Which of the following prerequisites or credits are affected by using plug-in devices when attempting to achieve Indoor Environmental Quality Credit. Thermal Comfort?
Correct Answer: C
Using plug-in devices can affect the energy performance of the building, which is one of the criteria for achieving Indoor Environmental Quality Credit. Thermal Comfort. The LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction states that "the project team must demonstrate that the proposed design meets the minimum energy performance requirements of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010, Appendix G, with errata"1. Plug-in devices are considered as part of the process loads in the energy model, and they can increase the energy consumption and demand of the building. Therefore, the project team must account for the plug-in devices in the energy model and ensure that the proposed design meets or exceeds the baseline performance rating. Reference: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite: Minimum Energy Performance, page 2591 LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Indoor Environmental Quality Credit: Thermal Comfort, page 7041
Question 147
Innovation credits for exemplary performance can be awarded for
Correct Answer: B
Exemplary performance credits are one of the options to earn innovation points under the LEED v4.1 rating system. They are typically awarded for achieving double the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold of an existing LEED v4.1 prerequisite or credit that allows exemplary performance. For example, to earn an exemplary performance point for the Energy and Atmosphere credit Optimize Energy Performance, the project must demonstrate a percentage improvement in the proposed building performance rating compared to the baseline building performance rating per ASHRAE 90.1-2010 by at least 12 percentage points for new construction, or by at least 16 percentage points for major renovations.
Question 148
What is the basis of energy consumption in determining the percentage of green power or carbon offsets?
Correct Answer: B
The basis of energy consumption in determining the percentage of green power or carbon offsets is the quantity of energy used by the project, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or British thermal units (Btu). Green power is electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, biomass, or geothermal. Carbon offsets are reductions or removals of greenhouse gas emissions from a project or activity that compensates for the emissions from another source. According to the LEED Reference Guide for Building Design andConstruction1, the Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Green Power and Carbon Offsets, requires the project to engage in a contract for qualified resources that meet the following requirements: The contract term is at least five years. The green power or carbon offsets are based on the quantity of energy consumed by the building. The green power is Green-e Energy certified or the equivalent. The carbon offsets are Green-e Climate certified, Verified Carbon Standard certified, Gold Standard certified, or the equivalent. Reference: LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 Green Power and Carbon Offsets | U.S. Green Building Council Green Power and Carbon Offsets - LEEDuser Green Power and Carbon Offsets -LEED V5for BD+C: New Construction ...
Question 149
The project team wants to modify the design of an office building copy room to minimize the risk of airborne contamination to the surrounding space. The design includes a separate exhaust, but due to design constraints the partition walls of the room cannot run deck-to-deck. What can the team do to achieve Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies?
Correct Answer: B
Question 150
The design team and project owner decided not to pursue Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Enhanced Commissioning, but would hire a Commissioning Authority (CxA) to oversee the requirements for Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Fundamental Commissioning and Verification. What is a required responsibility for the CxA to achieve the stated objective?
Correct Answer: D
According to the LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, the Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Fundamental Commissioning and Verification, requires the project to hire a Commissioning Authority (CxA) to oversee the commissioning process for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and renewable energy systems and assemblies. The CxA must have documented commissioning authority experience in at least two building projects, and must not be an employee of the design or construction firms, although they may be contracted through them. The CxA must report the results, findings, and recommendations directly to the owner1. One of the required responsibilities for the CxA to achieve the prerequisite is to verify installation and performance of the commissioned systems. This includes conducting site observations and spot-checking of equipment installation, performing functional performance testing of the systems, verifying system performance by reviewing testing and balancing reports, and preparing a summary commissioning report of the activities and results1. The other choices are not required responsibilities for the CxA to achieve the prerequisite, but they are additional responsibilities for the CxA to achieve the Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Enhanced Commissioning, which goes beyond the prerequisite by including more systems, more verification activities, and more documentation. These additional responsibilities are2: * Verify that training requirements are completed. This includes reviewing training plans, agendas, and materials, and verifying that the training delivery and documentation are completed and consistent with the owner's project requirements (OPR). * Develop systems manual for the commissioned systems. This includes compiling and reviewing the systems manual that provides the necessary information for operating and maintaining the commissioned systems. * Review contractor submittals for the commissioned systems. This includes reviewing the design intent and basis of design documentation, and providing feedback on the contractor submittals related to the commissioned systems, such as shop drawings, product data, and samples. References: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Fundamental Commissioning and Verification, Requirements1; LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Enhanced Commissioning, Requirements2
