Ace Your LEED-Green-Associate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Exam

When developing the project and building construction budget, the project team should incorporate time in the schedule for unique materials and systems. This is because some green building strategies may require materials or systems that are not readily available or familiar to the local market. For example, using recycled or salvaged materials may require more time for sourcing and delivery. Similarly, installing renewable energy systems or high-performance HVAC systems may require more time for design and commissioning. Therefore, the project team should plan ahead and allocate sufficient time for these aspects of the project. References: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, Integrative Process, page 28

LEED credits are weighted based on their potential environmental impacts and human benefits. Those that most directly address these areas are given greater weight in the scoring system. This approach is intended to prioritize actions that have the greatest positive impact on critical environmental issues such as climate change, water resources, biodiversity, air pollution, and human health. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

Integrated Project Planning and Design is a prerequisite for healthcare facilities under LEED v4. The intent is to maximize opportunities for the adoption of cost-effective integrated green design and construction strategies as early as pre-design1.

LEED v4 | HPAC Engineering1

Harvesting rainwater reduces reliance on potable water for non-potable uses like irrigation and flushing. LEED supports this approach under Water Efficiency credits for reducing potable water consumption​​.