LEED-AP-BD+C USGBC LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C) Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

The Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) is a document that defines the goals, expectations, and performance criteria of the project, as established by the owner or the owner’s representative1. The OPR is one of the key deliverables of the commissioning process and serves as the basis for the design, construction, and operation of the building systems. Therefore, the priority for the Commissioning Authority (CxA) to consider when the contractor substitutes a higher efficiency piece of equipment is whether the substitution meets or exceeds the OPR. The CxA should verify that the new equipment is compatible with the OPR and does not compromise the performance, functionality, or reliability of the system. The CxA should also communicate the substitution to the owner and the design team and document the change in the commissioning plan and report.

To meet the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Prerequisite: Minimum Acoustic Performance for classrooms, sound pressure level measurements should be taken under conditions that reflect typical classroom use without occupants, ensuring accuracy in assessing HVAC background noise levels. Furnished, no occupants, HVAC operating at typical level (C) is the correct testing setup, as it accounts for sound absorption by furniture but excludes ambient noise from people. This setup provides a more accurate measure of the background noise levels produced by HVAC systems, ensuring compliance with acoustic performance requirements for optimal learning environments.

These factors are the major determinants of the total irrigation requirement for a landscaping design, because they affect the water demand and supply of the plants1. Plant species have different water needs and tolerances, rainfall provides natural water input, evapotranspiration rate measures the water loss from the soil and plant surfaces, site exposure influences the solar radiation and wind effects, and irrigation efficiency reflects the amount of water delivered to the plants compared to the amount of water applied2.

The Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) is a measure of the roof’s ability to reject solar heat, as shown by a small temperature rise. It is defined so that a standard black (reflectance 0.05, emittance 0.90) is 0 and a standard white (reflectance 0.80, emittance 0.90) is 100. SRI is calculated using the roof surface’s Solar Reflectance (SR) and Thermal Emittance (TE). SR is the fraction of solar energy that is reflected by the roof, and TE is the relative ability of the roof surface to radiate heat. Therefore, SRI includes the measure of a material’s ability to reflect solar radiation, but not its ability to absorb or emit thermal radiation.

Interior paint must always be included in Materials and Resources credits. This is because interior paint is considered as a permanently installed product, which is defined by the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction as "a product that is installed in a project permanently or semi-permanently, such that removal would require demolition or substantial renovation."1 Permanently installed products must be included in the calculations for the following Materials and Resources credits: Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Environmental Product Declarations, Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Materials, and Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Material Ingredients.1 The other options are not always included in Materials and Resources credits. Faucets (option A) and fire suppression systems (option D) are considered as mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components, which are excluded from the scope of Materials and Resources credits unless they are specifically addressed by the credit requirements.1 Furniture (option B) is considered as a non-permanently installed product, which is optional to include in Materials and Resources credits, except for the Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Material Ingredients credit, where furniture must be included if it is within the project scope.1 References: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, p. 5791; LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, p. 5801; LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, p. 5811; LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, p. 5821; LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, p. 5831

New Construction is the appropriate rating system for a new mixed-use building with 300,000 ft2 (27 871 m2) of residential units, 150,000 ft2 (13 935 m2) hotel and 50,000 ft2 (4 645 m2) of retail space. According to the LEED rating system selection guidance1, the New Construction rating system applies to buildings that are being newly constructed or going through a major renovation, and that include any of the following use types: office, retail, hospitality, education, residential, warehouse and distribution centers, or data centers2. The New Construction rating system can also be used for mixed-use buildings that have more than one use type3. Since the project involves new construction of a mixed-use building with residential, hospitality, and retail uses, the New Construction rating system is the most suitable option. The other rating systems are not applicable because they are either specific to one use type (Retail and Hospitality) or to buildings that are not complete at the time of certification (Core and Shell Development). References:

LEED rating system selection guidance | U.S. Green Building Council

LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide - U.S. Green Building Council

LEED v4 Rating Systems | USGBC-LI

To comply with Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Interior Lighting, Option 1. Lighting Control, the tenant of a new office building will require 93 lighting control devices with at least three lighting levels per floor. This is because the credit requires that at least 90% of individual occupant spaces have lighting controls that enable occupants to adjust the lighting to suit their individual tasks and preferences1. The credit also requires that all shared multioccupant spaces have lighting controls that enable adjustments that meet the needs of the group1. According to the LEED BD+C Reference Guide, an individual occupant space is defined as an enclosed space or an open space that is occupied by one person and is at least 50 square feet (4.6 square meters) in area1. A shared multioccupant space is defined as an enclosed or open space that is occupied by more than one person and is at least 100 square feet (9.3 square meters) in area1.

Based on the given information, each workstation can be considered as an individual occupant space, and each bathroom facility and conference room can be considered as a shared multioccupant space. Therefore, the number of lighting control devices per floor can be calculated as follows:

For the 100 workstations, 90% of them need lighting controls, which is 90 workstations. Each workstation needs one lighting control device, so the total number of lighting control devices for the workstations is 90.

For the two bathroom facilities, each facility needs one lighting control device, so the total number of lighting control devices for the bathroom facilities is 2.

For the one conference room, one lighting control device is needed, so the total number of lighting control devices for the conference room is 1.

The total number of lighting control devices per floor is then 90 + 2 + 1 = 93.

Detailed Explanation:

The Basis of Design (BOD) outlines the project design decisions and criteria, linking them to the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). LEED requires this documentation to demonstrate alignment between the owner’s goals and the building design, ensuring that sustainability objectives are met throughout the project lifecycle.

Sustainable Sites (SS) Credit: Light Pollution Reduction addresses light trespass, glare, and skyglow, ensuring that a project:

Minimizes unnecessary outdoor lighting to prevent disruption to surrounding properties.

Uses full-cutoff fixtures to direct light downward and reduce nighttime skyglow.

Follows lighting zone guidelines based on project location.

This promotes dark-sky compliance and reduces light pollution, benefiting ecosystems and human health.

(Source: Official LEED BD+C Reference Manual)

The outdoor airflow rate is the amount of outdoor air that is supplied to the building by the ventilation system to dilute indoor air pollutants and provide fresh air for the occupants. The outdoor airflow rate depends on the ventilation standard that the project follows, which can be either ASHRAE 62.1-2010 or CEN Standard EN 15251-20071. Both standards specify the minimum outdoor airflow rate per person and per unit area for different occupancy types and zones. Therefore, increasing the number of occupants will require an increase in the outdoor airflow rate to maintain the minimum ventilation level. The other variables, such as supply air velocity, system ventilation efficiency, and supply air temperature set point, do not directly affect the outdoor airflow rate, although they may influence the energy consumption and thermal comfort of the ventilation system.

Rainwater collected from the building roof would be the most appropriate nonpotable water source for use in a cooling tower. This is because rainwater is generally cleaner than other nonpotable sources and does not require extensive treatment before use. Additionally, using rainwater can help to reduce stormwater runoff, providing an additional environmental benefit.

Makeup water meters, conductivity controllers and overflow alarms

According to the Water Efficiency Prerequisite for Indoor Water Use Reduction, cooling towers and evaporative condensers must be equipped with makeup water meters, conductivity controllers and overflow alarms to reduce water consumption and prevent water waste. These devices help monitor and control the water quality, flow rate and level of the cooling system, and alert the operators of any malfunctions or leaks.

According to the LEED AP BD+C V4 reference guide for Healthcare, places of respite must be outdoors or located in interior spaces with views of nature, and have options for shade or indirect sun for a portion of seating spaces. The other options are either incorrect or not required by the credit. References: LEED AP BD+C V4 reference guide for Healthcare, Places of respite

A charrette is a collaborative design process that involves multiple stakeholders, such as the owner, the design team, the community, and the users. By including the public in a charrette for a new school before the pre-design phase, potential partnerships with the community can be revealed. For example, the school might share facilities or resources with a nearby library, park, or community center. This can enhance the social and environmental benefits of the project, as well as reduce costs and increase efficiency. References: LEED BD+C Reference Guide, Introduction, page 171; LEED BD+C Reference Guide, Integrative Process, page 291

The Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) for LEED certification are:

MPR 1: Must be in a permanent location on existing land

MPR 2: Must use reasonable LEED boundaries

MPR 3: Must comply with project size requirements

Option A does not meet MPR 1 because it is located on a previously undeveloped site, which is not considered existing land. Option B does not meet MPR 3 because it is a parking garage, which is excluded from LEED certification unless it is part of a larger project. Option C does not meet MPR 1 because it is a mobile clinic, which is not considered permanent. Option D meets all the MPRs because it is a permanent building on existing land, it has reasonable LEED boundaries, and it meets the minimum gross floor area of 1,000 ft2 (93 m2) for BD+C projects.

Detailed Explanation:

Under the BUG Rating Method, all luminaires must meet acceptable fixture ratings (Backlight, Uplight, and Glare ratings) for the project's Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) lighting zone. This ensures compliance with LEED's Light Pollution Reduction credit by limiting light trespass, reducing glare, and preserving night sky quality.

Detailed Explanation:

For Compliance Path 1: Prescriptive Achievement, project teams must demonstrate that installed fixtures meet WaterSense requirements. This is achieved through product cutsheets that verify maximum flow rates or flush volumes. LEED uses this documentation to ensure that water-efficient fixtures are installed and operational.

Detailed Explanation:

The space-by-space method allows for a more precise calculation of allowable lighting power by assigning specific lighting power densities (LPDs) to each space type based on its function. This method aligns with LEED’s goal of optimizing energy performance by tailoring lighting to the actual requirements of the building’s spaces.

Adding a concrete walkway will increase the site’s impervious cover, which is the percentage of the site area that does not allow water to infiltrate into the ground1. Impervious cover can affect the site’s stormwater management, heat island effect, and habitat quality. The project team should consider using permeable paving materials, vegetated roofs, or rain gardens to reduce the impervious cover and mitigate its impacts2. The other options are not directly impacted by adding a concrete walkway. Project density calculations are based on the floor area ratio and the number of occupants, not the site features3. Erosion and sediment control plan during construction is required for any site disturbance, regardless of the type of material used4. Air quality as a result of off gassing that occurs as concrete cures is not a significant issue for outdoor applications, and can be minimized by using low-emitting concrete products5.