Leed green associate v. acquisition, installation, and management of project materials answer

LEED Green Associate V. Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project
Materials
Question 1:
Which of the following materials can earn credit in the Materials & Resources category?
A Wood that was transported via rail lines
LEED does not reward projects for the method of material transportation.
B FSC Certified wood
Wood that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is acceptable for LEED credits.
C Wood that has low life-cycle costs
The life cycle cost of a material is not a factor in LEED credit calculations.
D Wood that is sealed with low VOC sealants
Low VOC sealants can earn credit in the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) category.
Notes:
Reference: LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations Rating System
Question 2:
A construction waste management plan should address what items?
A Rapidly renewable materials
The use of rapidly renewable materials is a design decision related to sustainable materials selection.
B Source reduction
Source reduction is the process of reducing product size and packaging needs that occur at the point of
manufacturing, not at the construction site.
C What materials should be diverted from the waste stream
A construction waste management plan should address what materials will be diverted from the landfill, as
well as how they will be diverted and how the plan will be policed. For example:
Will we recycle cardboard? What types of bins will we need? Where will they be stored? How will we protect
the material from rain?
D The use of certified wood
The use of certified wood is a design decision related to sustainable materials selection.
Notes:

Question 3:
A floor covering that can be recycled into a new product at the end of its useful life would be what type of product?
A Cradle to grave
Cradle to grave is a view of materials and products where products that have reached the end of their useful
lives are considered worthless. This is a type of open system.
B Passive
This is not correct.
C Cradle to cradle
Cradle to cradle is a term used in life-cycle analysis to describe a material or product that is recycled into a
new product at the end of its useful life. Cradle to cradle is an example of a closed system.
The Herman Miller Aeron chair is an example of a cradle to cradle product. It is designed so all parts can be
separated and then reused and/or recycled.
D Renewable
Some forms of energy are described as renewable. Building materials are usually reused, salvaged,
refurbished, but not renewable.
Notes:
Reference: GBES LEED Green Associate Study Guide
Question 4:
Why should a waste stream audit be conducted for a building's ongoing operations?
A To identify waste haulers
The audit is primarily used to see what is happening with the waste in the building, not who is hauling it off
the site.
B To determine if the recycling program needs updating
A waste stream audit in an existing building can be a measure and verification of the company's recycling
program. The team can decide on how many categories, but they should include recyclable items,
compostable items, and true waste. No matter the number of categories, in the end the waste accounted for
should equal 100%. This should be done occasionally to check and ensure recycling items are in fact being
recycled and that any waste education in the project is being followed by occupants.
C To increase waste diversion
The audit may reveal other opportunities to divert waste.
D To identify environmentally preferable products
This is part of a sustainable purchasing policy.
Notes:

Reference:
Question 5:
What is greenwashing?
A Changing local zoning codes to be greener
B Advertising a product or policy to be more environmentally friendly than it really is
The term greenwashing is generally used when significantly more money or time has been spent advertising
being green, rather than spending resources on environmentally sound practices.
The term greenwashing was coined by New York environmentalist Jay Westervelt in a 1986 essay regarding
the hotel industry's practice of placing placards in each room promoting reuse of towels ostensibly to 'save
the environment'. Westerveld noted that, in most cases, little or no effort toward reducing energy waste was
being made by these institutions - as evidenced by the lack of cost reduction this practice effected.
Westerveld opined that the actual objective of this 'green campaign' on the part of many hoteliers was, in
fact, increased profit. Westerveld thus labeled this and other outwardly environmentally conscientious acts
with a greater, underlying purpose of profit increase as greenwashing.
C The implementation of a green cleaning custodial policy
D Building green buildings in an industrial area
Question 6:
Which item is considered pre-consumer recycled content?
A Milk jugs
B Cardboard boxes
C Soda cans
D Wood chips from a mill
Pre-consumer content is content from industry scraps that was diverted from the waste stream and used for
other purposes. Examples include sawdust, wood shavings, wood chips, and print overruns. Excluded are
materials that are re-incorporated into the same manufacturing process that generated it.
Cabinetry made from walnut shells is an example of a pre-consumer recycled material.
Sawdust, shavings, and wood chips are pre-consumer material that can be used elsewhere, even if they are
used for landscaping purposes.
Notes:
Reference: LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Reference Guide, Glossary
Post-consumer material - recycled material generated from the waste of household, commercial, industrial, or
institutional end-users
Postconsumer recycled content - is the percentage of material in a product that was consumer waste. The recycled
material was generated by household, commercial, industrial, or institutional end-users and can no longer be used for
its intended purpose. It includes returns of materials from the distribution chain. Examples include construction and
demolition debris, materials collected through recycling programs, discarded products (e.g., furniture, cabinetry,
decking), and landscaping waste (e.g., leaves, grass clippings, tree trimmings). (ISO 14021)

Pre-consumer content - formerly known as post-industrial content, is the percentage of material in a product that is
recycled from manufacturing waste. Examples include planer shavings, plytrim, sawdust, chips, bagasse, sunflower
seed hulls, walnut shells, culls, trimmed materials, print overruns, overissue publications, and obsolete inventories.
Excluded are materials such as rework, regrind, or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed
within the same process that generated it (ISO 14021).
Question 7:
Which item can NOT contribute to Construction Waste Management?
A Recycling packaging material
Recycled materials help reduce construction waste. Any recycled material can be reduced from the volume
of construction waste. For New Construction projects if 50% of construction waste is diverted the
Construction Waste Management credit can be earned.
B PCB removal
PCBs are toxic materials. In LEED, hazardous materials do not count toward Construction Waste
Management.
C Wood given to a salvage hauler
Wood given to a salvage hauler or any donated materials would contribute to construction waste
management.
D Ground up brick used for drainage
Ground up brick used for drainage could contribute to materials reuse.
Notes:
Question 8:
What is a financial benefit of implementing an occupant recycling program?
A Reduced landfill fees
B Minimized air pollution
C Reduced extraction of virgin materials
D Reduced energy use
Notes:
Recycling can result in reduced landfill and tipping fees since the materials are diverted from landfills. Sometimes the
recycled materials can be sold to waste haulers, creating a net gain.

Question 9:
Which of the following are examples of post-consumer recycled content?
A Construction and demolition debris sent to a recycling plant
Construction and demolition debris can be sorted and recycled and used to make other products.
B Scraps reclaimed from the manufacturing line
Scraps reclaimed from the manufacturing line and used to make more of the same product/material are not
considered to include recycled content.
C Magazines from a print overrun
This is an example of pre-consumer recycled content because the material never made it to the consumer.
D Planer shavings used to make composite wood
This is an example of pre-consumer recycled content because the material never made it to the consumer.
Notes:
Question 10:
What item would NOT be included in commingled recycling?
A Metal
B Cardboard
C Glass
D Food waste
At a minimum, a recycling program should include paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal.
Stones, dirt, hazardous materials, batteries, mercury-containing light bulbs, and food waste would not be
included.

Notes:
Question 11:
What defines the total of the energy necessary for an entire product's lifecycle?
A Life cycle assessment
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the investigation and valuation of the environmental impacts of a given
product or service. LCA evaluates environmental performance. This view takes into account the whole life of
a product or project (not assessing it from a single point in time).
B Embodied energy
Embodied energy is the energy used to grow, extract and manufacture a product, transport it to the jobsite,
complete the installation, and finally dispose of it at the end of its life cycle.
C Simple payback
Simple payback takes the cost of an item or strategy and divides that number by the yearly savings that
product or strategy creates. If replacing a CFC-based system costs $150,000 but saves a property manager
$50,000 a year, the project will have a simple payback period of 3 years.
D Life cycle costing
Life cycle costing (LCC) is the evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful life, including
initial, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings. LCC evaluates economic
performance.
Notes:
Reference: n/a
Question 12:
What types of old materials/items does LEED NOT suggest reusing on a project?
A Flooring
LEED rewards projects for reusing materials such as flooring.
B Asphalt
Asphalt can be reused as an aggregate.
C Furniture
LEED rewards projects for reusing materials such as furniture.
D Showerheads
Notes:

Old plumbing fixtures are frequently more inefficient than newer models and consume more water. For new
construction or renovations, consider higher efficiency models, such as waterless urinals.
Question 13:
Some wood flooring recovered onsite from a renovation project was refurbished and reused onsite. What type of
material is the wood flooring considered?
A Recycled content
Do not confuse recycled content with salvaged materials. Recycled content contains materials that have
been recycled. An example is insulation made from recycled newspapers. Salvaged materials are
construction materials recovered from building sites and reused on different building sites in the same or a
different capacity. Examples can include flooring, brick, beams, and doors.
B Regional/local material
This material would also be a regional/local material since it came from onsite.
You may hear regional materials also referred to as local materials. Exam objective V.B from the GBCI
handbook is 'Locally (regionally) Harvested and Manufactured Materials'. The USGBC GA study guide also
has 'Regional/Locally Sourced Materials' in the book's definitions. The terms mean the same thing.
C Virgin wood
Virgin wood is new wood. Since the wood flooring was obtained from the renovation project the wood was
not new and was not cut down from a forest specifically for the use in the project.
D Salvaged material
The flooring would be a salvaged material since it was found and used onsite.
Notes:
The question is asking about which groups of materials the wood flooring would be included in.
Question 14:
Which items are considered pre-consumer recycled items?
A Demolition debris used on another project
This would be considered salvaged material.
B Carpets made from nylon that include scraps reclaimed from production
Scraps that are reclaimed and used to manufacture the same items (carpet, steel beams) do not count as
pre-consumer content or post-consumer content, and thus must be excluded.
C Steel beams created from metal reclaimed from the manufacturing line
Scraps that are reclaimed and used to manufacture the same items (carpet, steel beams) do not count as
pre-consumer content or post-consumer content, and thus must be excluded.

D Cotton insulation manufactured from factory-reject denim jeans
Pre-consumer content is material diverted from a waste stream during the manufacturing process. Excluded
from pre-consumer content are materials that have been reutilized within the same process that generated
them, such as rework, regrind, or scrap generated in the process and then put back into the process.
Cotton insulation is created from scraps from other manufacturing processes before the scraps reach
consumers.
Question 15:
To earn LEED credits for environmentally preferable materials wood used on a project should be:
A ASHRAE approved
ASHRAE is unrelated to wood.
B Harvested within 1,500 miles of the project site
If the wood was harvested within 500 miles it would be environmentally preferable.
C FSC certified
FSC certified wood is the type of wood LEED accepts as environmentally preferable due to how the forest is
managed.
D Green Seal certified
Green Seal is a certification for paints, not wood.
Notes:
Question 16:
Within what distance must a material be extracted, harvested, recovered, or manufactured to be considered a
regional material?
A 100 miles
B 250 miles
C 500 miles
Regionally harvested (or extracted) and processed materials Materials that come from within a 500-mile
radius of the project site. (-USGBC)
D 200 miles
Notes:

Question 17:
Selecting products that have been developed with a sustainable design is an example of:
A Reuse
B Recycling
C Source reduction
Source reduction reduces the materials brought into a building. This includes products that have reduced
packaging and products developed with sustainable design principles.
D Waste diversion
Question 18:
Construction and demolition debris includes all but which of the following?
A Steel from a demolished building
The steel is debris that came from the existing building.
B Rocks
Rocks would be part of the excavation of the site area.
Hazardous materials, excavated soil (rocks) and land-clearing debris do not contribute to LEED credits but
these items should still be addressed in a construction waste management plan.
C Drywall
Drywall can come from an existing building or as scraps from new construction.
D Concrete from a demolished building
The concrete is debris that came from the existing building.
Notes:
Construction and demolition (C&D) debris is defined as: 'Waste and recyclables generated from construction,
renovation, and demolition or deconstruction of preexisting structures.'
Question 19:
What is applicable to the ongoing operations and maintenance of a building?
A Sustainable purchasing policy
Sustainable purchasing policies give preference to the purchase of environmentally preferable products and
the companies that supply them. For ongoing operations and maintenance it is required to a have a policy in
place to address product purchases for the building. The program should address ongoing consumables, like

office paper and printer cartridges, as well as durable goods like computers and furniture.
B Commissioning
Commissioning is the systematic process of assuring that a building and its systems performs in accordance
with the design intent and the owner's requirements. This is part of building construction.
C Passive design strategies
Passive design strategies such as natural ventilation and daylighting are part of building design.
D Floor area ratio
The FAR would be used during planning and construction.
Notes:
Question 20:
What document does the project team create for the administrative and procedural requirements for salvaging,
recycling, and disposing of non-hazardous demolition and construction waste?
A Building commissioning plan
The commissioning plan is a document that outlines the organization, schedule, allocation of resources, and
documentation requirements of the commissioning process.
B Construction waste management plan
A construction waste management plan contains the administrative and procedural requirements for
salvaging, recycling and disposing of non-hazardous demolition and construction waste.
C Building recycling plan
The building recycling plan addresses how materials should be collected and stored for recycling, once the
building is occupied.
D Measurement and verification plan
Measurement and Verification plans are used to account for a building's energy consumption over time to
optimize energy performance, minimize environmental impacts, and save on building operating costs. New
Construction projects can earn a Measurement and Verification credit for implementing this type of plan.
Notes:
Question 20:
What document does the project team create for the administrative and procedural requirements for salvaging,
recycling, and disposing of non-hazardous demolition and construction waste?

A Building commissioning plan
The commissioning plan is a document that outlines the organization, schedule, allocation of resources, and
documentation requirements of the commissioning process.
B Construction waste management plan
A construction waste management plan contains the administrative and procedural requirements for
salvaging, recycling and disposing of non-hazardous demolition and construction waste.
C Building recycling plan
The building recycling plan addresses how materials should be collected and stored for recycling, once the
building is occupied.
D Measurement and verification plan
Measurement and Verification plans are used to account for a building's energy consumption over time to
optimize energy performance, minimize environmental impacts, and save on building operating costs. New
Construction projects can earn a Measurement and Verification credit for implementing this type of plan.
Notes:
Question 22:
A counter made of recycled glass obtained and manufactured within 500 miles of project would contribute toward:
A Regional materials only
The glass is a Regional material but also a Recycled material. This is an example of a credit synergy where
one design decision can earn credit in multiple areas.
B Recycled materials only
The glass is a Recycled material but also a Regional material. This is an example of a credit synergy where
one design decision can earn credit in multiple areas.
C Neither regional nor recycled materials
This is not correct.
D Both regional and recycled materials
LEED rewards projects for using Regional Materials, which are defined as building materials or products that
have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured within 500 miles of the project.
The glass is considered recycled content (post-consumer). Since the glass counter was manufactured within
500 miles, it is also a regional/local material.
Notes:

Question 23:
What are the three R's of construction waste management?
A Reduce
B Recycle
C Resourcing
D Reuse
E Refilling
Notes:
Reduce, reuse, recycle are the three ways to reduce construction waste.
Question 24:
What are the environmental benefits of using salvaged wood flooring in a residential project?
A The wood flooring will have a lower cost since it did not have to be extracted from a forest
A lower cost would be an economic benefit. Most salvaged flooring would have a higher cost since they tend
to be of higher quality wood.
B The wood flooring will increase the tax base of the local economy
There is a benefit to society (remember the triple bottom line?) assuming the material was salvaged locally
and re-used locally.
C The wood flooring will reduce the demand for virgin resources
Salvaged materials reduce the demand for virgin materials and reduce waste. Flooring that is taken from a
demo project can be reused elsewhere so that trees do not have to be cut down to supply wood for new
flooring.
D The wood flooring will have a lower installation cost
The installation cost is an economic issue, not an environmental issue.
Notes:
Question 25:
What benefit to the environment does a project that uses Recycled Materials contribute?
A Reduced air and water pollution

This is an environmental benefit of using Regional Materials because transportation is reduced.
B Reducing a project's soft costs
Purchased materials are a hard cost, not a soft cost.
C Reducing demand for virgin resources
This is an environmental benefit of using recycled materials.
D Supporting the use of local resources
This is a social benefit of using Regional Materials because the community is helped through increased jobs
and taxes.
Notes:
Question 26:
What encourages recycling among building occupants?
A The size of the recycling area
The size of the area does not impact if someone will recycle or not.
B Accessibility and convenience to recycling bins
C The cost of waste haulers
The cost of waste haulers impacts the owner of the building not the occupant participation.
D Installing can crushers and cardboard bailers
While installing can crushers and cardboard bailers will help reduce the storage requirements of onsite
recycled materials, they do not impact if an occupant will participate in the recycling program.
Notes:
Make it easy and people will recycle.
Studies show that the easier it is for people to recycle materials the more likely they are to do so. Place a recycling
bin in the basement of a building where it takes someone 10 minutes to get to it and recycle a soda can and it isn't as
likely the person will recycle the can compared to if a bin is 20 feet from their desk.
Question 27:
What is FSC Certified wood?
A Wood that has been procured from well managed forests

FSC Certified wood comes from well managed forests that use responsible logging practices.
B Composite wood that does not contain any urea formaldehyde
This type of wood is not certified.
C Composite wood that contains post-consumer recycled wood, usually from construction and demolition
debris
This type of material is not certified.
D Wood that has been extracted and harvested within 500 miles of the project site
Regional materials are building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as
well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site. (-USGBC)
Notes:
Question 27:
What is FSC Certified wood?
A Wood that has been procured from well managed forests
FSC Certified wood comes from well managed forests that use responsible logging practices.
B Composite wood that does not contain any urea formaldehyde
This type of wood is not certified.
C Composite wood that contains post-consumer recycled wood, usually from construction and demolition
debris
This type of material is not certified.
D Wood that has been extracted and harvested within 500 miles of the project site
Notes:
Question 29:
A project team demolishes an existing building and will reuse the shell of the building and recycle the rest of the
construction and demolition debris. What credit areas could the project earn points under?
A Recycled Content
Note the difference between recycling and the use of recycled content. Recycling is the act of keeping

materials out of landfills to reduce the demand for virgin resources. Recycled content are materials that
contain pre or post consumer recycled content.
B Construction Waste Management
The recycled debris would help the project divert waste from landfills and earn credit for construction waste
management.
C Building Reuse
Building reuse can be earned when projects reuse existing portions of a building including the exterior walls,
roof, structural flooring, interior walls, etc.
D Community Connectivity
Reusing an existing building does not imply community connectivity can be earned. Community connectivity
is achieved when a project is located near basic services, and there is pedestrian access between those
services.
Notes:
Question 30:
An office cubicle that contains post-consumer aluminum content would contribute to what credit area?
A Construction Waste Management
This is incorrect because the cube is not construction or demolition debris.
B Rapidly Renewable Materials
Aluminum is not a rapidly renewable material.
C Certified Materials
Recycled materials are not certified by any organization.
D Recycled Content
Post-consumer aluminum content is a type of recycled material.
Question 31:
Which of the following materials, if reused, would be considered pre-consumer recycled content?
A Milk jugs
Any curbside pickup material is a post-consumer material. If you recycle soda cans at your house, or
newspapers, cereal boxes, cardboard, milk jugs - those materials are sent to a recycling plant, sorted and
resold to manufacturers that turn them into something else.

B Construction and demolition debris
Construction and demolition debris is a post-consumer material. For example wood and steel scraps that are
left over from installation can be recycled and turned into something else.
C Sunflower seed hulls
Sunflower seed hulls are a type of pre-consumer recycled content.
D Sawdust
Sawdust can be taken from a lumber mill and sent to another manufacturer where they turn it into medium
density fiberboard (MDF).
E Walnut shells
Walnut shells are a type of pre-consumer recycled content. The walnut shells are taken from the walnut
processing line at the food plant and shipped somewhere else to be turned into composite wood products
such as cabinetry.
Notes:
Question 32:
A project being certified under LEED for Existing Building Operations and Maintenance would have what ongoing
features that a new construction project would not?
A Sustainable purchasing policy
Sustainable purchasing policies give preference to the purchase of environmentally preferable products and
the companies that supply them. For ongoing operations and maintenance it is required to a have a policy in
place to address product purchases for the building. The program should address ongoing consumables, like
office paper and printer cartridges, as well as durable goods like computers and furniture.
B Water efficient landscaping
Both rating systems address water efficient landscaping.
C Waste stream audits, including recycling

A waste stream audit in an existing building can be a measure and verification of the company's recycling
program. The team can decide on how many categories, but they should include recyclable items,
compostable items, and true waste. No matter the number of categories, in the end the waste accounted for
should equal 100%. This should be done occasionally to check and ensure recycling items are in fact being
recycled and that any waste education in the project is being followed by occupants.
D Minimum energy efficiency
Both rating systems address energy efficiency. New construction projects must be designed with a minimum
efficiency and existing buildings must operate with a minimum efficiency.
E Refrigerant management
Both rating systems address refrigerant management. They both require zero use of CFCs in base building
equipment.
Notes:
Question 33:
What type of construction materials are recovered from building sites and reused on different building sites in the
same or a different capacity?
A Pre-consumer recycled material
Pre-consumer content - formerly known as post-industrial content, is the percentage of material in a product
that is recycled from manufacturing waste. Examples include planer shavings, plytrim, sawdust, chips,
bagasse, sunflower seed hulls, walnut shells, culls, trimmed materials, print overruns, overissue publications,
and obsolete inventories. Excluded are materials such as rework, regrind, or scrap generated in a process
and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it (ISO 14021).
B Post-consumer recycled material
Postconsumer recycled content - is the percentage of material in a product that was consumer waste. The
recycled material was generated by household, commercial, industrial, or institutional end-users and can no
longer be used for its intended purpose. It includes returns of materials from the distribution chain. Examples
include construction and demolition debris, materials collected through recycling programs, discarded
products (e.g., furniture, cabinetry, decking), and landscaping waste (e.g., leaves, grass clippings, tree
trimmings). (ISO 14021)
C Durable material
Durable materials have a longer life.
D Salvaged material
Salvaged materials are construction materials recovered from building sites and reused on different building
sites in the same or a different capacity. Examples can include flooring, brick, beams, and doors.
Notes:

Question 34:
A project team for a new home has selected insulation made partly of recycled newspaper. What type of material is
the insulation considered?
A Post-consumer recycled content
The recycled newspaper is a post-consumer recycled material.
B Salvaged
C Certified recycled wood content
D Rapidly renewable
Notes:
Question 35:
What attribute should recycled materials have in order to take advantage of synergies with regional materials?
A Lower life-cycle costs
B More durability
C Remanufactured regionally
Only the choice of being remanufactured regionally would help with earning credit for regional/locally
sourced materials.
For LEED, regional materials are materials that originate within 500 miles of the project site. To be
considered regional the materials must be extracted, processed, and manufactured within 500 miles of the
project site. For example if lumber is extracted 1,000 miles away and turned into flooring 250 miles from the
project site the flooring would not be considered a regional material.
D Low VOCs
Question 36:
What should be included in a construction waste management plan?
A The distance products were purchased from the construction site
This information is needed for Regional Materials credit.
B If any construction waste materials to be recycled will be commingled or separated
The construction waste management plan will describe where construction and demolition debris is going to
go. Part of this decision is to use commingled or separate recycling.

C New technologies and materials that will help reduce waste
This decision would be part of the design plan, not part of how to divert and dispose of waste.
D Which existing building materials - if any - will be reused
This decision is part of the design phase where questions might be asked such as 'are we going to reuse the
roof of this existing building'. If the answer is no, then the waste management plan would include information
on where the roof is going.
Notes:
Question 37:
Which of the following can reduce the volume of recycled materials sent to recycling facilities?
A Purchasing materials with recycled content
This does not reduce the quantity of materials sent to recycling facilities.
B Reusing materials
To cut down on the volume of materials to be recycled reuse the materials instead of recycling them. An
example is reusing water bottles or keeping paper for scrap paper instead of putting them in the recycle bins.
C Installing recycling chutes
This would increase the recycling rate.
D Using commingled recycling
Implementing a recycling program would increase the recycling rate regardless if the recycling was
commingled or not.
Commingled recycling uses a single bin to collect all materials for recycling vs. using a separate bin for each
type of material - paper, plastic, glass, etc.
Question 38:
What practice would be used to investigate lumber from the point where the lumber was extracted to the point where
the lumber was disposed of?
A Upcycling
Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of
better quality or a higher environmental value.
B Cradle to cradle
Cradle to cradle is a term used in life-cycle analysis to describe a material or product that is recycled into a
new product at the end of its useful life. Cradle to cradle is an example of a closed system.
C Regenerative design

This term is sometimes used for cradle to cradle.
D Cradle to grave
Cradle to grave is a view of materials and products where products that have reached the end of their useful
lives are considered worthless. This is a type of open system.
The key in this question is the product was disposed of, indicating the process was linear. If the lumber had
been reused in some way the choice would be cradle to cradle.
Notes:
Question 39:
Which items can contribute to Construction Waste Management credit?
A Sheetrock
Sheetrock contributes to Construction Waste Management as part of the total volume or weight of materials.
If you put the sheetrock in a landfill it counts negatively against the credit. If you recycle the material it counts
positively.
B Asbestos flooring
Hazardous material (asbestos) does not count towards Construction Waste Management.
C Brick
Brick contributes to Construction Waste Management as part of the total volume or weight of materials. If
you put the brick in a landfill it counts negatively against the credit. If you recycle the brick or use it onsite
somewhere (like a walkway) it counts positively.
D Tree stumps
Excavated materials (tree stumps) do not count towards Construction Waste Management.
Notes:
For the purposes of the LEED Construction Waste Management credit, hazardous material and excavation do not
count toward this credit. The reason LEED does not allow this is because these materials can skew the amount of
construction waste kept from landfills.
Consider a project that removes 50 tons of dirt from the site and the total waste for the construction site was 100
tons. With those values you could say 50% of waste was diverted but that is not how the LEED calculations are done.
The project team hasn't kept any construction waste from the landfill - they only hauled off some dirt to another
location. The 50 tons of dirt are excluded from any calculations.
Only your actual construction and demolition debris are included - wood scraps, metal, drywall, cardboard boxes, etc.
Construction Waste Management is calculated by weight or volume.
Question 40:
How can projects reduce sending waste to a landfill?

A Reuse materials
Recycling and reuse of construction and demolition debris help reduce waste that is sent to a landfill.
B Use local materials
Using local materials helps reduce the transportation costs associated with moving materials as well as
helping the local economy.
C Use materials with low lifecycle costs
Using materials with lower life cycle costs helps reduce operating costs and maintenance expenses over the
products lifetime.
D Recycle materials
Recycling and reuse of construction and demolition debris help reduce waste that is sent to a landfill.
Question 41:
What are examples of waste diversion for construction waste management?
A Incineration
Incineration is not a practice LEED accepts for construction waste management.
B Disposal in landfills
Disposal in landfills is what construction waste management tries to avoid.
C Recycling
Recycling materials keeps them out of landfills and reduces the demand for virgin resources.
D Reuse
Reusing materials keeps them out of landfills and reduces the demand for virgin resources.
Notes:
Question 42:
What strategies does the EPA recommend for waste reduction?
A Source reduction
B Sustainable materials
The use of sustainable materials helps the environment but does not necessarily impact waste reduction.
C Locally manufactured materials

This does not impact waste reduction.
D Reuse
E Recycling
Notes:
Source reduction, reuse, and recycling are the three ways EPA ranks as reducing waste the most.
Question 43:
What types of wood are considered sustainable materials?
A Virgin wood
LEED rewards projects for not using virgin wood by giving credits for using salvaged materials such as
salvaged wood flooring.
B Salvaged wood
Salvaged wood is a sustainable material.
C Certified wood
D Slow growth wood
LEED rewards projects for not slow growth wood by giving credits for using salvaged materials such as
salvaged wood flooring.
Notes:
Question 44:
Cabinetry made from walnut shells would help contribute toward earning what LEED credit?
A Construction Waste Management
Cabinets are usually built to order and have minimal waste generated during installation. Any waste
disposed of would contribute to construction waste management but not enough information is given in the
question to make this a valid choice.
B Regional Materials
No information was given on the manufacturing distance of the cabinets so this cannot be an answer choice.
C Building Reuse
Building reuse deals with reusing the floors, roofs, and walls of an existing building.

D Recycled Materials
Pre-consumer content is content from industry scraps that was diverted from the waste stream and used for
other purposes. Examples include sawdust, wood shavings, wood chips, and print overruns. Excluded are
materials that are re-incorporated into the same manufacturing process that generated it.
Cabinetry made from walnut shells is an example of a pre-consumer recycled material.
Notes:
Reference: n/a
Question 45:
What products would be considered pre-consumer recycled content under LEED?
A Countertops made of glass bottles
Glass bottles are a post-consumer recycled material.
B Ground up tires used for walkways
Tires are a post-consumer recycled material.
C Salvaged doors
Salvaged doors are a materials that qualify for building reuse.
D Concrete containing fly-ash as supplementary cementitious material
Fly ash is one of the residues generated in combustion at coal plants. In the US, fly ash is generally stored at
coal power plants or placed in landfills. About 43 percent is recycled, often used to supplement Portland
cement in concrete production.
Notes:
Question 46:
Reusing an existing building can help earn credit in what category?
A Water Efficiency
B Sustainable Sites
C Energy and Atmosphere
D Materials and Resources

The Materials and Resources category has LEED credits for building reuse. For example, if a project selects
an existing building and guts the building but leaves the walls and roof, credit could be earned.
Notes:
Question 47:
Some FSC Certified wood was extracted 450 miles from a project site, milled into lumber 550 miles from the project
site, and purchased from a manufacturer located 500 miles from the project site. What is true about this scenario?
A Half of the material can count as Regional Materials because the lumber was milled outside of the 500 mile
radius required for Regional Materials but was extracted within the 500 mile radius
B All of the wood counts as Regional Materials
C Only 2/3 of the material can count as Regional Materials because the lumber was milled outside of the 500
mile radius required for Regional Materials
D None of the wood can count towards Regional Materials
If the lumber fails any one of the tests:
Extracted
Harvested/recovered
Manufactured
-the material does not count as a Regional Material.
If you have an assembly of something, say a desk, you can count the portion of the desk as a Regional
Material if that portion meets all of the requirements.
Notes:
Question 48:
Which of the following are strategies to reduce construction waste?
A Give unused materials to a salvage yard
To reduce construction waste, divert any unused materials from the waste stream-namely, landfills and
incinerators.
Materials can be donated, sold, or recycled, to keep them out of landfills and to help reduce the demand for
virgin materials.
B Use FSC certified materials
C Haul unused materials to a landfill
D Select sustainable building materials
Notes:

Question 49:
What statement is true regarding products used to earn LEED credits?
A Products can only contribute to strategies that will help earn a credit
Products can only help with the strategies used to meet the requirements of a credit. For example, if a
product contains recycled materials, the product would help earn Recycled Credit. There are no products
that get LEED labels or endorsements that would say 'LEED approved', etc.
B Project teams should choose products that are LEED certified
Products cannot be LEED certified
C Project teams should choose products that are LEED approved
LEED does not approve/disapprove products.
D The use of endorsed products can help earn Innovation in Design credit
Products are not endorsed by LEED.
Notes:
Reference: USGBC Trademark Guidelines
Question 50:
A product made in part from cardboard boxes collected at curbside pickups or from an onsite, commingled recycling
area is an example of what material?
A Recycled material
Post-consumer material - recycled material generated from the waste of household, commercial, industrial,
or institutional end-users
B Durable material
Durable materials are materials that have longer life spans. A roofing material that lasts 50 years is more
durable than a roofing material that lasts 20 years.
C Salvaged material
Salvaged (reused) materials come from construction sites or existing buildings and are reused in the same

or different capacity.
Examples include doors, flooring, ceiling tiles, and bricks.
D Remanufactured material
Remanufacturing is a process where a particular product is taken apart, cleaned, repaired, and then
reassembled to be used again. Many different types of products can go through this process, including auto
parts, tires, furniture, laser toner cartridges, computers, and electrical equipment.
A remanufactured product is not a recycled one. Recycling involves using a product or its parts as raw
materials for a different product and is generally applied to consumable goods like newspapers, bottles, and
cans. Very rarely are recycled products resold to be used as they were originally intended, and when they
are, the quality is not as good as a remanufactured product.
Notes:
Question 51:
An old door taken from one project site and reused on another project site is considered what type of material?
A Rapidly renewable
A rapidly renewable material (like bamboo) is a material that has a harvest cycle of 10 years or less. These
types of materials reduce the use of old grow materials such as hardwood trees.
B Certified wood
Wood that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is acceptable for LEED credits for
Certified Wood.
C Locally harvested
D Salvaged
Salvaged materials or reused materials are construction materials recovered from existing buildings or
construction sites and reused. The materials may be used for the same purpose (a door used as a door) or a
different purpose (a door turned into a table). Some common material that is salvaged includes old flooring,
brick, doors, cabinets, and structural beams.
Notes:
This is a type of Regional Material.
Question 52:
What items would NOT be included in commingled recycling?
A Stone
For LEED, stones, dirt, hazardous materials, batteries, mercury-containing light bulbs, and food waste would
not be included.

B Cardboard
C Plastic
D Aluminum cans
Notes:
At a minimum, a recycling program should include paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal.
Question 53:
How is the quantity of locally harvested and manufactured materials used on a project calculated?
A By the amount of leftovers diverted from landfills
B By the number of board feet
C By the materials' average distance from the project site
D By the materials' proportion of cost
Notes:
Regional Materials, Recycled Materials, and Certified Wood are calculated based on the percent cost (not weight) of
all materials' total value.
This differs from Construction Waste Management which is calculated by weight or volume, and Building Reuse
which is based on area.
If the building materials for a project cost $500,000 and the quantity of regional materials out of the total materials
purchased amounted to $250,000, the project would have 50% regional materials.
Simplified:
$500,000 of total materials purchased
Of that $500,000, $250,000 were purchased within 500 miles
$250,000 regional materials / $500,000 total materials = 50% regional materials
Question 54:
What are the negative consequences that can result from not diverting construction demolition and debris?
A Landfill gas emissions
One of the negative environmental consequences of landfills is the gas emissions they produce.
B Ozone depletion
Ozone depletion is caused by refrigerants reacting in the ozone layer.
C Sedimentation

Sedimentation is caused by lack of erosion control and stormwater runoff.
D Groundwater contamination
Trash in landfills can contain hazardous chemicals. Eventually rain works its way down and carries these
chemicals into subsurface groundwater and aquifers.
Notes:
Reference: n/a
Question 55:
What products would NOT count towards Regional Materials or Materials Reuse?
A Brick
B Copper piping
Mechanical, plumbing, electrical components, and specialty items (like photovoltaics or elevators) do not
count towards Regional Materials or Materials Reuse because their high cost can skew the credit
calculations.
C Furniture
D Flooring
E Elevator
Mechanical, plumbing, electrical components, and specialty items (like photovoltaics or elevators) do not
count towards Regional Materials or Materials Reuse because their high cost can skew the credit
calculations.
Notes:
Question 56:
A school project will use some old school lockers that were salvaged from a fitness center located 70 miles away.
What LEED credits will this decision help with?
A Regional Materials
Because the material is located within a 500 mile radius, the lockers count as a Regional Material.
B Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are those materials that contain pre or post consumer recycled content.
C Materials Reuse
Materials Reuse includes salvaged materials found either onsite or offsite.

D Construction Waste Management
Construction waste management addresses diverting construction debris from the project site from landfills.
E Building Reuse
Building Reuse is the reuse of major building elements such as the shell, roof, structural flooring, or interior
wall partitions.
Notes:
Reference: n/a
Question 57:
What should be included in a construction waste management plan for the demolition of an existing building?
A The design of the size of the building
The size of the building impacts the quantity of construction waste, but this decision is not part of the
construction waste management plan.
B The removal of any CFC-based refrigerants
CFC removal would be done by a specialist. This would not be part of the waste management plan.
C Where to dispose of any PCBs
POLYCHLORINATED BI-PHENYLS (PCB's) are a common chemical hazard, in spite of the fact that use
has been banned since 1979. They were widely used in older electrical equipment as an insulating fluid.
Hazardous material removal is part of the plan. Hazardous materials do not count toward the percent of
debris diverted from landfills but they are still included in the waste management plan.
D The installation of a composting system for occupants
Composting would occur post-construction when the building has occupants.
Notes:
Question 58:
Which of the following materials would be considered post-consumer recycled content?
A Bamboo flooring
Bamboo is a type of rapidly renewable material.
B Certified wood flooring
Certified wood is wood from sustainably managed forests.

C Wool carpet made from wool leftover from the manufacturing process
This example would not be considered any type of recycled material. If a manufacturing process uses scraps
and puts them back in the assembly line, it is a good practice but it does not count towards pre or post
consumer recycled content.
D Flooring made from recycled milk jugs and sawdust
Recycled milk jugs are a post-consumer recycled product.
Notes:
Question 59:
Which items can contribute to Construction Waste Management?
A Hazardous construction debris
Hazardous debris does not qualify for this credit; therefore, hazardous construction debris is incorrect.
B Concrete
Concrete - if kept out of the landfill - can be counted towards reducing construction waste.
C Fill dirt
Fill dirt does not qualify for this credit; therefore, fill dirt (excavated soil) is incorrect.
D Steel and wallboard
Steel and wallboard - if kept out of the landfill - can be counted towards reducing construction waste.
Notes:

Question 60:
Which of the following is not a strategy to reduce construction waste?
A Maximize the building footprint
Increasing the size of the building footprint would likely increase the amount of construction waste.
B Recycle materials
C Use salvaged materials
D Sell unused materials
Notes:
Note the question asks what is not a strategy.
To reduce construction waste, divert any unused materials from the waste stream-namely, landfills and incinerators.
Materials can be donated, sold, or recycled, to keep them out of landfills and to help reduce the demand for virgin
materials.
Question 61:
A material must be _________ to be considered a Regional Material.
A Certified by FSC
This is required for certified wood.
B LEED certified
Products cannot be certified for LEED.
C Harvested within 10 years or less
This is a requirement for rapidly renewable materials
D Extracted, processed, and manufactured close to the project site
Notes:
Question 62:
Why use commingled recycling?
A Commingled recycling takes up less space

One container vs. several will take up less space.
B Materials are less likely to be contaminated
C More kinds of materials can be recycled
D Recycled materials can be sold for more money
Notes:
Commingled recycling uses one bin for all recycled materials. This approach is common for curbside pickup recycling
programs for residences.
Question 63:
What is true regarding carpet made from recycled milk jugs?
A The carpet is more durable than conventional carpets
There is usually similar performance of products that contain recycled material and products made with only
virgin materials.
B The carpet contains post-consumer recycled content
C The carpet has lower life cycle costs than conventional carpets
There is usually similar costs when comparing products that contain recycled material and products made
with only virgin materials.
D The material would reduce the need for virgin materials
Using materials that contain recycled content reduces virgin materials use. Steel is the country's most widely
recycled material. Supplemental cementitious materials (SCMs) is another common recycled materials used
in commercial building. Fly ash is a common type of SCM.
Notes:
Question 64:
What is source reduction?
A Reducing the heat island effect
This is just reducing the heat island effect - there is no other term for it.

B Reducing energy use in a building
Reducing energy use is described as optimized energy performance by LEED.
C Reducing the amount of stormwater runoff
This is just reducing the amount of stormwater runoff - there is no other term for it.
D Decreasing the materials used for manufacturing products
Reducing waste at its source is the best way to reduce waste. Less packaging and fewer materials reduce
the demand for virgin materials.
Question 65:
A granite countertop taken from a demolition project and reused in a residence is what type of product?
A Locally manufactured
B Locally extracted
C Locally recovered
D Salvaged
While the product may be a local material, it is definitely a salvaged material.
Question 66:
The choice of a building material used for a project should be determined by what criteria?
A The corporate philosophy of the material's supplier
Purchasing from a company that negatively harms the environment isn't ideal, but this is somewhat outside
of the triple-bottom-line.
B The impact the material has on society
This is the social portion of the triple bottom line.
C The cost of the material
This is the economic portion of the triple bottom line.
D How long the material has been used in other projects
This might be a factor, but some newer materials may perform better than older materials. The inverse is
also true.
E The environmental impact of extracting and manufacturing the material

This is the environmental portion of the triple bottom line.
Notes:
Reference: n/a
This is an example of selecting a material based on the triple bottom line, which is how USGBC is guided by their
decisions.
Question 67:
What provides detailed information on the chemical composition, health effects, safety procedures, and other
characteristics of products and materials?
A IPMVP Volume III
IPMVP Volume III is the standard used for Measurement and Verification (M&V). It provides best practices
for verifying energy performance.
B Green Seal Certification
Green Seal is an environmental certification program for products. A Green Seal label for paints indicates if
the paint contains low VOC content.
C Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
By reviewing your MSDS, you can identify the types and quantities of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) contained in each gallon of paint, thinner, solvent, or other material
used on the project. The quantity of VOCs can be used to select products that meet the Low Emitting
Materials credits in the IEQ category.
D Measurement and Verification (M&V) plan
Measurement and Verification is a credit that provides for the ongoing accountability of building energy
consumption over time to optimize energy performance, minimize environmental impacts, and save on
building operating costs.
Notes:
Reference: O&M Glossary
Question 68:
What are the collection requirements for the storage and collection of recyclables in a building?
A Include space to collect organic materials (food)
B Collect either light bulbs or batteries
C The area must be easily accessible
D Collect light bulbs and batteries
Notes:

The collection of recycled materials (at a minimum these materials include paper, corrugated cardboard, glass,
plastics, and metals) requires an easily accessible dedicated area for collection and storage. When implementing the
storage area consider using signs to help people find the area, and to show what materials go in what bins (for non-
commingled recycling). If the storage area is outside make sure it is protected from the elements and nobody can
steal your materials (metals can be worth a lot of money).
At a minimum, a recycling program must include:
paper
cardboard
glass
plastics
metals
Stones, dirt, hazardous materials, batteries, mercury-containing light bulbs, and food waste would not be included.
Question 69:
Which of the following is used to determine if a product is pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled content?
A ASHRAE 62.1
ASHRAE 62.1-2007 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality specifies minimum ventilation rates.
B LEED Online Calculators
The LEED online calculators do not define recycled content.
C ISO 14021
The ISO 14000 product oriented standards include Environmental Labels and Declaration, Life Cycle
Assessment, and Design for Environment. These standards are intended to be applicable for assessing the
environmental performance of products and services as well as providing guidance on improving their
environmental performance.
The ISO 14021 standard, Environmental Labels and Declaration, are communication tools that convey
information on environmental aspects of a product or service to the market. These standards are used for
recycled materials to label their pre and/or post consumer content.
D Local codes
Local codes do not define recycled content.
Question 70:
Which of the following are strategies to reduce construction waste?
A Incinerate the remaining waste
This is not a strategy accepted by LEED for construction waste management.
B Purchase materials that are locally manufactured
This is an example of a strategy to achieve Regional Materials, which helps reduce transportation costs and
stimulates the local economy.
C Donate unused materials to Habitat for Humanity

D Purchase materials with lower lifecycle costs
This does not impact the quantity of construction waste.
Notes:
To reduce construction waste, divert any unused materials from the waste stream-namely, landfills and incinerators.
Materials can be donated, sold, or recycled.
Question 71:
The recycling of construction and demolition debris helps with what issue?
A Reducing the amount of materials needed for a construction project
Recycling debris does not affect the quantity of materials needed.
B Reducing demand for virgin resources
All recycling and material reuse helps reduce the demand for virgin resources.
C Keeping hazardous materials out of landfills
Hazardous materials are not recycled. They often end up in a landfill, but there are proper ways to dispose of
the materials such as asbestos and PCBs.
D Reducing CFCs leaked into the atmosphere
Construction and demolition debris does not include CFCs.
Notes:
Reference: n/a
Question 72:
What statement is true regarding wool carpet made from wool leftover from the carpet manufacturing process?
A This material is an example of post-industrial recycled content
Post-industrial content is now called pre-consumer content.
B This material does not contain recycled content
This example would not be considered any type of recycled material. If a manufacturing process uses scraps
and puts them back in the assembly line, it is a good practice but it does not count towards pre or post
consumer recycled content.
C This material is an example of post-consumer recycled content
Post-consumer material - recycled material generated from the waste of household, commercial, industrial,
or institutional end-users

D This material is an example of pre-consumer recycled content
Notes:
Question 73:
A door found onsite and turned into a table as part of a major renovation would automatically qualify as:
A Pre-consumer content
B Commingled material
These are materials recycled into a single storage bin.
C Rapidly renewable material
This is a material with a harvest time of 10 years or less.
D Regional material
Notes:
The door would be extracted (salvaged) and used within 500 miles, qualifying it as regional material.
Question 74:
What is an economic benefit of using Regional Materials?
A Support the use of local resources
This is a social benefit of using Regional Materials because the community is helped.

B Encourage responsible forest management
This is an environmental benefit of using certified wood.
C Reduce transportation costs
This question asks for an economic benefit. A project that uses Regional Materials will reduce the
transportation costs of delivering the materials to the project site.
D Reduce the use and depletion of finite raw materials
This is an environmental benefit of using rapidly renewable materials.
Notes:
Question 75:
What strategy is least applicable to successful waste reduction?
A Finding local haulers to reduce transportation costs
Reducing transportation costs does not reduce waste.
The remaining choices are examples of source reduction, reuse, and recycling. These three integrated
strategies maximize waste reduction.
B Installing personal recycling bins
C Finding products that use less packaging
D Providing reusable water bottles to occupants
Question 76:
What is purchasing products with less packaging an example of?
A Construction waste management
Construction waste management is the process of diverting waste from landfills and incinerators.
B Waste diversion
Waste diversion is the act of keeping waste from a landfill either by donating materials, recycling them, or
reusing them.
C Commingled recycling
Commingled recycling, or using one container to collect and recycle several materials, is a method for
reducing the quantity of waste sent to landfills.
D Source reduction
Source reduction is the EPA's top-ranked strategy for reducing waste. Source reduction chooses products

with less packaging and material, which have a greater environmental impact throughout the product's life
cycle.
Notes:
Question 77:
What benefit to society does a project that uses Regional Materials contribute?
A Reduced air and water pollution
This is an environmental benefit of using Regional Materials because transportation is reduced.
B Supporting the local economy
This question asks for a benefit to society. This is a social benefit of using Regional Materials because the
community is helped through increased jobs and taxes.
C Reducing demand for virgin resources
This is an environmental benefit of using recycled materials.
D Reducing a project's soft costs
Purchased materials are a hard cost, not a soft cost.
Notes:
Question 78:
Which of the following is an example of a source control waste reduction strategy?
A Reusing salvaged materials onsite
Using salvaged materials does not reduce waste at the source.
B Using commingled recycling
Commingled recycling does not reduce waste at the source.
C Pre-ordering materials cut to size
Source reduction is the first and best way to minimize waste. Source reduction starts at the source-such as
pre-ordering materials cut to size and choosing modular construction, which generates less onsite waste.
D Installing recycling bins onsite
Installing recycling bins does not reduce waste at the source.
Notes:

Question 79:
What materials should not be included in commingled recycling?
A Junk mail
Junk mail is just paper and can be included.
B Light bulbs
Light bulbs can contain hazardous materials such as mercury and should be recycled separately.
C Cereal boxes
Cereal boxes are cardboard and can be included.
D Food waste
Food waste taints the recycled materials and should be composted or thrown in the trash.
E Batteries
Batteries contain hazardous materials and should not be put in a commingled recycling bin.
Notes:

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