LEED-Green-Associate USGBC LEED Green Associate Exam (LEED GA) Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

A building that is located on a site without access to public transportation can have a high environmental impact associated with how the occupants get to and from the building, such as greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, energy consumption, and traffic congestion. One of the strategies that a project team can implement in order to reduce this impact is to provide incentives for carpooling, which is a form of alternative transportation that involves sharing a vehicle with other passengers who have similar travel routes or destinations. Providing incentives for carpooling can encourage the occupants to reduce their single-occupancy vehicle trips and use fewer vehicles, which can save fuel, reduce emissions, and lower parking demand. Some examples of incentives for carpooling are: subsidies, vouchers, discounts,prizes, recognition, or preferential parking12. References: LEED v4 Green Associate Candidate Handbook1, LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide2

One of the things that LEED promotes by encouraging compact development is walkability. Compact development is a form of urban planning that aims to reduce sprawland make more efficient use of land and resources by increasing density, diversity, and connectivity of land uses5. Compact development can enhance walkability by creating mixed-use neighborhoods that provide a variety of destinations within walking distance, such as shops, services, workplaces, schools, parks, and transit stops. Walkability can offer multiple benefits for the environment, health, economy, and social equity. For example, walkability can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution byreplacing car trips with walking or transit; improve physical and mental health by increasing physical activity and reducing stress; support local businesses and generate tax revenues by increasing foot traffic and property values; and foster social cohesion and civic engagement by creating vibrant public spaces and enhancing accessibility for all6. References: Compact urban development6; LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Location and Transportation, page 15

Water Efficiency is the only credit category that does not have a prerequisite in LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction. Prerequisites are the minimum requirements that all projects must meet to be eligible for LEED certification. They are mandatory and non-weighted, meaning they do not contribute to the project’s score. The other credit categories have at least one prerequisite each, as shown in the table below:

Light-colored paving and cool roofs refer to materials with higher emissivity and higher albedo. Emissivity is the ability of a material to emit heat that it absorbs, while albedo is a measure of how much light that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed. Materials with high emissivity can help reduce heat islands by releasing more of the heat they absorb, while those with high albedo can reflect more sunlight and thus stay cooler. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

The Facilities Manager is typically responsible for ensuring the comfort and safety of a building’s occupants. They would be best equipped to evaluate responses to a survey about comfort levels in the building and develop a corrective action plan to address any problems identified. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

Quality transit in LEED refers to public transportation modes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide access to diverse destinations. Bicycles are considered a type of quality transit in LEED, as they meet the criteria of being low-emitting, fuel-efficient, and having a high ridership capacity. Taxis, motorcycles, and single passenger cars are not considered quality transit in LEED, as they have higher emissions, lower fuel efficiency, and lower ridership capacity than bicycles.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change. It is produced when organic waste decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen) in landfills1. Construction and demolition waste, which accounts for about a third of all solid waste generated in the world2, often contains a large amount of organic materials, such as wood, paper, and food waste1. Therefore, disposal of solid waste from building construction and operations in landfills has a substantial effect on methane emissions13. Incineration of solid waste also produces greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrochloric acid, but at lower levels than landfilling45. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are not greenhouse gases, but they can react with other pollutants to form ozone, which is a greenhouse gas and a health hazard4.

High reflectance roofing materials can help reduce heat gain and peak air temperatures by reflecting more sunlight away from the building, thereby reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the roof. This can lead to lower cooling loads and energy use for air conditioning. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

Access to quality transit is one of the criteria for the LEED v4 Location and Transportation category, which aims to reduce the environmental and human health impacts of transportation and promote sustainable site selection. By developing an urban site that is well-served by public transportation, the building owner can reduce the reliance on private vehicles, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage alternative modes of travel123.

LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide1, page 25

LEED v4 Credit Tutorials: Location & Transportation (BD+C/ID+C)2

LEED v4 Q+A: Location and Transportation3

Construction IAQ management and LEED strategies directly improve health:

“Using proper construction management practices… protects worker and occupant health by controlling pollutant sources and pathways…”

High VOC materials and low ventilation have adverse effects, not benefits.

This is the correct order of the LEED certification process for most projects1. The first step is to register the project on LEED Online and pay the registration fee2. The second step is to prepare the application by collecting and uploading the required information and documents according to the chosen rating system and credits2. The third step is to submit the application and pay the certification fee2. The fourth step is to undergo the application review by a LEED accredited third party, which may request clarifications or corrections2. The final step is to receive the certification decision and the LEED plaque and certificate2.

Life-cycle cost analysts of a new construction includes consideration of

cost of purchasing window glazing

cost of adding accessible parking

cost of challenging a real estate tax assessment

cost of subsidizing the use of public transportation

Answer: A

Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is a method for assessing the total cost of owning a facility or running a project. It considers all the costs associated with obtaining, owning, and disposing of an investment1. The cost of purchasing window glazing is one of the initial costs that affects the energy performance and thermal comfort of a building2. Therefore, it is included in the LCCA of a new construction.

https://www.usgbc.org/credentials/leed-green-associate

Occupant surveys are tools that can be used to identify indoor environmental issues and prepare a corrective action plan to make necessary changes. Occupant surveys are questionnaires that collect feedback from the building users about their satisfaction, comfort, health, and productivity in relation to the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors, such as thermal comfort, indoor air quality, lighting quality, acoustic quality, and occupant control. Occupant surveys can help to identify the sources and causes of IEQ problems, as well as the potential solutions and improvements. Occupant surveys are also required for some LEED credits, such as IEQc7.2 Thermal Comfort, Verification1, which requires a corrective action plan if more than 20% of the occupants are dissatisfied with the thermal conditions in the space2. The other options are not directly related to identifying indoor environmental issues and preparing a corrective action plan, as they involve different types of tools or metrics that are not relevant for measuring occupant satisfaction and comfort.

As per the LEED prerequisite for Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control:

“Prohibit smoking in the building and on property within 25 feet from operable windows, entries and air intakes.”

Building entrances are particularly sensitive areas where smoke can enter the ventilation system.

Daylighting is a strategy that involves designing buildings to maximize the use of natural light and reduce the need for artificial lighting1. Daylighting can improve the indoor environmental quality by enhancing the visual comfort, mood, and productivity of the occupants2. Daylighting can also help attain points toward LEED certification by contributing to the credits in the Energy and Atmosphere and Indoor Environmental Quality categories1. Night lighting, installing indoor plants, and installing inoperable windows are not strategies that directly improve the indoor environmental quality or help attain points toward LEED certification.

Building and material reuse contribute to the sustainability goals of a project by reducing the use of raw materials, which can save energy, water, and natural resources, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation, and environmental impacts. By reusing existing buildings or materials, project teams can avoid the extraction, processing, transportation, and disposal of new materials, which can have significant environmental and social costs. LEED v4.1 recognizes and rewards multiple strategies for building and material reuse in the Building-Life Cycle Impact Reduction credit1.

Installing a solar hot water heater is a strategy that meets energy demand with renewable energy. Solar hot water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat water, reducing the need for non-renewable energy sources. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

receptacle load is the electrical load that is connected to the building’s electrical system through receptacles (also known as outlets or sockets). Receptacle load includes both regulated and non-regulated loads, such as computers, printers, monitors, lamps, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, etc. Receptacle load does not include hard-wiredequipment, such as lighting fixtures, HVAC systems, or elevators12.

Receptacle load is one of the major components of plug and process loads (PPLs), which consume about 47% of primary energy in U.S. commercial buildings2. Reducing receptacle load can help improve building energy efficiency and achieve LEED certification. One of the strategies to reduce receptacle load is to use automatic receptacle controls, which are devices that turn off or reduce power to receptacles when they are not in use. Automatic receptacle controls are required by ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, as well as NIH DRM 10.5.313.

 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility, and are emitted as gases from certainsolids or liquids1. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects2. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors2. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products, such as paints, solvents, cleaners, fuels, pesticides, building materials, office equipment, etc2. Breathing VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose andthroat, can cause difficulty breathing and nausea, and can damage the central nervous system and other organs3. Some VOCs can cause cancer3. Therefore, VOCs negatively impact the quality of indoor air, which is option B.

The conventional building process stages can vary depending on the type, size, and complexity of the project, but a general overview can be found in this article. According to the article, the stages are:

Planning: This is the stage where the project idea is conceived, the feasibility and budget are assessed, the design and engineering are developed, the permits and approvals are obtained, and the contractors and subcontractors are hired. This stage involves various disciplined practitioners on project teams, such as architects, engineers, surveyors, estimators, project managers, and lawyers.

Sitework and foundation: This is the stage where the project site is prepared, the utilities are connected, the excavation and grading are done, and the foundation is laid. This stage involves mainly civil engineers, site workers, foundation contractors, and building inspectors.

Rough framing: This is the stage where the structural components of the building are erected, such as walls, floors, roofs, stairs, and windows. This stage involves mainly carpenters, framers, roofers, and window installers.

Exterior construction: This is the stage where the exterior finishes of the building are applied, such as siding, brickwork, stucco, insulation, doors, and landscaping. This stage involves mainly exterior contractors, painters, landscapers, and door installers.

MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing): This is the stage where the mechanical systems of the building are installed and tested, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, electrical wiring, lighting fixtures, fire alarms, and security systems. This stage involves mainly mechanical engineers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and fire protection specialists.

Finishes and fixtures: This is the final stage where the interior finishes of the building are applied, such as drywall, flooring, cabinets, countertops, appliances, furniture, and accessories. This stage involves mainly interior designers, drywallers, flooring installers, cabinet makers, countertop installers, appliance installers, and furniture movers.

As you can see from this overview, each disciplined practitioner on project teams is involved in different stages of the conventional buildingprocess, depending on their expertise and role. However, they are also required to collaborate and coordinate with each other throughout the design process, which spans from the planning stage to the finishes and fixtures stage. The design process is an iterative and interactive process that involves creating, reviewing, and refining the design plans and specifications to meet the project goals and requirements1. Therefore, the answer is D. As required during design process.

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