USGBC Updated LEED-Green-Associate Exam Questions and Answers by alisha

Providing street trees, shade, and benches is the correct answer because quality open space should be accessible, usable, and supportive of occupant interaction, passive recreation, and physical activity. In LEED Sustainable Sites, open space can support habitat, reduce heat island effects, improve rainwater infiltration, and connect occupants with the outdoors. Street trees provide shade and comfort, while benches encourage people to use outdoor areas. A rainwater and pollution control plan is important for site protection, but it does not specifically create pedestrian-oriented occupant space. A certified arborist may help protect trees, but that alone does not create usable open space. Clearing and grubbing the entire site destroys vegetation, habitat, and site value, making it the least sustainable option.

Unless mitigated, resource consumption over the life of a conventional building incrementally increases the total emissions footprint. This is because conventional buildings often use non-renewable resources for energy and materials, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions during extraction, production, use, and disposal. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

A strategy for preventing light pollution is to install shielded fixtures. Light pollution is the excessive or inappropriate use of artificial lighting that can have adverse effects on human health, wildlife, ecosystems, and astronomy. Shielded fixtures are lighting devices that direct light downward and prevent light from escaping upward or sideways. Shielded fixtures can reduce light pollution by minimizing glare, sky glow, light trespass, and energy waste13. References: LEED v4 Green Associate Candidate Handbook1, International Dark-Sky Association’s Lighting Basics3

The LEED rating systems reference the standards of various organizations that are relevant to green building design, construction, and operation. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is one of these organizations, and its standards cover topics such as fire safety, electrical safety, emergency power systems, and fire suppression systems. The LEED rating systems reference the NFPA standards in several credits and prerequisites, such as Minimum Energy Performance, Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance, and Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control.

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What is LEED certification?

LEED - Wikipedia