USGBC Updated LEED-AP-Homes Exam Questions and Answers by reign

TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)requires blower door testing in theEnergy and Atmosphere (EA) Credit: Air Infiltrationto measure envelope leakage, but it also has applications inIndoor Environmental Quality (EQ)credits for attached housing (e.g., multifamily or semi-detached homes) to assess air transfer between units.

According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

EQ Credit: Compartmentalization (1 point, multifamily)

In attached housing projects, use a blower door test to evaluate the potential for environmental tobacco smoke and odor contamination between units by measuring air leakage through common walls and ensuring effective sealing. This ensures indoor air quality by preventing unwanted air transfer.

Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Indoor Environmental Quality Credit: Compartmentalization, p. 152.

TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:

EQ Credit: Compartmentalization

Blower door testing in attached housing verifies the airtightness of shared walls, reducing the potential for environmental tobacco smoke, odors, or other contaminants to transfer between units.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

The correct answer ispotential for environmental tobacco smoke and odor contamination(Option D), as blower door tests in attached housing assess air leakage through common walls, which can carry smoke or odors.

Why not the other options?

TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includes theSustainable Sites (SS) Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants, which ensures that landscaping does not introduce invasive species that could harm local ecosystems.

According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

SS Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants

All site vegetation must be non-invasive, as verified by the USDA Cooperative Extension Service or an equivalent authority (e.g., local native plant societies or university extension programs). Invasive species are those that are non-native and likely to cause environmental harm.

Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Sustainable Sites Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants, p. 72.

TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:

SS Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants

All plants must be verified as non-invasive by the USDA Cooperative Extension Service or equivalent to ensure they do not disrupt local ecosystems.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

The correct answer isbe listed by USDA Cooperative Extension Service or equivalent(Option C), as this ensures that all site vegetation is non-invasive, meeting the prerequisite.

Why not the other options?

TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)awards points for theMaterials and Resources (MR) Credit: Environmentally Preferable Productswhen using certified lumber, specifically Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood, which contributes to the required percentage of material cost.

According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

MR Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products (1–4 points)

Use FSC-certified wood for at least 25% (1 point), 50% (2 points), or 90% (3–4 points) by cost of the total materials. For specific material categories like roof sheathing, at least 90% of the component (by cost) must be FSC-certified to significantly contribute to the credit.

Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Materials and Resources Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products, p. 160–161.

TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:

MR Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products

Points are awarded for FSC-certified lumber if it constitutes at least 90% of a specific component like roof sheathing (by cost) to meet higher point thresholds (e.g., 3–4 points). Certified lumber is not a prerequisite; it contributes to the credit.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

The correct answer isif the certified content is greater than 90%(Option B), as this ensures the roof sheathing significantly contributes to the credit’s material cost threshold for points.

Why not the other options?

TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includes theLocation and Transportation (LT) Credit: Compact Development, which awards points for higher-density development to reduce environmental impacts and promote efficient land use.

According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

LT Credit: Compact Development (1–3 points)

Achieve the following dwelling unit densities (units per acre of buildable land):

1 point: ≥ 7 units per acre.

2 points: ≥ 12 units per acre.

3 points: ≥ 20 units per acre.Calculate density by dividing the number of dwelling units by the buildable land area (in acres).Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Location and Transportation Credit: Compact Development, p. 57.

TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:

LT Credit: Compact Development

For single-family homes, achieve 3 points by developing at least 20 dwelling units per acre on buildable land.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

Calculation:

Site area: 2 acres (0.8 hectare).

Number of homes: 40 single-family homes.

Density: 40 units ÷ 2 acres =20 units per acre.

This meets the threshold for3 points(≥ 20 units per acre).

The correct answer isthree points(Option D), as the density of 20 units per acre qualifies for the maximum points under the credit.

Why not the other options?

A. Zero points: The density (20 units/acre) far exceeds the minimum threshold (7 units/acre).

B. One point: This applies to ≥ 7 units/acre, below the project’s density.