 1,000 ppm, 100 ppm
SiO2: 200 ppm, 40 ppm
Chloride: 300 ppm, 50 ppm
Conductivity - 2,000 micro siemens/cm, 400 micro siemens/cm

Which is the maximum number of cycles of concentration for this makeup water?

A. Ten (10) cycles B. Six (6) cycles C. Five (5) cycles D. Eight (8) cycles

Answer 26

C. Five (5) cycles.

To find this answer, divide the maximum allowable concentrations by the makeup water concentrations for each parameter.

Calcium (CaCO3): 1,000 / 200 = 5 cycles
Alkalinity: 1,000 / 100 = 10 cycles
SiO2: 200 / 40 = 5 cycles
Chloride: 300 / 50 = 6 cycles
Conductivity: 2,000 / 400 = 5 cycles

Then pick the lowest number, which is 5 cycles.

Question 27

When determining the landscape water requirement (LWR) for a project that does not have an irrigation meter, which items would be included in the calculations from the landscape professional?
(Choose 3)
A. Fertilization needs B. Pesticide application schedules C. Types of plants D. Irrigation system elements E. Planting density/distribution F. Sources of non-potable water

Answer 27

C. Types of plants D. Irrigation system elements

E. Planting density/distribution

Question 28

What frequency of recording data is required during the performance period for WE Credit Water Metering?
A. All meters except those that use reclaimed water must be recorded at least daily B. All meters, including whole-building meter, must be recorded at least weekly C. Whole-building meters must be recorded monthly and all other meters must be recorded daily D. All meters must be recorded at least monthly

Answer 28

B. All meters, including whole-building meter, must be recorded at least weekly

All meters, including whole-building meter, must be recorded at least weekly and used in a regular analysis of time trends

Question 29

Where should water submeters meters be located?
A. Where they can be read and maintained easily B. Nearest the facility manager’s office C. Where they can be moved around easily D. Closest to the source of the potable water

Answer 29

A. Where they can be read and maintained easily

For new meters, select locations that are easily accessible for readings and maintenance.

Question 30

A campus project has three buildings that get their potable water from a public water supply and on-site well. How many total meters are needed for the buildings and water sources?
A. 2 B. 3 C. 5 D. 1 E. 4

Answer 30

C. 5

Projects may require multiple meters if they have multiple sources of potable water.

Each building needs to have the building-level water metered separately.

Question 31

At least which percentage of an irrigated landscape area must be submetered for WE Credit Water Metering?
A. 90% B. 50% C. 75% D. 80%

Answer 31

D. 80%

Question 32

A project team is working in a country that does not have WaterSense equivalents for fixture performance. For fixture and fitting replacement and retrofit policy which action should the project team take to achieve the prerequisite?
A. Exclude the fixtures as necessary to show compliance B. Use alternative water sources to show a reduction in potable water use C. Use calculations to show compliance D. Select a fixture performance of at least 20% below the baseline of EPAct 1992

Answer 32

D. Select a fixture performance of at least 20% below the baseline of EPAct 1992

Countries that do not have WaterSense equivalents must comply with the fixture performance requirement that water use at least 20% below baseline and the EPAct’s 1992 requirement.

Question 33

When calculating the landscape water budget for a site, which areas must be included?
(Choose 2)
A. Groundcover B. Trees C. Vegetated playground D. Food garden E. Impervious hardscape F. Athletic field

Answer 33

A. Groundcover
B. Trees

Some areas can be included/excluded at the project teams' discretion:
Athletic field
Vegetated playground
Food garden
Urban agricultural area

These areas must be excluded:
Hardscapes (pervious or impervious)
Unvegetated softscapes (mulched paths, playground areas)

Question 34

A project team is retrofitting a 50-story high-rise residential building in an urban area. WaterSense labeled fixtures and fittings are being reviewed for WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction. Which action should occur to ensure building occupants are satisfied with the fixtures and fittings?
A. Determining that fixtures will not have performance problems B. Avoiding the use of waterless urinals in public restrooms C. Selecting no aerators that are labeled with WaterSense D. Verifying that no dual-flush toilets are installed

Answer 34

A. Determining that fixtures will not have performance problems

In high-rises and in different areas where water pressure can vary, it is important for the MEP engineer to address the delivery pressure of the water. By working with the MEP engineer and architect at the project kickoff meeting, specifications can be set so no water pressure issues occur.

Question 35

A building has a restaurant on the first floor and office space on the second and third floors. When using the indoor water use calculator, how should the information be calculated?
A. Calculate each occupant group separately B. Use one calculation for all building fixtures and occupants C. Use the fixture data for the largest occupant group D. Exclude the smaller occupant group and extrapolate the calculations based on the size percentage of each group

Answer 35

A. Calculate each occupant group separately

If there are different building user groups that will use the building fixtures in different ways, then the project team must calculate each group separately using the USGBC spreadsheet by adding another tab to the spreadsheet.

Question 36

Which type of fixture is eligible for WaterSense labels?

A. A private lavatory faucet B. A waterless urinal C. A composting toilet D. A tankless toilet

Answer 36

A. A private lavatory faucet

Question 37

An indoor water use calculated baseline case consists of which information for?
A. The amount of water used by the fixtures and fittings selected for the project B. The amount of water used if the project used only code-compliant fixtures and fittings C. The amount of water used in all fixtures and fittings, minus any alternative water supplies (graywater, rainwater, etc.) D. The amount of water used if the project uses all WaterSense labeled fixtures

Answer 37

B. The amount of water used if the project used only code-compliant fixtures and fittings

The baseline comes from the fixtures and fittings flow rates as defined in the reference guide.

Question 38

For recertification how long can the irrigation water usage baseline be used before a new baseline must be established?
A. 3 years B. Until the next performance period C. 10 years D. 5 years

Answer 38

C. 10 years

The original baseline can be used for 10 years. To promote continued improvement after 10 years the baseline must be reset

Question 39

A site project has two landscaped sections: one that requires irrigation and one that does not because it is Xeriscaped. How should the project team calculate the landscape water requirements if no irrigation meter is installed?
A. By entering zero landscape water consumption for the Xeriscaped area B. By making two separate calculations, one for the irrigation section and one for the unirrigated area C. By excluding the unirrigated area D. Using the annual average of at least 3 years of consecutive data

Answer 39

B. By making two separate calculations, one for the irrigation section and one for the unirrigated area

This is correct. The calculations should be completed twice using the Water Budget Tool, and the result will be the sum of the two calculations.

Question 40

If a project team reduces turf areas and shifts to more natural native landscaping to reduce outdoor water use, what other credit could this strategy assist with?
A. WE Credit Cooling Tower Water Use B. SS Credit Heat Island Reduction C. WE Credit Water Metering D. SS Credit Site Improvement Plan

Answer 40

D. SS Credit Site Improvement Plan

The sustainable site’s credit site improvement plan requires projects to have at least 5% of the site vegetated and to develop and implement a plan to improve and maintain the site.

Question 41

Which water end use, if present on a project, does NOT need to be metered for WE Prerequisite Building-Level Water Metering?
A. A rainwater collection system B. An on-site potable water treatment system C. An on-site well D. A public water supply

Answer 41

A. A rainwater collection system

Only potable water end uses must be metered.

Question 42

A project with an evaporative condenser uses 100% potable water for cooling. Which action would the project owner need to take to achieve WE Credit Cooling Tower Water Use?
A. Share any metering data with USGBC for five years B. Hire a water treatment professional to conduct a potable water analysis C. Offset the potable water use with at least 10% non-potable water D. Submeter the non-potable water use

Answer 42

B. Hire a water treatment professional to conduct a potable water analysis

The first step for this credit is a potable water analysis to identify the concentration parameters in the condenser water

Question 43

A project team will earn two points for WE Credit Cooling Tower Water Use by meeting the maximum number of cycles without additional treatment. Which action can the project team take to earn additional points?
A. Decrease the number of cycles of concentration B. Use 20% alternative water sources C. Add filtration D. Increase the concentrations in the condenser water

Answer 43

B. Use 20% alternative water sources

If a project meets the minimum number of cycles to earn two points, an additional 1-2 points (depending on the rating system) can be earned by using at least 20% recycled non-potable water.

Question 44

In 1992 a building renovation doubled the size of a building. This building would be required to achieve a fixture water use at a ____ baseline of the maximum fixture water use allowed for UPC/IPC compliance.
A. 140% B. 120% C. 160% D. 150%

Answer 44

D. 150%.

The LEED v4 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance water use baseline is set depending on the year of building’s occupancy, as follows:

• For a building with a certificate of occupancy dated 1995 or later, the baseline is 120% of the water use that would result if all fixtures met the code requirements in Table 1 in the reference guide.
• For a building with a certificate of occupancy dated before 1995, the baseline is 150% of the water use that would result if all fixtures met the code requirements in Table 1 in the reference guide.

Question 45

A public utility uses proprietary wireless technology to read the water meter for a project building. Since access to the water-metering data is restricted, which statement is true of the project team’s ability to achieve WE Prerequisite Building-Level Water Metering?
A. The project will achieve the prerequisite because the data is not available. B. The project team can meet the prerequisite by submetering 80% of the potable water use systems. C. The project team can track water usage through monthly billing statements. D. The project team will need to install a private meter upstream of the public water supply.

Answer 45

C. The project team can track water usage through monthly billing statements.

When the meter is inaccessible, utility bills will suffice.

Question 46

Which of the following are classified as private sinks?
(Choose 2)
A. Dormitory bathroom sink B. School classroom sink C. Hotel/motel guest-room sink D. Restroom sink

Answer 46

A. Dormitory bathroom sink

C. Hotel/motel guest-room sink

Question 47

A project team in an arid climate is considering using cooling tower blowdown as an alternative source of water for irrigation. Which issues should be addressed as a result?
(Choose 2)
A. The salinity of the water will need to be tested. B. The timing and reliability of the supply will need to be assessed. C. The water will be unable to be used for turf grass. D. The evapotranspiration rate of the plants will decrease.

Answer 47

A. The salinity of the water will need to be tested.

B. The timing and reliability of the supply will need to be assessed.

Question 48

A campus project has one water meter that serves many buildings. What statement is true regarding the project’s achieving WE Prerequisite Building Level Water Metering?
A. The single meter can be used B. Each building within the group must have an additional whole building water meter C. The total potable water use can be included for a single building D. The data from the single meter can be divided evenly between the buildings.

Answer 48

B. Each building within the group must have an additional whole building water meter

To qualify for this prerequisite, each building within the group must have an additional whole building water meter.

Question 49

What needs to be in place for a project to set an indoor baseline water use using metered data?
A. 80% of fixtures and fittings must be metered B. The building and associated grounds must be metered separately C. WaterSense labeled equipment must be installed D. High efficiency appliances must be used

Answer 49

A. 80% of fixtures and fittings must be metered

To pursue Option 2 of the prerequisite teams must separately meter at least 80% of fixtures or have the ability to isolate fixtures from whole building water systems by subtracting all other submeter data.

Question 50

What does a project team need to consider when classifying flow and fixture types as public or private to see which threshold requirements apply for WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction?
A. Use only B. Location only C. Either use or location D. Both use and location

Answer 50

D. Both use and location.

The use and location are used to classify something as public vs. private. For example, is a faucet for a bathroom sink or a kitchen sink? Is it a public bathroom sink or a private residential sink?

Question 51

What does metering water usage by subsystem help facility managers avoid?
A. Problems in the water system that can lead to substantial cost and damage can be avoided B. Scaling in condenser water systems C. Controlling microbes and corrosion D. Increases in building water pressure

Answer 51

A. Problems in the water system that can lead to substantial cost and damage can be avoided

The intent of submetering is to identify problems and find areas that could be improved.

Question 52

A landscape designer is calculating the landscape water budget for a school project. Which areas can be optionally included in or excluded from the calculations?
A. Vegetated playground B. Mulched playground area C. Pervious walkways D. Impervious parking lot

Answer 52

A. Vegetated playground.

Some areas can be included/excluded at the project teams' discretion:
Athletic field
Vegetated playground
Food garden
Urban agricultural area

These areas must be excluded:
Hardscapes (pervious or impervious)
Unvegetated softscapes (mulched paths, playground areas)

Question 53

Which are the primary factors a project team should consider when deciding which water subsystems to meter?
(Choose 3)
A. The number of submeters the subsystems require B. The most expensive systems to operate C. The systems that most closely align with the goals of building management D. The highest water consumers E. The cost of the submeters

Answer 53

B. The most expensive systems to operate
C. The systems that most closely align with the goals of building management
D. The highest water consumers

Question 54

The classification of a sink in a mixed-use project is unclear. Which action should the LEED AP take when performing the indoor water-use calculations?
A. Exclude the sink from the calculations B. Choose the greater of the public or private baselines C. Classify the sink as private D. Classify the sink as public

Answer 54

D. Classify the sink as public

If the classification for public or private use is unclear, default to public use flow rates when performing the calculations.