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

The correct answer isA. Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Demand Response. This is because:

• A building automation system (BAS) is a system that controls and monitors various aspects of a building’s operation, such as lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, security, fire alarm, and energy management1.
• A BAS can allow programmable load control (PLC), which is the ability to adjust the power consumption of devices or equipment based on a schedule, a sensor, or an event2.PLC can help reduce the energy demand and cost of a building by optimizing the use of resources and avoiding unnecessary or wasteful consumption3.
• The LEED AP BD+C V4 credit for Demand Response requires that buildings have a demand response program that can respond to changes in electricity prices or supply by reducing or shifting the demand for electricity4. A BAS can enable such a program by allowing PLC and other features that can modulate the power usage of devices or equipment in response to market signals or internal conditions.

Therefore, installing a BAS to allow PLC can help achieve the Energy and Atmosphere Credit for Demand Response by reducing the energy demand and cost of a building.

References:1: Building Automation Systems - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics2: Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics3: How Programmable Logic Controllers Can Help You Save Money on Your Energy Bills4: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide - U.S. Green Building Council : How Building Automation Systems Can Help You Save Money on Your Energy Bills

The scope of analysis in Materials and Resources Credit, Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, Option 4. Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment is a cradle-to-grave assessment.This means that the life cycle assessment (LCA) covers all stages of the building’s life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) to the disposal or reuse of the building components at the end of their service life (grave)1.The LCA must include the following life cycle stages: product stage, construction process stage, use stage, and end-of-life stage2.The LCA must also account for the environmental impacts of the building’s structure and enclosure, as well as any other building elements that are permanently attached to and share service systems with the building2.References:

• Whole building life cycle assessment through LEED v4
• Building life-cycle impact reduction | U.S. Green Building Council

During preliminary energy analysis, massing and orientation are energy reduction strategies that can best help in reducing the energy load in the new building construction project. Massing and orientation refer to the shape, size, and direction of the building, which affect the amount of solar heat gain, daylight, and natural ventilation that the building receives. By analyzing the massing and orientation of the building, the project team can optimize the design to minimize the heating, cooling, and lighting energy demand, and enhance the thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality of the building. The LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction states that "the project team should use the results of the analysis to inform the owner’s project requirements, basis of design, and design documents"1. The other options, such as green roof, site conditions, and programmatic and operational parameters, are not energy reduction strategies, but factors that influence the energy performance and demand of the building.

References:

•LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Integrative Process Credit: Integrative Process, page 811

•Integrative Process Worksheet2

The correct answer is D. Document total waste per building floor area.

According to the LEED v4.1 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Option 2 of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management credit requires projects to reduce the total construction waste generated by the project to less than 12.2 kilograms per square meter (2.5 pounds per square foot) of the building’s floor area1.This option rewards projects for implementing waste prevention strategies, such as designing for material optimization, prefabrication, modular construction, deconstruction, and reuse1.To meet the requirements of this option, projects must document the total weight or volume of all construction waste generated by the project, excluding land-clearing debris and excavated soil, and divide it by the building’s floor area1.Projects must also provide a narrative describing the waste prevention measures taken during design and construction1.