Learn how to select the appropriate LEED rating system for your project to avoid costly mistakes. Expert tips from LEED Green Associate exam preparation.
Table of Contents
Question
The LEED reviewer advised a project team that an inappropriate rating system was chosen for a newly constructed school in operation for one year and undergoing minor improvements. What should the project team have done differently to avoid this error?
A. Allow the LEED Project Administrator sole responsibility to review the appropriate rating system for the project
B. Select LEED for Schools New Construction and Major Renovations Rating System, as this project is classified as a school
C. Select LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Rating System, as the Operational and Maintenance phase has begun
D. Review the appropriate rating system and determine the best adaptation to use with consultation from
E. S. Green Building Council
Answer
D. Review the appropriate rating system and determine the best adaptation to use with consultation from U.S. Green Building Council.
Explanation
The project team should have selected LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Rating System, as the operational and maintenance phase has begun for a newly constructed school in operation for one year and undergoing minor improvements.
The LEED rating systems are designed to address the specific needs and characteristics of different types of buildings and projects. The project team should choose the most appropriate rating system for their project based on the scope, scale, and goals of the project.
The LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Rating System is intended for buildings that are already in use and want to improve their performance and sustainability through best practices in operation, maintenance, renovation, and occupant engagement.
The project team should have carefully reviewed the available LEED rating systems and adaptations to determine which one was most appropriate for their project, given that it is a school that has been operating for one year and is undergoing minor improvements. While LEED for Schools may seem like the obvious choice since the project is a school, LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EBOM) is actually the better fit since the building is already operational.
However, the team shouldn’t just assume EBOM applies – they need to consult with the USGBC to determine if that rating system is appropriate as is or if certain adaptations or alternative compliance paths are needed given the project’s specific circumstances. The LEED Project Administrator alone should not make this decision (A is incorrect). Simply selecting LEED for Schools (B) or EBOM (C) without further due diligence is not advisable.
Thoroughly evaluating the rating system options in consultation with the USGBC (D) allows the project team to make an informed decision and avoid the costly error of pursuing certification under the wrong rating system. This step should be done early in the process as it impacts many subsequent decisions.
USGBC LEED Green Associate certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the USGBC LEED Green Associate exam and earn USGBC LEED Green Associate certification.