US Green Building Council LEED-AP-Homes Exam Questions

The LEED for Homes Rating System (v4) includes the Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Credit: Space Heating and Cooling Equipment, which rewards the use of high-efficiency HVAC equipment that exceeds baseline standards.

According to the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

EA Credit: Space Heating and Cooling Equipment (1--4 points)

Install HVAC equipment that meets or exceeds the efficiency requirements of the ENERGY STAR for Homes program, Prescriptive Path, which specifies minimum efficiency ratings (e.g., SEER, AFUE) for heating and cooling systems.

Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Energy and Atmosphere Credit: Space Heating and Cooling Equipment, p. 128.

The LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C rating system confirms:

EA Credit: Space Heating and Cooling Equipment

HVAC equipment must exceed the efficiency standards set by ENERGY STAR for Homes, Prescriptive Path, to earn points for improved energy performance.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

The correct answer is ENERGY STAR for Homes, Prescriptive Path (Option A), as this is the benchmark for high-efficiency HVAC equipment in this credit.

Why not the other options?

B . ASHRAE 2001 Handbook of Fundamentals: This provides general HVAC design guidance but is not a specific efficiency standard for LEED credits.

C . International Energy Conservation Code: IECC sets baseline energy codes, not the higher efficiency requirements for earning points.

D . ACCA Manual J guidelines: These are used for sizing HVAC systems, not setting efficiency standards.

The LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook emphasizes EA credits, including HVAC efficiency, and references the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction as a key resource. The exam is based on LEED v4, ensuring the relevance of ENERGY STAR standards.

References:

LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, USGBC, Energy and Atmosphere Credit: Space Heating and Cooling Equipment, p. 128.

LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, USGBC LEED Credit Library, accessed via LEED Online (https://www.usgbc.org/credits).

LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook, GBCI, October 2024, p. 12 (references study resources and exam scope based on LEED v4).

USGBC LEED for Homes Rating System (v4), available via USGBC website (https://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-homes-design-and-construction-v4).

LEED v4.1 for Homes, USGBC, accessed via LEED Online, confirming ENERGY STAR requirements.

The LEED for Homes Rating System (v4) awards points for the Materials and Resources (MR) Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products, Option 1: Local Production, which encourages the use of materials sourced locally to reduce transportation impacts.

According to the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

MR Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products, Option 1: Local Production (1--4 points)

Use products that have been extracted, harvested, or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 100 miles (160 km) of the project site for at least 25%, 50%, or 90% (by cost) of the total materials.

Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Materials and Resources Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products, p. 160.

The LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C rating system confirms:

MR Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products, Option 1: Local Production

Materials must be extracted, harvested, or recovered and manufactured within 100 miles (160 km) of the project site to qualify for local production points.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

Evaluation of options:

A . Granite slabs extracted in China and manufactured and installed in New York City: Extracted in China, far exceeding the 100-mile (160 km) limit, so it does not qualify.

B . Wood studs harvested and manufactured in Western Canada and installed in California within a 750 mi. (1,200 km) radius: The 750-mile radius exceeds the 100-mile limit, so it does not qualify.

C . Wood studs harvested and manufactured in Mexico within a 98 mi. (158 km) radius of the final installation in New Mexico: Both harvesting and manufacturing are within 100 miles (160 km), meeting the local production criteria.

D . Wooden doors manufactured in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, assembled 1,463 mi. (2,354 km) away in Provo, Utah, and installed 1,246 mi. (2,005 km) away in Austin, Texas: The distances for manufacturing and assembly far exceed the 100-mile limit, so it does not qualify.

The correct answer is Option C, as the wood studs meet the local production requirement of being harvested and manufactured within 100 miles (160 km) of the project site.

The LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook emphasizes MR credits, including Environmentally Preferable Products, and references the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction as a key resource. The exam is based on LEED v4, ensuring the relevance of the 100-mile radius.

References:

LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, USGBC, Materials and Resources Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products, p. 160.

LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, USGBC LEED Credit Library, accessed via LEED Online (https://www.usgbc.org/credits).

LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook, GBCI, October 2024, p. 12 (references study resources and exam scope based on LEED v4).

USGBC LEED for Homes Rating System (v4), available via USGBC website (https://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-homes-design-and-construction-v4).

LEED v4.1 for Homes, USGBC, accessed via LEED Online, confirming local production criteria.

The LEED for Homes Rating System (v4) requires blower door testing in the Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Credit: Air Infiltration to measure envelope leakage, expressed as air changes per hour (ACH) at a specific pressure differential.

According to the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

EA Credit: Air Infiltration (1--3 points)

Conduct a blower door test to measure envelope leakage in air changes per hour (ACH) at a pressure differential of 50 pascals (Pa). This standardizes the measurement of air tightness across projects.

Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Energy and Atmosphere Credit: Air Infiltration, p. 124.

The LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C rating system confirms:

EA Credit: Air Infiltration

Envelope leakage is measured using a blower door test at 50 pascals, reported as ACH50, to assess the airtightness of the building envelope.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

The correct answer is 50 pascals (Option B), as this is the standard pressure differential for measuring ACH in LEED for Homes.

Why not the other options?

A . 25 pascals: This is not the standard pressure for ACH measurements in LEED or ENERGY STAR protocols.

C . 75 pascals: Higher pressures are not used, as 50 pascals is the industry standard for consistency.

D . 100 pascals: This is too high and not used in residential testing standards.

The LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook emphasizes EA credits, including air infiltration testing, and references the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction as a key resource. The exam is based on LEED v4, ensuring the relevance of the 50-pascal standard.

References:

LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, USGBC, Energy and Atmosphere Credit: Air Infiltration, p. 124.

LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, USGBC LEED Credit Library, accessed via LEED Online (https://www.usgbc.org/credits).

LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook, GBCI, October 2024, p. 12 (references study resources and exam scope based on LEED v4).

USGBC LEED for Homes Rating System (v4), available via USGBC website (https://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-homes-design-and-construction-v4).

LEED v4.1 for Homes, USGBC, accessed via LEED Online, confirming ACH50 testing standard.

The LEED for Homes Rating System (v4) awards points for the Materials and Resources (MR) Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products based on the use of materials with sustainable attributes, such as concrete with fly ash (a recycled material that reduces the environmental impact of cement production). The scenario indicates that reducing fly ash content in some suspended slab areas due to weather-related curing concerns would cause the project to fall short of the credit's threshold (e.g., 25%, 50%, or 90% by cost).

According to the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

MR Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products (1--4 points)

Use products that meet one or more of the following criteria for at least 25%, 50%, or 90% (by cost) of the total materials in the project:

Recycled content: Materials with pre- or post-consumer recycled content, such as fly ash in concrete.

The percentage is calculated based on the total cost of qualifying materials across the project.

Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Materials and Resources Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products, p. 160.

The LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C rating system confirms this:

MR Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products

Concrete with fly ash qualifies as an environmentally preferable product if it contributes to the required percentage of material cost. Project teams must ensure compliance across all relevant components.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

The most effective strategy is to ignore the engineer's recommendation and proceed with the original design (Option B). This ensures the project maintains the intended fly ash content to meet the credit threshold. Fly ash typically slows concrete curing, but modern mix designs and admixtures (e.g., accelerators) can mitigate weather-related delays without reducing fly ash content. The LEED AP should collaborate with the structural engineer to explore alternative solutions, such as adjusting the mix or using curing blankets, to maintain both structural integrity and credit compliance.

Why not the other options?

A . Submit a CIR requesting the low fly ash suspended slab be removed from the calculations: A Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR) is used to clarify LEED requirements or propose alternative compliance paths, but excluding specific components (e.g., the suspended slab) from calculations is not allowed, as the credit requires a project-wide material cost calculation. CIRs are also less common in LEED v4, as projects use LEED Online inquiries.

C . Apply for a Regional Priority exemption since the local climate interfered with the project team's best effort to achieve the point: Regional Priority (RP) credits provide bonus points for addressing local environmental priorities, not exemptions for failing to meet credit requirements. Weather conditions do not justify an exemption for MR credits.

D . Demand the project team slow the construction schedule so additional curing time will allow the required amount of fly ash to be used: Slowing the construction schedule is impractical and costly, especially when alternative solutions (e.g., admixtures) can address curing time without compromising fly ash content. This option is less effective than maintaining the original design with adjustments.

The LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook emphasizes the need to understand MR credits and practical strategies for compliance, referencing the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction as a key resource. The exam is based on LEED v4, ensuring the relevance of maintaining fly ash content.

References:

LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, USGBC, Materials and Resources Credit: Environmentally Preferable Products, p. 160--161.

LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, USGBC LEED Credit Library, accessed via LEED Online (https://www.usgbc.org/credits).

LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook, GBCI, October 2024, p. 12 (references study resources and exam scope based on LEED v4).

USGBC LEED for Homes Rating System (v4), available via USGBC website (https://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-homes-design-and-construction-v4).

LEED v4.1 for Homes, USGBC, accessed via LEED Online, confirming fly ash criteria.

The LEED for Homes Rating System (v4) includes the Location and Transportation (LT) Credit: Community Resources and Services, which awards points for locating a project near essential community services to reduce transportation-related environmental impacts.

According to the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):

LT Credit: Community Resources and Services (1--2 points)

Locate the project within 1/4 mile (0.4 kilometers) walking distance of at least 4 community services (e.g., bank, supermarket, fire station, daycare, pharmacy, school, etc.) for 1 point, or 8 or more services for 2 points. The services must be publicly accessible and within the specified distance.

Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Location and Transportation Credit: Community Resources and Services, p. 56.

The LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C rating system confirms:

LT Credit: Community Resources and Services

Earn 1 point for proximity to at least 4 community services within 1/4 mile (0.4 km), or 2 points for 8 or more services, measured by walking distance.

Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.

The project is located within 1/4 mile (0.4 km) of six services: bank, supermarket, fire station, daycare center, pharmacy, and school. Since six services exceed the threshold of four but fall short of eight, the project earns 2 points (Option C).

Why not the other options?

A . Zero points: The project meets the criteria for at least 1 point (four services), so zero points is incorrect.

B . One point: This applies to exactly four services; six services qualify for 2 points.

D . Three points: This credit only awards up to 2 points, so three points is not possible.

The LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook emphasizes LT credits, including Community Resources and Services, and references the LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction as a key resource. The exam is based on LEED v4, ensuring the relevance of the service proximity criteria.

References:

LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, USGBC, Location and Transportation Credit: Community Resources and Services, p. 56.

LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, USGBC LEED Credit Library, accessed via LEED Online (https://www.usgbc.org/credits).

LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook, GBCI, October 2024, p. 12 (references study resources and exam scope based on LEED v4).

USGBC LEED for Homes Rating System (v4), available via USGBC website (https://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-homes-design-and-construction-v4).

LEED v4.1 for Homes, USGBC, accessed via LEED Online, confirming community services criteria.