Most Recent US Green Building Council LEED-AP-ND Exam Questions & Answers

In LEED for Neighborhood Development, the maximum number of points that a project team can earn through Regional Priority credits is four. Regional Priority credits are designed to address geographically specific environmental, social, and public health priorities.

Detailed Explanation:

Regional Priority Credits: LEED-ND offers Regional Priority credits to encourage project teams to focus on regional environmental issues. These credits are identified by USGBC based on specific local priorities and challenges, such as water scarcity, air quality, or habitat protection.

Point Allocation: A project can earn up to four Regional Priority points. These points are awarded in addition to the points earned for achieving the underlying credits that have been identified as regional priorities. The total number of Regional Priority points achievable does not exceed four, regardless of how many regional priority credits a project may be eligible for.

Geographic Relevance: The credits eligible for Regional Priority points vary depending on the project's location. USGBC provides a list of Regional Priority credits based on the project's ZIP code or similar geographic identifier.

The LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development provides detailed instructions on how to identify and achieve Regional Priority credits.

The LEED v4 Neighborhood Development documentation outlines the process for determining which credits are eligible as Regional Priority credits based on location.

For more comprehensive details, consult:

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development

LEED v4 Neighborhood Development

To meet the Neighborhood Pattern and Design Credit for Transit Facilities, it is required to display transit schedules and route information at each public transit stop. This requirement ensures that transit users have access to up-to-date and accurate information, making public transportation more accessible and user-friendly, which supports increased transit use and reduces reliance on private vehicles. The other options, such as providing park and ride lots or intersection connectivity, while beneficial, do not directly address the requirements of this specific credit.

For a project to be eligible for the Neighborhood Pattern and Design Prerequisite on Compact Development, particularly when dealing with density limits, setting aside a portion of the land as a protected community open space easement can help meet the prerequisite requirements. By dedicating 15% of the total land area as protected open space, the project demonstrates a commitment to sustainable land use and enhances community amenities, which aligns with the LEED ND goals. This approach can help to balance density with green space, even in areas where transit service is limited.

LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development, Current Version

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development

For the Green Infrastructure and Buildings Credit: Infrastructure Energy Efficiency, the baseline energy use is an important metric. The goal of this credit is to encourage the use of energy-efficient infrastructure components such as lighting, pumps, and water distribution systems. To determine energy efficiency improvements, the baseline must be established based on standard practice for infrastructure elements.

Option B: the lowest first-cost infrastructure item assumed for the project is the correct answer. In this context, the baseline energy use refers to the energy consumption of the least expensive, standard infrastructure items that would normally be used in the project if no energy efficiency measures were implemented. This establishes the base case against which the energy performance improvements of more efficient systems can be measured. LEED then rewards projects that exceed this baseline with more energy-efficient infrastructure solutions (Reference: LEED v4 ND Reference Guide).

Option A: current infrastructure items used by IgCC standard is incorrect because the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) may be a helpful reference for sustainable construction, but it is not used as the baseline for this LEED credit.

Option C: infrastructure items recommended by the National Lighting Safety Institute is also incorrect. While this organization may provide guidelines on lighting safety, it is not relevant to the energy baseline determination.

Option D: a 15% increase above the minimum requirements for infrastructure items in the state's energy code is not applicable, as the baseline is determined by the lowest-cost infrastructure, not by a predetermined increase above state energy code requirements.

Thus, the baseline for energy use in this credit is determined by the lowest-cost, conventional infrastructure items, making Option B the correct answer (Reference: LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development).

The Smart Location and Linkage (SLL) Prerequisite for Smart Location in LEED for Neighborhood Development can be met in several ways, including locating the project in a receiving area for a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program. A TDR program allows development rights to be transferred from areas designated for conservation (sending areas) to areas more suitable for development (receiving areas). If a project is located in a receiving area, it supports regional goals of conserving land and directing development to appropriate locations, which aligns with the LEED ND Smart Location prerequisite.

LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development, Current Version

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development