Sustainable Sites | LEED Green Associate

Which strategies could be applied to minimize the pollution from rainwater runoff? (Choose 2)

• Increasing the building footprint

• Open grid paving

• Increasing parking footprint

• Impervious concrete hardscapes

• Rain gardens

Answer explanation

Rain gardens and open grid paving both would work to minimize pollution from rainwater runoff by allowing water to absorb versus have the change to runoff.  Increasing the building or parking footprints would not minimize rainwater runoff.  Increasing concrete hardscapes would have the opposite impact.

Which phenomenon occurs when light from a parking area spreads and provide surplus lighting to a neighbourhood park?

• Light trespass

• Lighting power density

• Light shielding

• Light division

Answer explanation

The spilling of light beyond the site boundary is called light trespass. Projects should shield fixtures to prevent light trespass.

What is heat island effect?

• The reflection of heat in urban areas to the surrounding countryside

• The absorption of heat by dark surfaces and its radiation to surrounding areas

• The increase in humidity in urban areas caused by stormwater runoff. The increase in humidity in urban areas caused by stormwater runoff

• The differences in air quality caused by the burning of fossil fuels

Answer explanation

Cities are typically warmer than nearby rural areas. The flat, dark surfaces of roadways, parking lots, and tarred rooftops absorb and retain the suns heat during the day and are slow to radiate it at night. The result, known as the heat island effect, is an increase in air temperature in a developed area compared with an undeveloped area.

What site and/or project characteristics would contribute to earning SS Credit Maximize Open Space?

• Building next door to a park

• Building on a Greenfield site

• Creating a narrow ten story building instead of a wider five story building

• Building on a previously developed site

Answer explanation

Reducing building foot print can help a project increase open space.

Which of the following strategies will assist a project towards earning rainwater management as well as increasing open space? (Choose 2)

• Naturally designed ponds with side slope gradients average 1:4 and are vegetated

• Constructed Wetland

• Open grid pavements

• Green Roof

Answer explanation

Look for strategies that will should reduce runoff volume and improve water quality as well as provide open space for the project.  Green roofs help in rainwater management, open space, heat island reduction, etc. Wetlands or naturally designed ponds may count as open space as well if the side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical:horizontal) or less and are vegetated.

 

Other answer choices:

 

Constructed wetland is a strategy to minimize quantity of rainwater run-off. The answer choice doesn’t say anything about the slope or vegetation.

 

Open grid pavement is a good strategy for rainwater run-off management but it does not necessarily help with open space.

 

Refer to the slide where we talk about techniques to manage run-off and identify the ones that may also assist or positively affect other credit areas

Gray/White concrete comprises a _________ reflectance and a ________ SRI value.

• lower, lower

• lower, higher

• higher, higher

• higher, lower

Answer explanation

SRI Value is defined such that a standard black surface (initial solar reflectance 0.05, initial thermal emittance 0.90) has an initial SRI of 0, and a standard white surface (initial solar reflectance 0.80, initial thermal emittance 0.90) has an initial SRI of 100.

What is true regarding a material’s emittance and albedo?

• Emittance is based on a material’s albedo

• Emittance and albedo are combined to determine a material’s SRI value

• A material’s emittance and albedo mean the same thing

• Emittance and albedo are used to calculated a materials perviousness

Answer explanation

Albedo/Reflectance is the ability of a surface to reflect sunlight on a scale of 0 to 1, with 0 being the least reflective and 1 being the most reflective.

Which of the following are environmental hazards  due to rainwater runoff? (Choose 3)

• Evapotranspiration

• Heat island effect

• Discharges of potential pollutants to water bodies and wetlands

• Pollution

• Sedimentation

Answer explanation

Three hazards of rainwater runoff are sedimentation, pollution and discharges of potential pollutants to water bodies and wetlands.  Ozone depletion and heat island effect are not related to rainwater runoff directly and evapotranspiration relates to the loss of water by evaporation, not runoff.

Reducing the building footprint positively correlates to which of project area?

• Pedestrian access

• Open space

• Parking capacity

• Car pool parking

• Heat island effect

Answer explanation

 

Open space is defined as the projects property area minus the development footprint. Reducing building foot print will increase open space for the project.

What is the intention of increasing the floor area ratio (FAR) from 1.0 to 2.0 and at the same time, maintain an equal gross floor area in a project designed for a greenfield site?

• The development density of the project increases

• The LEED Project Boundary changes

• Biodiversity is promoted

• The building footprint increases

Answer explanation

 

Floor area ratio is the relationship between the total building floor area and the allowable land area the building can cover. In green building, the objective is to build up rather than out because a smaller footprint means less disruption of the existing or created landscape.