LEED-AP-O+M USGBC LEED AP Operations + Maintenance (LEED AP O+M) Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

The LEED AP Operations + Maintenance (LEED AP O+M) V4.1 guide specifies that for the Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Minimum Energy Performance, the allowed maximum tenant space exclusion is 10% of the gross floor area. This means that when calculating energy performance, up to 10% of the total floor area of the building can be excluded. This could be due to various reasons such as spaces being unoccupied or not in use.

References: = LEED v4: Building Operations + Maintenance Guide, LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Minimum Energy Performance Calculator - ASHRAE 90.1 - 2010, LEED v4 energy update – U.S. Green Building Council

The Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Minimum Energy Performance, allows for certain exclusions to accommodate diverse building types and uses. One such provision permits the exclusion of up to 10% of the gross floor area (GFA) from the energy performance calculations. This allowance is designed to provide flexibility for spaces that may not be fully occupied or operational during the performance period, such as tenant spaces undergoing renovation or spaces with atypical energy usage. By excluding a limited portion of the GFA, the prerequisite acknowledges the variability in building occupancy and use, ensuring that the energy performance assessment is both fair and representative of the building's typical operations.

References:

The allowance for excluding up to 10% of the gross floor area from the energy performance calculations is detailed in the LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance reference guide, specifically under the Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Minimum Energy Performance. This guideline is part of the LEED AP O+M trainingmaterials, which emphasize the importance of accommodating diverse building uses and occupancy levels in the pursuit of sustainable building operations.

Compressed workweeks can help reduce pollution and land development effects from automobile use. This strategy involves working longer hours on fewer days, which reduces the number of commuting trips and thus the associated pollution and land development impacts. It’s one of the alternative transportation strategies recognized by the USGBC in the LEED AP O+M rating system1.

References: LEED AP Operations + Maintenance (LEED AP O+M) V4.1 by usgbc.org2.

For establishing a baseline in the context of the Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction, Option 2, it's critical to have an accurate understanding of the current water usage patterns. This involves metering various water fixtures, including those in commercial kitchens. The goal is to determine the potential for water savings by comparing the baseline data to reduced usage scenarios through efficiency measures.

A 12-month metering period is typically recommended for a few key reasons:

Seasonal Variability:A year-long period captures the seasonal variations in water use, providing a comprehensive understanding of usage patterns. Commercial kitchens might have fluctuating usage based on seasonal menus, events, and peak times, which shorter periods might not fully capture.

Data Reliability:A longer data collection period enhances the reliability of the data. It mitigates the impact of any anomalies or outliers that could skew the results in shorter metering durations.

Consistency with LEED Requirements:LEED guidelines emphasize the importance of thorough and accurate baseline measurements to inform effective water reduction strategies. A 12-month period aligns with the comprehensive approach LEED encourages for sustainable practices.

Operational Changes:A year gives enough time to observe the effects of any operational changes, special events, or other factors that might influence water usage. This ensures that the baseline is representative of typical operations.

References:The approach aligns with the general LEED principles for establishing baselines for water and energy use, which advocate for capturing data over significant periods to ensure accuracy and reliability. Although the specific LEED BD+C or O+M documentation does not detail the metering period for each specific fixture type, the 12-month period is a widely accepted standard for establishing baselines in building operations, including water usage in commercial kitchens. This duration provides a comprehensive view of water use, accommodating seasonal changes and varying operational activities, which is essential for setting realistic and achievable water reduction goals in line with LEED's sustainability objectives.

This answer is correct because it matches the requirement of the Materials and Resources Credit, Purchasing - Lamps, which aims to reduce the environmental and health impacts of mercury used in lamps.The credit requires projects to purchase lamps that have a mercury content of 80 picograms per lumen hour or less for at least 90% of the total number of lamps purchased during the performance period1. The other options are incorrect because they either have a higher mercury content threshold or a higher percentage of lamps to meet the threshold.

References: =LEED v4.1 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE - WAP Sustainability Consulting, page 40;LEED v4: Building Operations + Maintenance Guide | U.S. Green Building Council, page 40.

Toner cartridges are considered an ongoing purchase, as they are consumable items that are regularly replaced as part of the normal operation and maintenance of the building. The other options are not ongoing purchases, as they are durable goods that are not frequently replaced or disposed of.

References: =

LEED v4.1 O+M Guide, page 48

Solid waste management - ongoing, U.S. Green Building Council

Guide to the LEED AP Operations and Maintenance (O+M) Exam, page 157

To achieve exemplary performance in the Materials and Resources Credit, Solid Waste Management - Ongoing, a diversion percentage of 90% for ongoing consumables is required. This high level of diversion demonstrates an advanced commitment to reducing waste and promoting recycling and composting. By diverting 90% of ongoing consumables from the landfill, projects significantly contribute to sustainability goals by minimizing their environmental footprint related to waste.

References:The LEED AP Operations + Maintenance reference guide specifies the criteria for exemplary performance in waste management, including the 90% diversion target. This ambitious goal underscores the importance of comprehensive waste reduction strategies in LEED-certified projects.

 The LEED AP with a specialty credential signifies advanced knowledge in green building and a specific LEED rating system. This credential is required for a principal participant of a project to earn one point in the innovation credit. The specialty should be appropriate for the project, indicating that the professional has the necessary expertise to contribute to the LEED certification process of the project12.

References:

LEED AP with specialty | U.S. Green Building Council

LEED O+M Certification & Credentials | Existing Buildings | GBES

Earning an innovation credit in LEED requires demonstrating exceptional performance or innovative strategies. Having a principal participant who is a LEED AP with a specialty appropriate for the project shows advanced knowledge in green building practices tailored to the project's specific needs, contributing to innovative approaches and sustainability goals. This credential demonstrates the individual's commitment and expertise in LEED and sustainable building practices, aligning with the innovation credit's intent.References:The innovation credit's criteria are detailed in the LEED O+M Reference Guide, which emphasizes the value of specialized knowledge in advancing sustainability goals and innovative practices within the LEED framework.

Rainwater harvesting is a strategy that can be used to reduce indoor water use, which is a part of the Water Efficiency Credit under the LEED AP Operations + Maintenance (LEED AP O+M) V4.1. By collecting and using rainwater for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing or irrigation, buildings can significantly reduce their demand for municipally treated water. This aligns with the goals of the Indoor Water Use Reduction credit, which encourages the reduction of potable water usage inside the building1.

References: LEED v4: Building Operations + Maintenance Guide