Free LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Location and Transportation Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project team is developing a new office building on a previously developed site. To achieve the High-Priority Site credit, they are considering a site that was formerly a gas station and has documented soil contamination. What type of site is this, according to LEED?
- A greenfield
- A greyfield
- A brownfield (Correct answer)
- An infill location
Correct answer: A brownfield
A brownfield is defined by the EPA as a property where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Remediating and building on such a site is encouraged by LEED under the High-Priority Site credit.
Question 2: To earn points for the 'Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses' credit, a project's main entrance must be within a 1/2-mile (800-meter) walking distance of a certain number of qualified diverse uses. Which of the following is a specific rule regarding how these uses can be counted?
- All uses within a single category (e.g., retail) can be counted.
- The project's own primary use can be counted toward the total.
- A maximum of two uses per specific use type (e.g., restaurant) can be counted. (Correct answer)
- Only uses that are open 24/7 are eligible for inclusion.
Correct answer: A maximum of two uses per specific use type (e.g., restaurant) can be counted.
The LEED v4.1 Reference Guide specifies several restrictions for counting diverse uses. One key rule is that no more than two uses in each use type may be counted. For example, even if there are five banks within walking distance, only two can be counted towards the credit. Additionally, the counted uses must represent at least three of the five defined categories.
Question 3: A project team wants to achieve the 'Reduced Parking Footprint' credit. They are located in an area that has earned points under the 'Access to Quality Transit' credit. What is the required percentage reduction in parking capacity below the ITE Transportation Planning Handbook base ratios for this scenario?
- 10%
- 20%
- 30%
- 40% (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 40%
For the Reduced Parking Footprint credit in LEED v4, projects located in dense or transit-served areas have a higher reduction requirement. If a project earns one or more points under LT Credit Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses or LT Credit Access to Quality Transit, it must achieve a 40% reduction from the ITE base ratios. Projects not in these locations must achieve a 20% reduction.
Question 4: Which of the following sites would be INELIGIBLE for development under the 'Sensitive Land Protection' credit?
- A previously developed site with an abandoned warehouse.
- Land identified as prime farmland by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). (Correct answer)
- An urban site that is more than 1/2 mile from a public park.
- A site adjacent to, but not within, a wetland area.
Correct answer: Land identified as prime farmland by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The intent of the Sensitive Land Protection credit is to avoid developing on environmentally sensitive lands. The credit specifically prohibits development on several types of land, including prime farmland as defined by the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations and identified by the NRCS Soil Survey. Other prohibited areas include floodplains, habitats for threatened or endangered species, and land within a certain distance of water bodies and wetlands.
Question 5: A project team is designing a bicycle network connection to help earn the 'Bicycle Facilities' credit. To what minimum distance must the project's functional entrance or bicycle storage be from a bicycle network that connects to diverse uses or a transit station?
- 100 yards (90 meters)
- 200 yards (180 meters) (Correct answer)
- 1/4 mile (400 meters)
- 1/2 mile (800 meters)
Correct answer: 200 yards (180 meters)
To meet the requirements of the Bicycle Facilities credit, the project must have a functional entry or bicycle storage located within a 200-yard (180-meter) walking or bicycling distance of a bicycle network. This network must then connect to diverse uses, a school, an employment center, or a qualifying transit stop within a 3-mile (4800-meter) bicycling distance.
Question 6: For the 'Green Vehicles' credit in LEED v4.1, which of the following is a primary strategy for earning points?
- Designating 5% of all parking spaces as preferred parking for vehicles with a high ACEEE Green Score.
- Providing discounted parking for all low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles.
- Installing electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) or providing EV-ready infrastructure. (Correct answer)
- Mandating that all company-owned fleet vehicles are zero-emission.
Correct answer: Installing electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) or providing EV-ready infrastructure.
LEED v4.1 updated the Green Vehicles credit to focus more on the infrastructure needed for electric vehicles. The credit now rewards projects for installing Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) in a percentage of parking spaces or making spaces 'EV-ready' for future charger installation. The previous requirement for preferred parking based on an ACEEE score has been removed in v4.1.
Free LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification) Location and Transportation Questions and Answers
A project team is developing a new office building on a previously developed site.
To achieve the High-Priority Site credit, they are considering a site that was formerly a gas station and has documented soil contamination.
What type of site is this, according to LEED?