LEED-AP-OM Practice Questions

For an office building with few visitors, the project team must survey the occupants to determine

their transportation modes to comply with the Location and Transportation Credit, Alternative

Transportation. This action is essential to understand and improve the transportation patterns of the

regular building users.

Reference: The LEED v4.1 O+M guide outlines the requirements for the Alternative Transportation

credit, which includes conducting surveys to gather data on the transportation habits of building

occupants12.

Untreated stormwater, due to its potential contaminants, is not suitable for potable uses but can be

effectively utilized for non-potable applications such as irrigation. It provides a viable alternative to

using treated water for landscape irrigation, thereby conserving potable water resources. This use

aligns with sustainable water management practices encouraged by LEED, which promote the

reduction of potable water usage for landscape irrigation.

Reference:

The LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction and the LEED O+M Reference

Guide both encourage the use of untreated stormwater for irrigation as part of an integrated water

management approach. This conservation strategy is covered under the Water Efficiency category

and is a common topic in LEED AP O+M training sessions.

When the building type is not covered by the ENERGY STAR® rating tool, the energy baseline for

Minimum Energy Performance can be determined using historical energy consumption data or a

calibrated energy simulation. This approach allows for a tailored assessment of the building’s energy

use that is specific to its actual performance.

Reference: The LEED v4.1 O+M reference materials provide guidance on establishing an energy

baseline using historical data or energy simulation methods when ENERGY STAR® ratings are not

applicable1234.

An ASHRAE Level 1 walkthrough analysis is a preliminary evaluation of a building's energy systems to

identify obvious energy efficiency opportunities and potential areas for improvement. This type of

analysis aligns with the Energy Efficiency Best Management Practices by establishing a baseline

understanding of the building's energy use and identifying simple, low-cost measures to improve

energy efficiency. It does not directly relate to building-level energy metering, refrigerant

management, or the minimum energy performance standards, which are more technical and specific

in nature.

Outlet powered task lighting under the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Interior Lighting,

contributes towards compliance for individual occupant spaces. This is because task lighting allows

individual occupants to control their own lighting levels, which can improve comfort and

productivity.

Reference: LEED v4: Building Operations + Maintenance Guide1, LEED certification for existing

buildings and spaces2.

For a mobile home, especially one built in a major city, the most appropriate LEED rating system to

use would be LEED for Homes. This is because ASHRAE 90.1 and associated LEED rating systems

typically exclude low-rise residential buildings, which include single-family houses, multifamily

structures of three stories or fewer above grade, and manufactured houses (modular or mobile

homes). Since the mobile home in question falls under the category of manufactured houses, it

would be more fitting to pursue LEED for Homes certification, which is designed to cater to

residential projects.

Reference: Information derived from the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 User's Manual indicates the exclusion of

low-rise residential buildings, including manufactured houses, from the standard's scope .

For projects seeking to comply with Option 1, Lighting Control of the Indoor Environmental Quality

Credit for Interior Lighting, LEED guidelines specify that at least 70% of individual occupant spaces

must have individual lighting controls. These controls allow occupants to adjust lighting to suit their

task needs and pReference, contributing to energy savings and increased occupant comfort and

productivity.

Reference:

This requirement is outlined in the LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) Reference

Guide, under the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit for Interior Lighting. It is a well-known

requirement discussed in LEED AP O+M training and resources, promoting energy efficiency and

occupant comfort in the interior environment.

In the Materials and Resources (MR) section of LEED, furniture is included in credit calculations,

particularly in credits related to sustainable purchasing and waste management. Furniture plays a

significant role in the environmental impact of a building's interior due to its material content,

durability, and potential for reuse or recycling. Including furniture in MR calculations encourages the

selection of sustainable products and practices, such as purchasing reused or recycled furniture, and

implementing take-back programs or recycling initiatives at the end of the furniture's life cycle.

Reference:

This inclusion is outlined in the LEED AP Operations + Maintenance reference materials, where it

details how furniture contributes to various MR credits, emphasizing the importance of sustainable

purchasing decisions and waste management practices that encompass furniture.

For the Materials and Resources Credit, Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovations, there is

no specified minimum amount of renovation or new construction work required. The project team

determines what qualifies for this credit based on the scope of their project.

Reference: The LEED v4.1 O+M reference guide does not specify a minimum renovation requirement

for this credit, allowing the project team to define the scope of work that meets the intent of the

credit1.

The Owner Project Requirements (OPR) is a document that details the ideas, concepts, and criteria

determined by the owner to be important to the success of the project. It typically includes key

functional and operational parameters such as occupied hours of a building, use by space type,

required temperature settings, and lighting levels. The OPR is used as a guiding document

throughout the design and construction process to ensure that the team is aligned with the owner’s

vision and goals.

Reference: LEED v4: Building Operations + Maintenance Guide, Functional / Operational | WBDG -

Whole Building Design Guide, Facilities Operations & Maintenance - An Overview - WBDG

The Owner Project Requirements (OPR) is a critical document that outlines the functional and

operational objectives of a project, reflecting the owner's needs and expectations. This document

serves as a foundation for the design team to develop the Basis of Design (BOD) and guides the

project through its lifecycle, ensuring that the owner's operational needs, such as occupied hours,

use by space type, required temperature settings, and lighting levels, are met. The OPR typically

includes information on building occupancy schedules, space usage types, environmental conditions

like temperature and lighting requirements, and other owner-driven criteria essential for the

building's design and operation. By clearly defining these parameters upfront, the OPR ensures that

the project team has a clear understanding of what is expected from the building's performance,

facilitating a design that aligns with the owner's vision and operational needs.

Reference: Based on the LEED AP documents and resources, such as the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 User

Manual, which provides guidelines for determining design and operational parameters like lighting

wattage for various space types (ASHRAE 90.1-2013, Section 9.1.4) .