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What is NOT an example of smart growth? A. Development of a site that is far from existing development and infrastructure B. Residential development on a previously developed site located near shops and schools C. Neighborhood design that has offices and shops within walking distance to public transportation D. Retail, office, and residential townhouses on the site of a former gas station
A. Development of a site that is far from existing development and infrastructure This is correct. Smart growth is developing in areas near transportation, housing, and jobs in order to leave open spaces and farmland free from development.This example of development is most likely on a greenfield which is not preferable to infill development.
Which of the following are examples of infill development? A. A design that increases the number of units of residential space per acre B. A store built inside an existing parking deck C. The development of a brownfield site D. An office project on a previously developed site in a city center
A. A design that increases the number of units of residential space per acre This is an example of a compact development strategy. The project is putting more people in a given amount of space. This reduces the need for additional construction elsewhere to accommodate the same amount of people.
B. A store built inside an existing parking deck
C. The development of a brownfield site This is brownfield development. Brownfield sites often occur on infill sites, but not always.
D. An office project on a previously developed site in a city center This is correct. Infill development occurs within established urban areas where the site or area either is a vacant place between other developments or has previously been used for another urban purpose. This example is a type of infill project.
What is the impact of creating a dense, compact mixed-use neighborhood? A. Less pavement for roads and less infrastructure for utilities B. Increased in the travel time to work for occupants C. Increased in flooding from stormwater runoff and the heat island effect D. Decreased availability of alternative transportation
A. Less pavement for roads and less infrastructure for utilities This is correct. If buildings are closer together and hold more occupants, less roads and utility infrastructure is required. This saves on materials which reduces demand for virgin materials and transportation of those materials.
What is a brownfield? A. An infill site B. Previously used or redeveloped land that may be contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution C. Gaps between existing infrastructure D. A site that has been graded
A. An infill site Infill development occurs within established urban areas where the site or area either is a vacant place between other developments or has previously been used for another urban purpose.
B. Previously used or redeveloped land that may be contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution This is correct. Brownfields are previously used or redeveloped land that may be contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution (USGBC). The land has the potential to be reused once any hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants are remediated. Projects may get special deals on developing on these sites if the owner cleans them up first.
C. Gaps between existing infrastructure This is also infill.
D. A site that has been graded A graded site is previously developed, but not a brownfield.
The use of a brownfield site can enhance a community. What must occur for a brownfield site to be developed? A. The site must be located along existing roads B. The site must be located along existing roads C. The site must be remediated D. The site must be revegetated
A. The site must be located along existing roads Brownfield can be found in urban and suburban areas.
B. The site must be located along existing roads A contaminated site may or may not be near existing roads. For example a remote toxic waste dump from 80 years ago may have grown over and have no access.
C. The site must be remediated This is correct. Brownfields are previously used or redeveloped land that may be contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution (USGBC). The land has the potential to be reused once any hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants are remediated.
D. The site must be revegetated Brownfields must be remediated but they are not required to have the site revegetated for development.
What are the environmental benefits of selecting a previously developed site for a project? A. Preserving open space B. Local tax savings may be available C. The site would be located near mass transit D. The site would have a greater development density
A. Preserving open space This is correct. The question asks for an environmental benefit. A greenfield is site that is undeveloped and in a natural state or has been used for agriculture. LEED prefers not building on greenfields but using previously developed land instead. Preserving greenfields means more open space will be available.
B. Local tax savings may be available Tax savings are an economic benefit.
C. The site would be located near mass transit A previously developed site doesn't mean mass transit will be available. There are plenty of cities that have no or poor public transportation systems.
D. The site would have a greater development density The development density of the project depends on the building design, not the type of land chosen.
Selecting which of the following sites would have the greatest positive environmental impact? A. Locating the project near public parking B. A previously undeveloped site C. Parkland near diverse uses D. An old building
A. Locating the project near public parking Locating the project near public parking may reduce the project's parking needs but this is not the best answer choice.
B. A previously undeveloped site This is a greenfield site and would not be the best choice for building on.
C. Parkland near diverse uses Parkland is open space (though not for the project) and should be avoided for building on.
D. An old building This is correct. Redeveloping (or reuse) of an existing building significantly minimizes the project's impact on the environment. It also provides the project team opportunity to reuse existing infrastructure.
Developments located within walking distance of diverse uses reduce: A. Water use B. Greenhouse gas reductions C. Sedimentation of nearby water bodies D. Air pollution
A. Water use Water use is affected by irrigation practices and fixture/fitting types.
B. Greenhouse gas reductions Reduced car trips reduce green house gas EMISSIONS. Be careful with word tense and placement.
C. Sedimentation of nearby water bodies Erosion control, rainwater management, and landscape design reduce sedimentation.
D. Air pollution This is correct When car trips are replaced by walking, air pollution is reduced from the avoided emissions of burning fuel. Therefore, density plays a role in climate change.
Which of these sites if selected would most help with increasing diversity of uses? A. A site within walking distance to a public park B. A site that has underground parking and open space on the property C. A site located within walking distance of a commuter rail line D. A site located next door to an ATM
A. A site within walking distance to a public park This is correct A diverse use is a distinct, officially recognized business, nonprofit, civic, religious, or governmental organization, or dwelling units (residential use) or offices (commercial office use). It has a stationary postal address and is publicly available. It does not include automated facilities such as ATMs, vending machines, and touchscreens. Examples include: Bank Church Supermarket / convenience store Day care Dry cleaner / laundry mat Fire station Salon Hardware store Library Medical / dental office Park Pharmacy Post office Restaurant School Theatre / museum Community center
B. A site that has underground parking and open space on the property Open space on the site does not count as a diverse use.
C. A site located within walking distance of a commuter rail line This would help with providing public transportation access.
D. A site located next door to an ATM
What is a benefit of selecting a project location surrounded by existing built density? A. Reduction of heat islands B. Increased availability of rainwater C. Protection of undeveloped land D. More lenient zoning rules
C. Protection of undeveloped land This is Correct Locating a project in an area with dense surroundings conserves land and protect farmland and wildlife habitat by encouraging development in areas with existing infrastructure.
What factors related to location would NOT affect a project team's priorities? A. The area only receives 12" (30 cm) of rainfall each year B. Local zoning requires all buildings to be no more than four stories high C. The community emphasizes sports and athletics for all ages D. There are no banks nearby that provide construction loans
D. There are no banks nearby that provide construction loans This is correct
The natural surroundings of a project, the available infrastructure, and the history of the area are all factors that may impact project decisions.
A project's natural surroundings can include the quantity of sunshine, soil types, precipitation, native vegetation.
The human factors of the site, or its social aspects may include the history of the area, connections to other areas, local codes and regulations, the people who live there and their traditions. For example in New Orleans you might have a community that has a tradition of music. In many southern towns in the United States there is an emphasis on football and sports.
The available infrastructure would be important to also identify - materials that are available, highways and roads, public transit, electricity and water utilities.
A developer is planning a mixed-use project that will include 1,000 single family homes, office space, retail, and townhouses. Which of the following neighborhood design strategies help promote community connectivity? A. Street-grid patterns B. Cul-de-sacs C. Gated communities D. Providing housing types for a wide range of incomes
A. Street-grid patterns This is correct A street pattern is how the streets are laid out. A street-grid pattern is one in which streets are laid out in squares/rectangles. Consider a city center that has blocks and how quickly individuals can get around compared to a suburban area in which the streets are not designed in a grid.
B. Cul-de-sacs Cul-de-sacs are dead ends that don't connect to anything.
C. Gated communities Gated communities block people from moving freely through the community to get to the other side, hindering walkability.
D. Providing housing types for a wide range of incomes This helps with the human element of the triple bottom line but having a diverse neighborhood does not promote connectivity.
A health-conscious business owner wants to consider design selections that would encourage employee health. Which of the following strategies meet this goal? A. Select a site that has existing infrastructure B. Install preferred parking spots for green vehicles C. Locate the project near public transportation D. Site the project near a city's downtown area
A. Select a site that has existing infrastructure This helps conserve natural resources.
B. Install preferred parking spots for green vehicles This helps reduce automobile use.
C. Locate the project near public transportation While access to quality transit can encourage some physical activity - such as walking to the bus stop - the intent of this LEED credit is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and other environmental and public health harms associated with motor vehicle use.
D. Site the project near a city's downtown area This is correct What are you going to find in any downtown / city center? Sidewalks and diverse uses. Sidewalks promote walking, and diverse uses give people somewhere to walk.
If a building owner selected a project site in an existing community with proximity to existing utility lines and street networks, in which of the following ways would it save on project costs? A. By reduced infrastructure costs B. By reduced costs of electric transmission C. By increased availability of grid-source renewable energy D. By increased opportunities to participate in demand-response programs
A. By reduced infrastructure costs This is correct If a building owner locates the project near existing utilities, they can usually save on having the utilities connected to the site because the distance and materials needed to do so would be reduced.
Consider locating a rural house 500 ft. or 50 ft. from the nearest utility pole. The electric company frequently charges customers to install the new line (with the exception of participation in a utility co-op).
B. By reduced costs of electric transmission The costs of the transmission would be the same.
C. By increased availability of grid-source renewable energy The proximity to utility lines has no bearing on whether or not the electricity comes from renewables.
D. By increased opportunities to participate in demand-response programs The proximity to utility lines has no bearing on whether or not a demand-response program is available.
What credit category rewards project teams for taking advantage of existing patterns of development and land density? A. Location and Transportation B. Sustainable Sites C. Regional Priority D. Innovation
A. Location and Transportation This is correct LT focuses on the surrounding community of the project and what currently exists - is there public transportation, existing infrastructure, a previously developed site to build on, etc.?
B. Sustainable Sites Sustainable Sites address on-site ecosystems.
LEED rewards projects for all of the following design strategies EXCEPT which of the following: A. Locating the project in an area with nearby uses B. Limiting parking C. Locating the project in a historic district D. Locating the project near existing utilities
A. Locating the project in an area with nearby uses LEED does reward projects for locating near diverse uses. Locating a project near diverse uses helps promote walkability, transportation efficiency, and reduce vehicle distance traveled.
B. Limiting parking LEED does reward projects for reducing parking. By limiting parking, a project team may encourage the building users to consider and take other forms of transportation other than a car.
C. Locating the project in a historic district LEED does reward projects for locating in high-priority sites such as: Historic district Priority designation (Federal Empowerment Zone, EPA national priorities list, Federal Renewal Community site, etc.) Brownfield
D. Locating the project near existing utilities This is correct While locating the project near existing infrastructure reduces the strain on the environment, LEED does not award points for a strategy such as locating a project close to existing power or sewer lines.
A project team is reviewing potential sites for a new office building. Which of the following sites would be preferred? A. Selecting a site that requires occupants to drive 40 minutes each way to the building B. Building on a greenfield C. Choosing a site in a LEED for Neighborhood Development location D. Locating the site in an area with pedestrian access to 4 retail shops
A. Selecting a site that requires occupants to drive 40 minutes each way to the building The driving distance would not make this a good site.
B. Building on a greenfield Greenfield sites are not preferred for LEED.
C. Choosing a site in a LEED for Neighborhood Development location This is Correct Project teams that select to build in a LEED-ND neighborhood are choosing a site that has connection with the surrounding community and good location and transportation attributes already. Note that LEED-ND projects may include residential uses, non-residential uses, or a mix.
D. Locating the site in an area with pedestrian access to 4 retail shops This is good to promote walkability and reduce vehicle distance traveled, but LEED prefers a variety of diverse uses - not just retail shops.
If a project team is interested in developing on a previously developed site but this option is infeasible, which of the following options should the project team consider next? A. Not disturbing sensitive land types B. Developing on a greenfield C. Conducting a soil survey D. Locating prime farmland
A. Not disturbing sensitive land types This is correct If previously developed land is not an option, the next best thing is trying not to disturb sensitive land types: Prime farmland Floodplains Endangered habitat Water bodies Wetlands
B. Developing on a greenfield Developing on greenfields should be avoided if possible.
C. Conducting a soil survey A soil survey is one aspect of determining whether land is sensitive.
D. Locating prime farmland A soil survey is one aspect of determining whether land is sensitive.
A project team developing a library on a greenfield site decides to reduce the project's parking footprint. Which of the following additional areas of the project could this also aid? A. Restoring habitat B. Increasing the project density C. Protecting sensitive land D. Encouraging walkable design
A. Restoring habitat This protects habitat, it does not restore it.
B. Increasing the project density Reducing the parking does not increase a project's density.
C. Protecting sensitive land One of the synergies with parking reduction is that the land now not being used for parking is being protected from development, reducing the environmental impact from the location of a building on a site.
D. Encouraging walkable design The size of a parking lot doesn't equate to increasing walkability.
Which of the following site types is considered high-priority? A. Historic district B. Previously developed land C. Land with endangered habitat D. Area on or within fifty feet (fifteen meters) of a wetland
A. Historic district High priority sites include:
Historic districts
Priority designation sites (Federal Empowerment Zones, EPA National Priorities List, etc.)
Brownfield
A project team wants to develop on an infill site in a historic district. Which of the following credit areas will this aid? A. Building Product Disclosure B. High-priority sites C. Protecting or restoring habitat D. Sensitive land protection
A. Building Product Disclosure That is a materials credit, and cannot be earned unless building elements are reused. All that is known about the project in this question is that a high priority site has been selected.
B. High-priority sites This is correct! A historic building is a type of high-priority site LEED rewards projects for choosing.
C. Protecting or restoring habitat Protecting or restoring habitat is the preservation/restoration of previously developed land. All that is known about the project in this question is that a high priority site has been selected.
D. Sensitive land protection Sensitive land includes: Prime farmland Floodplains Endangered habitat Water bodies Wetlands
Which of the following is a priority designation used in LEED? A. To help projects locate near existing infrastructure B. To encourage project teams to build in a LEED-ND project area C. To prevent project teams from building in sensitive habitats D. To encourage investment in economically disadvantaged or low-income areas
A. To help projects locate near existing infrastructure
B. To encourage project teams to build in a LEED-ND project area To encourage project teams to build in a LEED-ND project area
C. To prevent project teams from building in sensitive habitats
D. To encourage investment in economically disadvantaged or low-income areas This is correct! The high-priority site credit helps project teams identify priority development areas. LEED projects can earn points for building in what tend to be disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Locating a project in any of the high-priority site types can increase the likelihood of which of the following: A. The project being in a dense area served by transit and diverse uses B. The project not being located on a brownfield C. The project being located on a greenfield D. The project site having sensitive habitat
A. The project being in a dense area served by transit and diverse uses This is Correct! High Priority Sites previously developed or infill, which is where you will find existing transit and density.
B. The project not being located on a brownfield A brownfield is a type of high-priority site, so the likelihood would increase.
C. The project being located on a greenfield High-priority sites are not greenfields.
D. The project site having sensitive habitat It is unlikely that a high-priority site would have a sensitive habitat because they are historical developed and native ecologies have been disturbed.
Which of the following is aided by locating a project within a dense area? A. Preserving historic districts B. Increased diversity C. Promoting walk-ability D. Promoting vehicles with alternative fuels
A. Preserving historic districts A dense area may or may not have historic districts.
B. Increased diversity A dense area does not translate into an area with a wide range of housing types, incomes, and abilities.
C. Promoting walk-ability This is correct! A dense area with services close by promotes walking.
D. Promoting vehicles with alternative fuels Alternative fuel vehicles are unrelated to dense neighborhoods.
Which of the following is NOT a type of diverse use? A. An ATM B. A barber shop C. A police station D. A public park
A. An ATM This is Correct A diverse use is "a distinct, officially recognize business, nonprofit, civic, religious, or governmental organization, or dwelling units (residential use) or offices (commercial office use). It has a stationary postal address and is publicly available. It does not include automated facilities such as ATMs, vending machines, and touchscreens." - USGBC
Which of the following use-type categories determine diverse uses? A. Multifamily Housing B. Civic and community facilities C. Liquor Stores D. Fast Food Restaurants
B. Civic and community facilities This is correct.
A diverse use is a distinct, officially recognized business, nonprofit, civic, religious, or governmental organization, or dwelling units (residential use) or offices (commercial office use). It has a stationary postal address and is publicly available. It does not include automated facilities such as ATMs, vending machines, and touchscreens.
There are five categories of use types:
Food retail
Community-serving retail
Services
Civic and community facilities
Community anchor uses
Which of the following actions can a project team take to increase the density of the project building? A. Select an infill site for the building B. Locate the building in a dense neighborhood C. Locate the project near a variety of use types D. Create a smaller footprint and maximize the floor-area ratio
A. Select an infill site for the building This can help with selecting high-priority sites.
B. Locate the building in a dense neighborhood This helps with the density credit, but not the density of the building itself. The question does not ask about the surrounding density that is for a credit.
C. Locate the project near a variety of use types This would help with credit for diverse uses.
D. Create a smaller footprint and maximize the floor-area ratio This is correct. Density is a measure of the total building floor area or dwelling units on a parcel of land relative to the build-able land of that parcel.
Decreasing the parking footprint of a project can be accomplished by which of the following actions? A. EV charging stations B. Selecting a rural site C. Instituting transportation demand management strategies D. Separating employee and visitor parking E. Not including the parking area in the LEED project boundary
A. EV charging stations
B. Selecting a rural site
C. Instituting transportation demand management strategies Correct Answer This is correct.
Transportation demand strategies are things like providing preferred parking to carpools that can reduce single-occupancy vehicle use:
Telecommuting
Compressed workweeks
Shuttle service between the site and commercial/residential centers
Subsidize public transportation to users to encourage them to use it
D. Separating employee and visitor parking This doesn't reduce parking, it re-arranges it.
E. Not including the parking area in the LEED project boundary This would not be accepted by the LEED reviewer as a way to reduce parking.
How would the distance from a building's entrance to the nearest bus stop be measured? A. By calculating the walking distance along infrastructure that is safe and comfortable for pedestrians B. By determining the straight-line radius from point to point. C. By determining the street network distance, excluding private drives D. By calculating the street and/or bicycle network distance
A. By calculating the walking distance along infrastructure that is safe and comfortable for pedestrians This is correct. When calculating the walking distance for credits such as Diverse Uses, a walk-able route is used for the measurement. LEED 2009 used a radius to calculate the distance, but this did not accurately determine pedestrian access.
B. By determining the straight-line radius from point to point. LEED v2009 uses a straight-line radius.
C. By determining the street network distance, excluding private drives
D. By calculating the street and/or bicycle network distance
Which of the following helps encourage building users to take alternative transportation? A. Including off-street parking spaces B. Limiting parking C. Using permeable paving for parking lots D. Sharing parking among two or more buildings E. Reducing the number of bicycle spaces
B. Limiting parking This is correct. A LEED strategy to reduce occupants from driving their own vehicles to the project site is to make it harder for them to find a parking spaces. (It's true!) This encourages the users to seek other modes of transportation.
Which of the following is an acceptable way to encourage building users to choose alternative transportation? A. Share parking among two or more buildings B. Install preferred parking C. Allow off-street parking D. Install multi-level parking
A. Share parking among two or more buildings Sharing parking is a way to offset parking costs between multiple buildings.
B. Install preferred parking This is correct.
See the LT Overview section of the reference.
Preferred parking is "the parking spots closest to the main entrance of a building (exclusive of spaces designated for handicapped persons). For employee parking, it refers to the spots that are closest to the entrance used by employees." - USGBC
Preferred parking is a perk for users that drive alternative transportation (green vehicles).In LEED, to meet the requirements of the Green Vehicles credit, preferred parking must be provided for these vehicles.
C. Allow off-street parking LEED discourages off-street parking for credits.
D. Install multi-level parking Multi-level parking or parking garages does not encourage a user to choose a different mode of transportation.
Which of the following does NOT support users seeking alternative transportation options? A. Providing preferred parking for green vehicles B. Including alternative-fuel facilities C. Sharing parking among two or more buildings D. Installing bicycle storage
A. Providing preferred parking for green vehicles Providing preferred parking is a perk for driving a green vehicle to the building. Preferred parking is defined as "the parking spots closest to the main entrance of a building (exclusive of spaces designated for handicapped persons). For employee parking, it refers to the spots that are closest to the entrance used by employees." - USGBC
B. Including alternative-fuel facilities Alternative fueling stations (electric chargers) allow people with electric vehicles to charge their vehicles at the project site.
C. Sharing parking among two or more buildings This is correct.
D. Installing bicycle storage Bicycle storage gives people an option to bike to work and store their bicycle securely.
How would access to quality transit be documented? A. By an area plan or map showing the project site and location of transit stop locations within a 1/2 mile (800-meter) radius of the project site B. By an area plan or map showing the project site and location of transit stop locations within a 1/4 mile (400-meter) radius of the project site C. By a map showing the project, project boundary, transit stop locations, walking routes, and distances to those stops D. By a map showing the project site, location, type of transportation resources, and driving distances to each location.
A. By an area plan or map showing the project site and location of transit stop locations within a 1/2 mile (800-meter) radius of the project site No, access to quality transit does not use a radius for calculations/documentation.
B. By an area plan or map showing the project site and location of transit stop locations within a 1/4 mile (400-meter) radius of the project site No, access to quality transit does not use a radius for calculations/documentation.
C. By a map showing the project, project boundary, transit stop locations, walking routes, and distances to those stops This is correct.
D. By a map showing the project site, location, type of transportation resources, and driving distances to each location. This choice has the driving distance to each resource. Access to quality transit does not include driving to the transit.
How could a remote project located away from public transportation reduce its transportation effects? A. Locate a project site near a park B. Encourage carpooling C. Stagger work hours for users D. Install pervious pavement
A. Locate a project site near a park
B. Encourage carpooling This is correct. Transportation demand strategies that can reduce single-occupancy vehicle use include:
Locating a project near public transportation
Encouraging carpooling
Encouraging walking or bicycling
Providing preferred parking for green vehicles
Discounted transportation passes for buses, rails, ferry's, etc.
Telecommuting
Compressed workweeks
C. Stagger work hours for users This would not reduce anything. It may increase energy consumption
D. Install pervious pavement Pervious pavement helps with rainwater management and reducing heat islands.
A project team is removing from the design a solar car shading device that also serves as a fueling station. Which of the following is this most likely to impact? A. Open Space B. Heat island reduction C. Rainwater management D. Reduced parking footprint
A. Open Space
B. Heat island reduction This is correct. Solar car shading devices are a shading strategy for reducing heat islands.
C. Rainwater management The shading device does not impact rainwater management.
D. Reduced parking footprint This has no impact on the parking footprint.
What encourages the purchase and use of green vehicles? A. Providing preferred parking for those vehicles B. Locating the project in a dense neighborhood C. Providing solar car ports D. Designing the project to be mixed-use
A. Providing preferred parking for those vehicles This is correct.
Preferred parking (parking closest to the building) for green vehicles promotes their purchase.
Preferred parking is a strategy by LEED to reduce automobile use.
Preferred parking spaces are parking spaces that are closest to the main entrance of a project, but they do not include handicapped parking. Other forms of preferred parking include discounted parking passes, designated covered spaces, and guaranteed passes in a lottery system.
B. Locating the project in a dense neighborhood This is not a LEED strategy to encourage the purchase and use of green vehicles.
C. Providing solar car ports This is not a LEED strategy to encourage the purchase and use of green vehicles.
D. Designing the project to be mixed-use This is not a LEED strategy to encourage the purchase and use of green vehicles.
A vehicle meeting which standard would be considered a green vehicle? A. EPA Transportation and Air Quality standard B. Green-e Certified C. SCAQMD air quality standards D. Vehicle with a minimum green score of 45 on the ACEEE annual vehicle guide
A. EPA Transportation and Air Quality standard This is not correct.
B. Green-e Certified Green-e is a program established to promote green electricity products and provide consumers with a nationally recognized method to identify those products.
C. SCAQMD air quality standards SCAQMD is an air pollution control agency.
D. Vehicle with a minimum green score of 45 on the ACEEE annual vehicle guide This is correct. Vehicles must have a green score of 45 or more from the ACEEE annual vehicle rating guide to qualify for LEED credit.
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Flashcard (20)