Guide to the LEED Green Associate V4 Exam

Michelle Cottrell

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781118870242
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Architecture
• Subtopic: Conception architecturale

GUIDE TO THE LEED ® GREEN ASSOCIATE V4 EXAM

PASS THE LEED ® GA V4 EXAM WITH THE HELP OF SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THERE

The Guide to the LEED ® Green Associate V4 Exam is a motivating, engaging guide to LEED ® design, packed with expert advice from one who has taken – and passed – the exam. Fully updated with the latest advances in sustainable design thought and technology, this book goes beyond traditional study guides to provide full coverage of the exam topics, plus expert tips on preparing and taking the exam itself.

The information is organized clearly, with sample questions and flashcards throughout, and the companion website features additional study aids including interactive flashcards and practice exams.

• Understand the LEED ® credentialing process, and the fundamental concepts of sustainable design
• Study the strategies and technologies of LEED ® design, from site selection to atmosphere
• Discover how best to handle water, energy, and waste during the construction process
• Gain insight into effective exam prep methods, and know what to expect on test day
• Test your knowledge with practice exam questions and interactive flashcards on the companion website

Professionals eager to prove their skills will find the Guide to the LEED ® Green Associate V4 Exam to be an invaluable one-stop resource.

PART I
RAMPING UP

CHAPTER 1
UNDERSTANDING THE CREDENTIALING PROCESS

BEFORE DIVING INTO THE EFFORT OF STUDYING and preparing for the LEED^® Green Associate™ exam, there are quite a few things to review. Whenever I teach an exam prep course, this topic is not typically addressed until the end of the class, as it is easier to digest at that point; but it is important to present this information here in the first chapter, to make sure the test is applicable and appropriate for you. This chapter will provide the important concepts of the tiered credentialing system to ensure that the components and the exam registration process are understood.

This initial information begins with the credentialing system for LEED accreditation, as it involves three tiers:

1. LEED Green Associate
2. LEED Accredited Professional (AP) with Specialty
3. LEED Fellow

THE TIERS OF THE CREDENTIALING PROCESS

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Study: Notice the LEED acronym does not contain an “S” at the end. Therefore, please note this first lesson: when referring to LEED, please do not say “LEEDS,” as it is quite important to refer to the acronym correctly.

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The first step of comprehending the credentialing process begins with a brief understanding of the basics of LEED. LEED is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, signifying a green building rating system designed to evaluate projects and award them certification based on their performance. The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC^®) website indicates that LEED is a “nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.”¹ USGBC created the LEED Green Building Rating System™ back in the 1990s as a tool for the public and private commercial real estate markets to help evaluate the performance of the built environment. It now has become “the most widely recognized and widely used green building program across the globe.”²

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Use white index cards to create flashcards to remember the acronyms for USGBC and LEED.

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LEED Green Associate

The LEED Green Associate tier is applicable for individuals with a basic understanding of green building systems and technologies. These individuals have been tested on the key components of the different LEED green building rating systems and the certification process. This level of credentialing is the first step to becoming a LEED Accredited Professional.

The LEED Green Associate exam is geared toward all persons involved in the world of sustainable design, construction, and operations, beyond just the typical architecture and engineering design students and professionals. Therefore, the exam is available for lawyers, accountants, contractors, owners, and developers as well. Any person interested in the field of sustainable design and green building is eligible to sit for the exam, especially those with LEED project experience. For those who wish to sit without LEED project experience or are not employed in the field, it is recommended to attend an educational course focused in sustainable design.

LEED Accredited Professional with Specialty

The second tier, LEED AP™ with Specialty, is divided into five types (of specialties):

1. LEED AP Building Design + Construction (BD+C). This exam includes concepts related to new construction and major renovations in the commercial, residential, educational, and healthcare sectors. The project types include new construction, core and shell, schools, retail, hospitality, data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, healthcare, homes, and midrise multifamily residential structures.
2. LEED AP Interior Design + Construction (ID+C). This exam contains questions related to tenant improvement and fit-out project knowledge for commercial interior, retail, and hospitality professionals.
3. LEED AP Operations + Maintenance (O+M). This exam covers existing building project knowledge specific to operations and maintenance issues of commercial facilities, schools, retail facilities, hospitality facilities, data centers, and warehouses and distribution centers.
4. LEED AP Homes. This exam applies to professionals practicing in the residential market.
5. LEED AP Neighborhood Development (ND). This exam tests whole or partial neighborhood development project knowledge.

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While there is an additional application fee to separate the LEED AP exam into two different test dates, it is highly recommended to take the LEED Green Associate exam one day and take the AP specialty exam on another.

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Because the LEED Green Associate credentialing tier is the first step to obtaining LEED AP status, the LEED AP exams are thought of in a two-part exam process beginning with the LEED Green Associate exam. You have the option to decide whether you wish to take ...