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Green Exam Academy – Tips and Tricks to Pass the LEED AP Exam

Archive for the ‘Sustainable Sites’ Category

Sustainable Sites 8 – Light Pollution Reduction

Intention:

Minimize light trespass from building and site
Reduce sky glow
Improve nighttime visibility through glare reduction
Reduce development impact on nocturnal environments

Implementation:

4 Light Zones

LZ1: dark, density less than 200 people per square mile
LZ2: low (residential)
LZ3: medium (commercial, industrial and high-density residential)
LZ4: high major city centers, entertainment districts)

Interior Lighting:

stays inside
non-emergency lighs shut down at non-business hours

Exterior Lighting:

provide for comfort [...]

Sustainable Sites 7.2 – Heat Island Effect – Roof

Roof
Intention:

Reduce heat islands
Minimize impact on microclimate and habitats

Implementation:

option 1:

75% roof material should be:

SRI 78 for a slope less than 2:12 (low-sloped roof)
SRI 29 for a slope more than 2:12 (steep-sloped roof)

option 2:

Install a vegetated roof for at least 50% of the roof area

option3:

combination of options 1 & 2:

Calculation of (Area of SRI roof /0.75) [...]

Sustainable Sites 7.1 – Heat Island Effect – Non Roof

The Heat Island effect occurs when warm temperatures are experienced in urban areas compared to adjacent rural areas because of solar energy retention on constructed surfaces. Basically, all of that black asphalt and concrete on the ground makes areas a lot warmer. This credit reduces this effect.
This credit also mentions the Solar Reflectance Index [...]

Sustainable Sites 6.2 – Stormwater Design – Quality Control

Quality Control
Intention:

Limit the disruption of natural hydrology
Increase on-site filtration
Manage storm water runoff
Eliminate sources of contaminants
Reduce impervious cover
Reduce/eliminate pollution
Remove pollutants from storm water runoff

Stormwater Design (for reduction of impervious surface)

alternative surfaces: rain gardens, vegetated swales, rainwater recycling
non-structural surfaces: vegetated roofs, pervious pavement, grid pavers

Implementation:

treat and capture 90% storm water runoff
remove 80% TSS (total suspended solids)
use [...]

Sustainable Sites 6.1 – Stormwater Design – Quantity Control

Quantity Control
Intention:

Limit the disruption of natural hydrology
Increase on-site filtration
Manage storm water runoff
Eliminate sources of contaminants
Reduce impervious cover
Reduce/eliminate pollution
Remove pollutants from storm water runoff

Stormwater Design (for reduction of impervious surface)

alternative surfaces: rain gardens, vegetated swales, rainwater recycling
non-structural surfaces: vegetated roofs, pervious pavement, grid pavers

Implementation:

note:

humid watershed: 1″ rainfall / 40″ per year
semi-arid watershed: 0.75″ rainfall / 20-40″ [...]

Sustainable Sites 5.2 – Site Development – Maximize Open Space

Maximize Open Space
Intention:

A high open space to footprint ratio
Promote biodiversity

Implementation:

Case 1: there IS a local code for open space restriction

open space should exceed local code by 25%

Case 2: there is NO code (campuses or military bases)

open space is to be same size as building footprint

Case 3: there IS a local code, but ZERO open space [...]

Sustainable Sites 5.1 – Site Development – Protect or Restore Habitat

Protect or Restore Habitat
Intention:

Conserve existing natural areas
Restore damaged areas
Provide habitat space
Promote biodiversity

Implementation:

greenfield sites : protect by limiting site disturbance beyond:

40 ft. of building perimeter
25 ft. of constructed areas
15 ft. of roadways
10 ft. of walkways
15 ft. of main utility trenches & 10ft. for utilities less than 12in. diamater

previously developed sites :

keep 50% of [...]

Sustainable Sites 4.4 – Alternative Transportation – Parking Capacity

Parking Capacity
Intention:

Reduce Pollution from auto use
Reduce land development from auto use

Implementation:

Option 1 (non-residential):

do not exceed local parking requirements in proposed parking scheme
provide carpool parking (for 0.05 total parking spaces)

Option 2 (non-residential):

for projects that provide parking for less than 5% of FTE building occupants: provide carpool parking (for 0.05 total parking spaces)

Option 3 (residential):

do not exceed [...]

Sustainable Sites 4.2 – Alternative Transportation – Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms

This is the first credit that deals with FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) occupants. The definition of FTE is a sort of calculation explained here:
Calculate the full-time equivalent (FTE) building occupants based on a standard 8-hour occupancy period. An 8-hour occupant has an FTE value of 1.0, while a part-time occupant has an FTE value based on [...]

Sustainable Sites 4.3 – Alternative Transportation – Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles

Low Emitting & Fuel Efficient Vehicles
Intention:

Reduce Pollution from auto use
Reduce land development from auto use

Implementation:

Option 1:

provide low emission cars (yes, provide cars to people), with preferred parking (0.03 FTE)

Option 2:

provide preferred parking for low emission cars (0.05 total parking spaces)

Option 3:

prodive charging station and refuel stations for low emission cars (0.03 total parking spaces)

low emission [...]

Study Guides

My recommendations for the most helpful study guides and audio books that you can find for every LEED rating system.
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Study Guides

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Practice Exams

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About Me

About Me

Hi! My name is Pat and I’m the guy behind GreenExamAcademy.com. I graduated with a B.A. in Architecture from the University of California Berkeley, and was working in an Architecture firm for the last few years in Southern California...

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