USGBC Updated LEED-AP-BD+C Exam Questions and Answers by laurence

the local equivalent standard is more stringent than ASTM E1527-05

According to theLEED V5Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, a Phase I ESA is required for all projects, except for those located on previously developed land that has not been used for industrial, commercial, or agricultural purposes. The Phase I ESA must follow the ASTM E1527-05 standard or a local equivalent. However, if the local equivalent is more stringent than the ASTM standard, then the project must comply with the local equivalent. Therefore, if the new building project is located in a jurisdiction that has a more rigorous standard for Phase I ESA than ASTM E1527-05, then it must complete a new Phase I ESA, regardless of the previous ESA done for the certified facility.

Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 – Pages 81-821

LEED V5: Building Design + Construction Guide - U.S.Green Building Council2

Detailed Explanation:

For the Brownfield Remediation option under the High-Priority Site credit, the project site must include contaminated soil or groundwater requiring cleanup to improve environmental conditions. This credit incentivizes the redevelopment of previously unusable or hazardous sites, helping to promote environmental restoration and sustainable land use.

TheWater Efficiency (WE) Prerequisite: Outdoor Water Use Reductionrequires projects toreduce landscape water useby at least30% over a baseline.

The baseline is calculatedover the driest three-month period of the year, ensuring that water savings aremeasured during peak irrigation demand.

Strategies includexeriscaping, high-efficiency irrigation systems, and rainwater collection.

(Source: Official LEED BD+C Reference Manual)

According to theLEED V5Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the project must provide outdoor space that is at least 30% of the total site area (including the building footprint), of which at least 25% must be vegetated. In this case, the project must provide 0.3 x 240,000 ft2 = 72,000 ft2 (6 689 m2) of outdoor space, of which 0.25 x 72,000 ft2 = 18,000 ft2 (1 672 m2) must be vegetated. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.References:LEED V5Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, p.5411