USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) LEED-AP-ND New Questions

The Green Infrastructure and Buildings Prerequisite for Minimum Building Energy Performance requires buildings to meet certain energy performance standards. For a mixed-use development that includes a 150,000 ft² (13,935 m²) office building, the performance rating method specified by ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2010 is the appropriate standard to use. This standardis widely recognized for its stringent energy efficiency criteria and is typically required for projects seeking LEED certification. Other options, like the ENERGY STAR performance rating, are not applicable because they are more commonly used for operational buildings rather than for new construction or major renovations. The prescriptive measures mentioned in the other options are generally used for smaller or simpler buildings.

TheNeighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD) Credit: Transportation Demand Management (TDM)encourages the implementation of strategies to reduce the reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and promote alternative, more sustainable modes of transportation. This credit aims to decrease vehicle miles traveled (VMT), reduce traffic congestion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the use of public transportation, car-sharing, cycling, and walking.

Option C: Subsidize yearly transportation passes by at least 50% for 100% of the occupants of the project for a minimum of three yearsis the correct answer because subsidizing public transportation passes for all occupants encourages the use of transit, which directly reduces vehicle usage. LEED specifically recognizes this strategy as a way to reduce transportation demand by making public transit more accessible and affordable for residents and workers, aligning with the goals of the TDM credit (Reference:LEED v4 ND Reference Guide).

Option A: Obtain a variance to allow a 25% reduction from local regulatory minimum parking requirementsis not sufficient on its own to meet the TDM credit requirements, although reducing parking can contribute to overall demand management efforts.

Option B: Sell or rent associated parking spaces separately from 50% of dwelling units and/or nonresidential square footageis a parking management strategy that can reduce the demand for parking, but it does not fully satisfy the intent of the TDM credit by itself.

Option D: Ensure that 50% of the residential units and non-residential buildings are within a 1/4 mi (0.4 km) walking distance of a shared vehicleis an effective TDM strategy, but the subsidized transportation passes (Option C) are a more direct and impactful strategy to reduce transportation demand.

Thus,subsidizing yearly transportation passesis the most direct and impactful strategy for meeting the Transportation Demand Management credit in LEED ND, makingOption Cthe correct answer.

To determine if a project qualifies for the Green Infrastructure and Buildings Credit related to Wastewater Management in LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND), the most relevant piece of information is theaverage amount of annual wastewater generatedby the project. This metric is essential because the credit focuses on minimizing the impact of wastewater on the environment, primarily through strategies such as reducing the volume of wastewater produced, treating wastewater on-site, and reusing treated wastewater.

Wastewater Generation and Management:The LEED-ND rating system encourages the efficient management of wastewater to minimize its environmental impact. Specifically, the Green Infrastructure and Buildings Credit requires that a project demonstrates effective strategies for managing and reducing the volume of wastewater generated annually. This involves calculating the total averageamount of wastewater generated by the community and assessing how much of it can be treated and reused on-site.

Credit Requirements:To earn the Wastewater Management credit, projects must typically show that they have reduced the amount of wastewater generated by at least 25% compared to baseline conditions or that they treat and reuse a significant portion of their wastewater on-site. This necessitates an accurate estimation of the average annual wastewater production to determine the appropriate strategies and technologies for meeting the credit's objectives.

Supporting Strategies:Projects may employ various methods to achieve this, including installing efficient plumbing fixtures, recycling graywater, using natural treatment systems (like constructed wetlands), or connecting to high-efficiency municipal treatment facilities. However, all these strategies hinge on an understanding of the total wastewater volume generated, making this the most critical data point.

The LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) provides comprehensive criteria and methodologies for calculating the average wastewater generation and determining credit eligibility.

TheGreen Infrastructure and Buildingssection of the LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development rating system further outlines the specific requirements and point allocations for wastewater management strategies.

Detailed Explanation:References:For more detailed guidance and examples, refer to the LEED-ND Reference Guide available at the USGBC's resources section:

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development

LEED v4 Neighborhood Development

This detailed assessment is crucial in ensuring that a project can meet the sustainability goals required for LEED certification under the Green Infrastructure and Buildings Credit for Wastewater Management.

To meet the minimum density requirements for the Neighborhood Pattern and Design Prerequisite on Compact Development, the project needs to achieve a certain level of residential and non-residential density. Given that the project currently has 55 townhomes on 9 acres of buildable land and 44,000 ft² (4,088 m²) of commercial space on 87,120 ft² (9,094 m²) of buildable land, adding eight dwelling units would help the project meet the minimum density requirements. This would increase the residential density, helping to achieve the threshold needed for LEED certification under this prerequisite, which encourages more compact, efficient land use.