US Green Building Council LEED-AP-O+M Exam - Topic 2 Question 19 Discussion

Actual exam question for US Green Building Council's LEED-AP-O+M exam

Question #: 19
Topic #: 2

Which of the following strategies satisfy the Sustainable Sites Credit, Rainwater Management?\

APerform the Small Storm Hydrology method to calculate the runoff volume on 95% of the site

BMinimize impervious cover to be maximum 80% of the site area for the 95th percentile of storm events with design alterations or verification

CHarvest and treat enough rainwater to cover 25% of the impervious surfaces, for the 95th percentile storm event, that otherwise would be lost in the sewage system or runoff the site

DInclude rain gardens on the project site for 15% of the of the impervious surfaces, in order to absorb the 95th percentile storm event, that otherwise would be lost in the sewage system or runoff the site

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: B

This strategy meets the requirement of the Sustainable Sites Credit, Rainwater Management, which aims to reduce runoff volume and improve water quality by replicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the site, based on historical conditions and undeveloped ecosystems in the region. The credit requires projects to retain the runoff from the developed site for at least the 80th percentile of rainfall events, using low-impact development and green infrastructure practices. Minimizing impervious cover reduces the amount of runoff generated and allows more infiltration and evapotranspiration of rainwater.

by Lashon at Aug 16, 2025, 06:27 AM

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Yuki

2 months ago

D sounds great, but are rain gardens really effective for that much area?

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Yolande

2 months ago

I think B is more practical for most sites.

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Myong

3 months ago

A is definitely a solid approach for managing runoff.

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Dottie

3 months ago

Wait, can we really manage 95% of storm events like this? Sounds too good to be true!

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Hana

3 months ago

C seems a bit low, 25% might not be enough.

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Virgie

3 months ago

I feel like rain gardens are definitely a good strategy, so option D could work. I just hope it meets the requirements for the 95th percentile storm event.

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Bette

4 months ago

I'm a bit confused about option C. Harvesting rainwater is important, but I can't recall if 25% is enough for the credit.

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Nohemi

4 months ago

I remember practicing a question about minimizing impervious cover, so option B might be a good choice. It seems to align with sustainable practices.

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Tijuana

4 months ago

I think option A sounds familiar, but I'm not entirely sure if it's the right method for the Rainwater Management credit.

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Carin

4 months ago

Hmm, I'm not sure which one to choose. I'll need to review the details of each option and think about how they address the specific criteria of the Sustainable Sites Credit.

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Ashanti

4 months ago

I'm feeling confident about this question. Option C, harvesting and treating rainwater to cover 25% of impervious surfaces, seems like a solid strategy to meet the credit requirements.

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Juan

5 months ago

Option B looks promising - minimizing impervious cover to 80% of the site area for the 95th percentile storm event. That seems like a good way to manage rainwater on the site.

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Elliot

5 months ago

I'm a bit confused by the different options. I'll need to carefully review the details of each strategy to determine which one best satisfies the Sustainable Sites Credit for Rainwater Management.

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Annett

5 months ago

This question seems straightforward. I think the key is to focus on the 95th percentile storm event and look for strategies that address runoff and impervious surfaces.

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