Learn how specifying low-emitting materials can help achieve a healthier indoor work environment using LEED strategies. Prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam with our comprehensive question breakdowns.
Table of Contents
Question
An owner is looking to update the interior materials of the office while promoting a healthier indoor work environment using LEED strategies. During the materials specification, which of the following strategies can the owner take in order to achieve this goal?
A. Specify salvaged materials
B. Specify low-cost materials
C. Specify low-emitting materials
D. Specify high solar reflectance materials
Answer
C. Specify low-emitting materials
Explanation
An owner who wants to update the interior materials of the office while promoting a healthier indoor work environment using LEED strategies can specify low-emitting materials as one of the strategies to achieve this goal. Low-emitting materials are materials that have low or no emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other pollutants into the indoor air.
VOCs are organic chemicals that can evaporate or vaporize at room temperature and can adverselyaffect the indoor air quality (IAQ) of a building and the health, comfort, and productivity of the occupants. Some sources of VOCs in buildings are paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, flooring, furniture, and cleaning products. Specifying low-emitting materials can reduce the exposure and risk of VOCs for the occupants and improve IAQ.
When updating interior materials in an office to promote a healthier indoor environment using LEED strategies, one of the most effective approaches is to specify low-emitting materials. Low-emitting materials are those that release minimal amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other potentially harmful substances into the air.
VOCs can contribute to poor indoor air quality and may cause health issues such as headaches, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, and even more severe problems after prolonged exposure. By choosing materials like paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, flooring systems, composite wood products, ceilings, walls, thermal and acoustic insulation that have low VOC content or emissions, the owner can significantly reduce the concentration of these pollutants in the office environment.
LEED places a strong emphasis on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and encourages the use of low-emitting materials in its certification process. Projects can earn points under the “Low-Emitting Materials” credit by selecting products that meet stringent emissions criteria set by established standards such as California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010 or AgBB-2010.
The other options, while potentially beneficial in other aspects of green building, do not directly contribute to improving indoor air quality and promoting a healthier work environment:
A. Salvaged materials are reused from other sources, reducing waste and resource consumption, but they do not necessarily have low-emitting properties.
B. Low-cost materials may be economically attractive but do not guarantee improved indoor air quality or reduced emissions.
D. High solar reflectance materials are typically used for exterior surfaces to minimize heat island effect and do not have a direct impact on indoor air quality.
In summary, specifying low-emitting materials is the most appropriate strategy for updating interior materials in an office to promote a healthier indoor work environment using LEED principles.
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.