Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) LEED-Green-Associate Syllabus Exam Questions Answers

A drip irrigation system provides maximum water efficiency for a building irrigation system. A drip irrigation system delivers water directly to the root zone of plants, minimizing evaporation, runoff, and overspray. This reduces water consumption and prevents water pollution from fertilizers and pesticides. The LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook states that one of the strategies for achieving water efficiency in landscaping is to “use efficient irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation” [1, p. 14]. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, [Drip Irrigation | U.S. Department of Agriculture]

Stormwater runoff can indeed be treated and used in a facility’s cooling towers. This is an example of using non-potable water (water that is not of drinking quality) for purposes that do not require potable water. Other uses for treated stormwater might include toilet flushing or irrigation. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources

ASHRAE 189.1 is a standard for the design of high-performance green buildings that covers various aspects of sustainability, energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and more. It is an alternate compliance path for the IGCC, which is a model code that contains minimum requirements for green building design and construction. In jurisdictions that adopt the IGCC, a builder has the option to design and construct a building in accordance with the provisions of ASHRAE 189.1 rather than those of the IGCC123.

ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2014: Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 189.1) | US EPA Smart Growth1

ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2014 - Trane Heating & Air Conditioning2

IgCC and ASHRAE Standard 189.1 Technical Provisions3

According to systems thinking, climate change is an example of a positive feedback loop, which means that an initial change in one part of the system causes a chain ofevents that amplify the effects of the change. For example, as the Earth warms due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, ice sheets and glaciers melt, reducing the albedo (reflectivity) of the Earth’s surface and allowing more solar radiation to be absorbed, which further increases the temperature and accelerates the melting process. This is one of several positive feedback loops that can accelerate climate change and make it harder to reverse.

15 Climate Feedback Loops and Examples - Earth How

Systems Thinking Through Climate Change — 5 Positive Feedback Loops

What are climate change feedback loops? - The Guardian