Learn why LEED promotes compact community development to reduce vehicle travel and improve access to services, according to the LEED Green Associate Exam.
Table of Contents
Question
LEED encourages compact communities because they provide
A. better internet access for the region
B. more surface area available for parking
C. shared culture and lifestyle in a city or district
D. reduction in travel associated with reaching services
Answer
D. reduction in travel associated with reaching services
Explanation
LEED encourages compact communities because they provide reduction in travel associated with reaching services. Compact communities are communities that have high-density development patterns, mixed land uses, walkable streets, and diverse transportation options. Compact communities reduce the need for driving long distances to access various services, such as work, education, health care, recreation, or shopping.
This reduces fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, traffic congestion, and infrastructure costs. The LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook states that one of the intents of the Location and Transportation category is to “reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT)”.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) encourages compact, dense community development patterns because they help reduce the amount of travel required for residents and visitors to access services, amenities, and destinations.
In a compact community, housing, businesses, schools, parks, and other services are located in close proximity to one another. This enables people to more easily walk, bike, or take short trips to reach the places they need to go on a daily basis. Less travel translates to reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by personal automobiles.
Lower VMT has multiple sustainability benefits that align with LEED’s goals:
- Decreased fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation
- Improved local air quality by limiting vehicle pollutants
- Enhanced public health from increased physical activity like walking and biking
- More equitable access to services for those with limited mobility or without cars
The other answer choices are not accurate:
A) Internet access is unrelated to compact development
B) Compact communities actually reduce land devoted to parking by lessening auto usage
C) Shared culture/lifestyle is not necessarily an aim or outcome of compactness
So in summary, LEED promotes compact communities primarily to reduce travel distances and reliance on cars to access services and destinations. This results in lowered environmental impacts and improved quality of life.
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.