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US Green Building Council LEED-AP-BD-C Exam
LEED AP Building Design + Construction (Page 3 )

Updated On: 7-Feb-2026
Page 3 of 62
PDF with 305 Questions

The project team wants to modify the design of an office building copy room to minimize the risk of airborne contamination to the surrounding space. The design includes a separate exhaust, but due to design constraints the partition walls of the room cannot run deck-to-deck.
What can the team do to achieve Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies?

  1. Use MERV 8 (F5), or higher, filters
  2. Provide a hard-lid ceiling
  3. Create positive pressure in the room
  4. Provide a large opening to dilute air contaminates

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies aims to establish better quality indoor air for the building occupants that promotes their comfort and well-being. This credit requires the project team to implement several strategies to reduce the exposure of occupants and HVAC systems to environmental tobacco smoke, airborne contaminants, and chemicals. One of the strategies is to design and construct all interior partitions to full height (deck-to-deck) or provide a hard-lid ceiling for spaces where hazardous gases or chemicals may be present or used. This strategy helps prevent the migration of contaminants from one space to another through the plenum. A copy room is an example of such a space, as it may contain printers, copiers, toners, and solvents that can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) into the air. Therefore, the project team can achieve Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies by providing a hard-lid ceiling for the copy room.


Reference:

Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies
Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies - Canada Green Building Council [LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4], page 631 Copy Rooms: A Source of Indoor Air Pollution



A project attempting to meet the preferred parking requirements for Location and Transportation Credit, Green Vehicles may provide what incentive to meet the requirements and highlight the project sustainable vehicle strategy?

  1. Three years of free parking for green vehicles
  2. Preferred parking decals for 5% of occupants utilizing carpool vehicles
  3. A permanent discounted parking rate of at least 20% for all green vehicles
  4. An annual maintenance voucher for at least 5% of occupants driving green vehicles

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The Location and Transportation Credit, Green Vehicles aims to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the use of low-emitting, fuel-efficient, and alternative-fuel vehicles. One of the requirements for this credit is to provide preferred parking for green vehicles for 5% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the project. Preferred parking is defined as parking that is clearly marked and located in the most convenient spaces available to the driver or nearest to the main entrance of the project. In addition to providing preferred parking, the project may also offer one or more incentives to encourage the use of green vehicles, such as a discounted parking rate, free parking passes, or rebates for parking fees. The question asks what incentive may be provided to meet the requirements and highlight the project sustainable vehicle strategy. The correct answer is C. A permanent discounted parking rate of at least 20% for all green vehicles, because this incentive meets the minimum threshold of 20% discount suggested by the LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction3, and it also demonstrates the project's commitment to supporting green vehicles in the long term. The other options are either not sufficient or not relevant for this credit. Option A. Three years of free parking for green vehicles is not sufficient because it is not permanent and may not be attractive enough for drivers to switch to green vehicles. Option B. Preferred parking decals for 5% of occupants utilizing carpool vehicles is not relevant because it does not address green vehicles, but rather carpool vehicles, which are covered by a different credit (Location and Transportation Credit, Reduced Parking Footprint)4. Option D. An annual maintenance voucher for at least 5% of occupants driving green vehicles is not sufficient because it is not directly related to parking and may not be a significant incentive for drivers.


Reference:

Green Vehicles
Green Vehicles - Canada Green Building Council
[LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4], page 544 Reduced Parking Footprint



Which one of the following represents quality transit service as defined in Location and Transportation Credit, Access to Quality Transit?

  1. A bus stop served by two bus lines Monday through Friday, located 1/8 mi. (0.20 km) from the project building
  2. A rail station served by one train line Monday through Sunday, located 1/2 mi. (0.80 km) from the project building
  3. A rail station served by two train lines Monday through Sunday, located 1 mi. (1.60 km) from the project building
  4. A private shuttle bus stop providing hourly service Monday through Friday to a rail station two hours away, located across the street from the project building

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The Location and Transportation Credit, Access to Quality Transit requires projects to locate within walking distance of existing or planned transit stops that provide access to quality transit service. Quality transit service is defined as transit service that meets the minimum weekday and weekend headways (time between vehicles) and hours of operation listed in Table 1 of the credit requirements. According to Table 1, the minimum weekday headway for bus service is 15 minutes, and the minimum weekday headway for rail service is 10 minutes. The minimum weekend headway for both bus and rail service is 30 minutes. The minimum hours of operation for both bus and rail service are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. In addition, the credit requires projects to locate within a 1/4 mi. (0.40 km) walking distance of bus, streetcar, or rideshare stops or within a 1/2 mi. (0.80 km) walking distance of bus rapid transit stops, light or heavy rail stations, commuter rail stations, or ferry terminals. Option A does not represent quality transit service because it only has two bus lines that may not meet the minimum headway and hours of operation requirements. Option C does not represent quality transit service because it is beyond the maximum walking distance of 1/2 mi. (0.80 km) for rail stations. Option D does not represent quality transit service because it is a private shuttle bus that does not qualify as a public transportation service, and it provides hourly service that does not meet the minimum headway requirements. Option B represents quality transit service because it has a rail station that is within the maximum walking distance of 1/2 mi. (0.80 km) from the project building, and it has one train line that operates Monday through Sunday, which implies that it meets the minimum headway and hours of operation requirements.


Reference:

Access to Quality Transit
Access to Quality Transit - Canada Green Building Council



Increasing which of the following variables will require an increase in the outdoor airflow rate under Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite, Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance?

  1. Supply air velocity
  2. Number of occupants
  3. System ventilation efficiency
  4. Supply air temperature set point

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The outdoor airflow rate is the amount of outdoor air that is supplied to the building by the ventilation system to dilute indoor air pollutants and provide fresh air for the occupants. The outdoor airflow rate depends on the ventilation standard that the project follows, which can be either ASHRAE 62.1-2010 or CEN Standard EN 15251-20071. Both standards specify the minimum outdoor airflow rate per person and per unit area for different occupancy types and zones. Therefore, increasing the number of occupants will require an increase in the outdoor airflow rate to maintain the minimum ventilation level. The other variables, such as supply air velocity, system ventilation efficiency, and supply air temperature set point, do not directly affect the outdoor airflow rate,
although they may influence the energy consumption and thermal comfort of the ventilation system.


Reference:

LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance
Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality - ASHRAE Indoor environmental input parameters for design and assessment of ... - CEN



Which of the following innovation proposals is most likely to be successful to achieve an Innovation Credit?

  1. Providing an educational program on the environmental and human health benefits of green building practices
  2. Including locked, indoor bicycle storage for 100% of project occupants
  3. Being located next to a 20 mi. (32 km) award-winning bicycle trail
  4. Distributing leaflets to project occupants about available public transit services nearby

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Providing an educational program on the environmental and human health benefits of green building practices is a potential innovation strategy that is not addressed by any existing LEED credit. It also meets the criteria of being measurable, replicable, and having a positive impact on the project and the environment.


Reference:

LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Innovation Category, INc1: Innovation, Option 1.
Innovation (1 point), page 704.






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