17 concepts you should

know to pass the

LEED v4 Green Associate
exam

1. Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs)

All projects applying for LEED certificationmustmeet a set of minimum

program requirements according to the USGBC

The Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) are the minimum characteristics

or conditions that make a project appropriate to pursue LEED certification.

MPRs serve the purpose of giving clear guidance to customers, protecting the
integrity of the LEED program, and reducing challenges that occur during the
LEED process

All LEED projects (except LEED for Homes and Neighborhood Development)
must meet all MPRs to become certified. MPRs include:

1. Must be in a permanent location on existing land

2. Must use reasonable LEED boundaries

3. Must comply with project size requirements

Reference: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide

2. Integrative Project Planning and Design

Integrated Project planning and design involves people, systems,

business structures and practices. The process utilizes talents of all
project participants to create the best results, reduce waste and ensure
efficiency throughout all phases of the design process.

It requires:

Preparation of an Owners Project Requirements Document (OPR),

Preliminary Rating Goals, Selection of an Integrated Project Team and Design
Charrette

Reference: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide

3. Credit Interpretation Process

The Credit Interpretation Process supports highperformance, cost-effective project outcomes through an
analysis of the interrelationships among systems.

It is used to identify and achieve synergies across disciplines and

building systems.

CIRs cost $220 each.

4. LEED Boundaries

In order for a project to become LEED certified, teams must follow

and report specific site boundaries meaning land in and around the
project space that are affected as a result.

This includes the site area affected by the construction, including

parking and open space.

The LEED project boundary may not be gerrymandered or be

designed to exclude portions of a space simply for the purposes of
seeking LEED certification.

5. Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses

For the Location and Transportation Credit, LEED requires that buildings
being constructed or renovated must enhance community connectivity in
order to do the following:

Conserve land and protect farmland and wildlife habitat by encouraging

development in areas with existing infrastructure.

Promote walkability, and transportation efficiency and reduce vehicle distance

traveled.

Improve public health by encouraging daily physical activity.

The are multiple ways to meet this credit. One example is being close to
other services in the community. For example, laundromats, cleaners,
parks, libraries, and/or restaurants.

6. Sustainable Sites (SS)

Sustainable Sites minimize a project's impact on the surrounding

environment

The Sustainable Sites category rewards projects with credits that

emphasize the relationships among buildings, ecosystems, and
ecosystem services.

It focuses on restoring project site elements and preserving the

biodiversity.

To gain credits, project teams use low-impact development

methods that minimize construction pollution, reduce heat island
effects and light pollution, and mimic natural water flow patterns to
manage rainwater runoff.

Reference: BD+C v4 Reference Guide

7. Water Efficiency (WE)

The Water Efficiency (WE) category aims to promote "efficiency first" by

reducing potable water consumption through effective efficiency strategies
and also by encouraging the use of non-potable "greywater" where possible.

LEED encourages 40% less water use in green buildings than conventional
buildings.

There are specific prerequisites and credits in Water Efficiency on the exam.

Water Efficiency Terms to Know:

Potable water

Process water

Graywater

Blackwater

Tertiary Standards or Tertiary Treatment

8. Flow Rates

In order for a project to meet LEED indoor water use

requirements, it must include high-efficiency water
fixtures.

You must know specific flow rates for different fixtures

which you can see in the LEED v4 GA Study Guide.

There are specific requirements for flow rates when

installing high-efficiency (low-flow) fixtures or fittings.

9. Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Calculations

Full Time Equivalents are regular building occupants who

spend 40 hours a week in the project building. For the
exam, you should know how to calculate FTEs.

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) calculations are sometimes

used in LEED to estimate the number of full-time
employees, part-time employees, residents and transient
visitors (optional to include) in the building on an average
day.

One part-time employee counts as 1/2 a full time

employee .

10. EA Prerequisite Refrigerant Management

The purpose of the EA Refrigerant Management credit is reduce

stratospheric ozone depletion as well as comply with the Montreal
Protocol.

The USGBC prohibits use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based

refrigerants in new heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and
refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems.

Project teams can do the following: not use refrigerants or use

natural refrigerants, or minimize refrigerant use with low-impact
refrigerants

When reusing existing HVAC&R equipment, teams should complete

a comprehensive CFC phase-out conversion before project
completion.

11. Renewable Energy

Uses of on-site renewable energy for a LEED project must comply with
renewable energy standards.

The purpose of the renewable energy credit is to encourage the use

of renewable energy, such as solar photovoltaics and wind power, as
an on-site alternative to fossil fuel energy.

The calculation for determining the buildings annual energy costs

should use the following:

12. HVAC Requirements

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

HVAC Standards are a component of the Indoor

Environmental Quality Credit for providing optimal comfort
for occupants in the most efficient way possible.

Project Teams are required to provide thermal comfort for

at least 50% of occupant spaces.

Teams can either meet ASHRAE Standard 55-2010, ISO, or

CEN Standards for Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment.

13. Low Emitting Materials Standard

The purpose of this standard is to reduce the concentration of toxic

chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to increase air quality,
human health and productivity in the environment.

Project Teams should use Product Category Rules (PCRs) or VOC budgets
to test for VOC emissions.

This standard can be met either by complying with thresholds for

interior paints and coatings, interior adhesives and sealants, etc. or by
using the Budget Calculation Method, which is a weighted average
calculation that includes the VOC information for each product.

Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

14. Material Reuse (MR) Recycled Content

The Material Reuse Recycled Content standard promotes reducing,

reusing and recycling of materials.

One way to receive an MR credit is to use at least 25% (by cost) of

permanently installed building products that are post-consumer
content + 1/2 pre-consumer content

Pre-consumer content is material diverted from the waste stream

during the manufacturing process.
Ex:

Shavings, sawdust, walnut shells

Post-consumer content is material produced by households,

commercial, industrial or institutional facilities which can no longer
be used for its original purpose.
Ex:

Newspapers, plastic bottles, soup cans

15. Biobased materials

Biobased materials are required to meet the Sustainable

Agriculture Standard

Biobased materials are defined as commercial or industrial

products (other than food) that are composed of
biological products, renewable agricultural materials or
forestry materials.

Leather and other animal hides are not considered biobased

material.

16. Rapidly Renewable Materials List

Rapidly Renewable materials are building materials made from plants that are typically
harvested in a ten year or shorter life cycle.

Projects that use rapidly renewable materials are awarded one point for at least 2.5% of
all building materials used on the project, based on cost.

LEED encourages the use of regional materials to reduce the byproducts of construction
materials transportation to a building site. Regional materials are defined as

Bamboo

Corkstraw

cotton insulation (recycled jeans?)

Agrifiber

natural linoleum (Marmoleum)

Wool

Wheatboard

strawboard

17. Exemplary Performance (EP)

EPs are points awarded for using innovative design

measure and exemplary performance (going above and
beyond the credit requirements).

Projects eligible for EPs achieve between 1-2 additional

points for achieving double the credit requirements or
the next incremental percentage threshold.

Some standards do not award Eps

Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

Additional Study Materials

Learn more about our Super Study Pack which includes:

Poplars 131 page LEED v4 Green Associate Study Guide (PDF) with 100
question practice test

400 practice questions with exam simulator

9 module Online LEED v4 Green Associate training course

2 hour downloadable MP3 Audio Study Guide

400 Downloadable/Printable PDF Flashcards

Bonus LEED Exam Memorization Guide (only available with the Super
Study Pack)