LEED Green Associate Study Guide: Key Principles and Credits

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Company providing green building education resources.

Manual License Agreement

Terms governing the use of the manual.

Copyright Notice

Legal statement regarding document ownership.

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

USGBC

U.S. Green Building Council, LEED's governing body.

Minimum Program Requirements (MPR)

Essential criteria for LEED certification compliance.

Integrative Process

Collaborative approach to project planning and design.

Guiding Documents

Key documents like OPR and BOD for projects.

Healthcare Prerequisite

Requirements for healthcare-related LEED projects.

LT Credit 1

LEED credit for neighborhood development location.

LT Credit 2

Credit for protecting sensitive land areas.

LT Credit 3

Credit for developing on high-priority sites.

LT Credit 4

Credit for surrounding density and diverse uses.

LT Credit 5

Credit for access to quality transit options.

LT Credit 6

Credit for providing bicycle facilities.

LT Credit 7

Credit for reducing parking footprint.

Transportation Demand Management

Strategies to reduce transportation impacts.

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Disclaimer of Warranties

No guarantees on document accuracy or use.

Limitation of Liability

Excludes liability for damages from materials.

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Registered symbols for specific organizations or products.

Third Edition

Latest version of the LEED study guide.

V2.0

Version number indicating document updates.

Date of Publication

04.05.2018, indicates document release date.

LT Credit 8

Focus on promoting green vehicle usage.

Chapter 4

Covers site selection criteria and guidelines.

SS Prerequisite 1

Mandates pollution prevention during construction activities.

SS Prerequisite 2

Requires environmental site assessments before construction.

SS Credit 1

Involves comprehensive site assessment for projects.

SS Credit 2

Encourages habitat protection or restoration during development.

SS Credit 3

Promotes the preservation of open space in projects.

SS Credit 4

Focuses on effective rainwater management strategies.

SS Credit 5

Aims to reduce heat islands in urban areas.

SS Credit 6

Addresses the reduction of light pollution.

SS School Credit

Involves creating a site master plan for schools.

SS School Credit Joint Use

Encourages shared use of school facilities.

SS Core and Shell Credit

Guidelines for tenant design and construction.

SS Healthcare Credit Places of Respite

Designates areas for relaxation in healthcare settings.

SS Healthcare Credit Direct Access

Ensures direct exterior access for healthcare facilities.

Chapter 5

Focuses on water efficiency measures and standards.

WE Prerequisite 1

Requires 30% reduction in outdoor water use.

WE Credit 1

Encourages further outdoor water use reduction.

WE Prerequisite 2

Mandates 20% reduction in indoor water use.

WE Credit 2

Promotes additional indoor water use reduction.

WE Prerequisite 3

Requires building-level water metering for efficiency.

WE Credit 4

Involves implementation of water metering systems.

WE Credit 3

Focuses on optimizing cooling tower water use.

Chapter 6

Covers energy efficiency and atmospheric considerations.

EA Prerequisite 1

Mandates fundamental commissioning and verification processes.

EA Credit 1

Enhances commissioning processes for energy efficiency.

EA Prerequisite 2

Sets minimum energy performance standards.

EA Credit 2

Optimizes overall energy performance of buildings.

EA Prerequisite 3

Requires building-level energy metering for monitoring.

EA Credit 3

Focuses on advanced energy metering techniques.

EA Prerequisite 4

Covers fundamental refrigerant management practices.

EA Credit 6

Enhances management of refrigerants in buildings.

EA Credit 4

Promotes demand response strategies for energy use.

EA Credit 5

Encourages production of renewable energy sources.

EA Credit 7

Involves green power and carbon offset initiatives.

MR Prerequisite 1

Requires storage and collection of recyclables.

MR Prerequisite 2

Involves planning for construction waste management.

MR Credit 5

Focuses on managing construction and demolition waste.

MR Credit 1

Reduces building life cycle environmental impacts.

MR Credit 2

Involves environmental product declarations for materials.

MR Credits 3

Focuses on sourcing sustainable raw materials.

MR Credit 4

Covers assessment of material ingredients used.

MR Healthcare Prerequisite

Targets mercury source reduction in healthcare.

MR Healthcare Credit

Focuses on reducing lead, cadmium, and copper.

IEQ Prerequisite 1

Ensures minimum indoor air quality performance.

IEQ Credit 1

Enhances indoor air quality through strategic measures.

IEQ Prerequisite 2

Controls environmental tobacco smoke in buildings.

IEQ Credit 2

Promotes use of low-emitting materials indoors.

IEQ Credit 3

Establishes a construction indoor air quality plan.

IEQ Credit 4

Assesses overall indoor air quality conditions.

IEQ Credit 5

Focuses on maintaining thermal comfort for occupants.

IEQ Credit 6

Improves interior lighting quality for spaces.

IEQ Credit 7

Encourages natural daylighting in building design.

LEED Goals

Seven objectives guiding LEED certification efforts.

Global Climate Change

Goal to reverse negative climate impacts.

Human Health

Enhancing individual well-being through sustainable practices.

Water Resources

Protecting and restoring water ecosystems.

Biodiversity

Enhancing and restoring ecosystem services.

Material Resources

Promoting sustainable material cycles.

Greener Economy

Building an economy focused on sustainability.

Social Equity

Enhancing community health and quality of life.

MPR 1

Project must have a permanent location.

MPR 2

Project requires a reasonable site boundary.

MPR 3

Project must meet specific size requirements.

Permanent Location

Building must be on existing land.

Reasonable Site Boundary

Defines the area for project evaluation.

Project Size for BD+C

Minimum 1,000 square feet required.

Project Size for ID+C

Minimum 250 square feet required.

Gross Floor Area

Total building area used for LEED calculations.

Contiguous Land

Land must be connected by ownership or lease.

Hardscapes

Non-vegetative surfaces included in site evaluation.

Stormwater Treatment

Management practices for site water runoff.

Prefabricated Structures

Acceptable if not moved post-occupancy.

Mobile Homes

Excluded from LEED certification eligibility.

Registration Process

Acknowledgment of MPRs occurs during project registration.

LEED BD+C

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Building Design and Construction.