USGBC LEED AP BD+C Practice Exams
Last updated on Oct 24,2026- Exam Code: LEED AP BD+C
- Exam Name: LEED AP Building Design + Construction
- Certification Provider: USGBC
- Latest update: Oct 24,2026
Question #151
What is the best strategy for a LEED AP to suggest in order to quantify the impact of increasing the window-to-wall ratio on a Building Design and Construction project?
- A . Compare the current project to other similar projects
- B . Monitor the HVAC loads throughout the life of the project
- C . Perform a simple box energy model before the completion of the schematic phase
- D . Review Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)’s comments on the energy model submission
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
This option allows the project team to evaluate the impact of different window-to-wall ratios on the energy performance of the building, and to optimize the design accordingly. A simple box energy model is a preliminary analysis tool that can be used to compare different design alternatives and inform decision making in the early stages of the project12.
Reference: = [LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide], LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction: Energy and Atmosphere, The impacts of window to wall ratio and window orientation on building energy consumption and CO2 emissions under climate change. Message has links.
C
Explanation:
This option allows the project team to evaluate the impact of different window-to-wall ratios on the energy performance of the building, and to optimize the design accordingly. A simple box energy model is a preliminary analysis tool that can be used to compare different design alternatives and inform decision making in the early stages of the project12.
Reference: = [LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide], LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction: Energy and Atmosphere, The impacts of window to wall ratio and window orientation on building energy consumption and CO2 emissions under climate change. Message has links.
Question #152
What are the requirements of commercial projects for long-term bicycle storage under Location and Transportation, Bicycle Facilities – Bicycle Storage and Shower Rooms?
- A . Provide for at least 5% of all regular building occupants, with no less than four storage spaces per building
- B . Provide for at least 10% of all regular building occupants, with no less than five storage spaces per building
- C . Provide for at least 15% of all regular building occupants, with no less than 10 storage spaces per building
- D . Provide for at least 25% of all regular building occupants, with no less than 10 storage spaces per building
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. Provide for at least 10% of all regular building occupants, with no less than five storage spaces per building.
According to the LEED v4.1 Bicycle Storage Requirements1, commercial projects must provide long-term bicycle storage for at least 10% of all regular building occupants, with no less than five storage spaces per building. Long-term bicycle storage is defined as secure, enclosed, and weather-protected spaces that are intended for use by occupants who make regular trips to the project building. Examples of long-term bicycle storage include lockers, cages, rooms, or dedicated areas within buildings1. The purpose of this requirement is to encourage the use of bicycles as a sustainable mode of transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption.
B
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. Provide for at least 10% of all regular building occupants, with no less than five storage spaces per building.
According to the LEED v4.1 Bicycle Storage Requirements1, commercial projects must provide long-term bicycle storage for at least 10% of all regular building occupants, with no less than five storage spaces per building. Long-term bicycle storage is defined as secure, enclosed, and weather-protected spaces that are intended for use by occupants who make regular trips to the project building. Examples of long-term bicycle storage include lockers, cages, rooms, or dedicated areas within buildings1. The purpose of this requirement is to encourage the use of bicycles as a sustainable mode of transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption.
Question #153
What supporting material is required for all LEED Building Design and Construction projects in order to document Location and Transportation Credit, Bicycle Facilities for the bicycle network?
- A . Photographs of bicycle network signage and directional signposts
- B . Photographs of the installed bicycle storage and shower facilities
- C . Vicinity map showing bicycle network, route and distance along network to eligible destination(s)
- D . Manufacturer specifications for the chosen bicycle storage facilities, including the number of bicycles supported by each bike rack
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
The Location and Transportation Credit, Bicycle Facilities, requires the project team to provide a vicinity map that shows the bicycle network, the route and the distance along the network to eligible destination(s) for all LEED Building Design and Construction projects. The vicinity map is a supporting material that demonstrates that the project site is within a 200-yard (180-meter) walking distance of a bicycle network that connects to at least one of the following: diverse uses, public transportation, recreation facilities, or schools1. The vicinity map must also show the scale and the north arrow, and indicate the project site and the eligible destination(s)2. The photographs of bicycle network signage and directional signposts, the photographs of the installed bicycle storage and shower facilities, and the manufacturer specifications for the chosen bicycle storage facilities are not required for the bicycle network, but for the bicycle storage and shower facilities.
Reference:
• LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Location and Transportation Credit: Bicycle Facilities, page 1281
• LEED v4.1 Bicycle Storage Requirements
C
Explanation:
The Location and Transportation Credit, Bicycle Facilities, requires the project team to provide a vicinity map that shows the bicycle network, the route and the distance along the network to eligible destination(s) for all LEED Building Design and Construction projects. The vicinity map is a supporting material that demonstrates that the project site is within a 200-yard (180-meter) walking distance of a bicycle network that connects to at least one of the following: diverse uses, public transportation, recreation facilities, or schools1. The vicinity map must also show the scale and the north arrow, and indicate the project site and the eligible destination(s)2. The photographs of bicycle network signage and directional signposts, the photographs of the installed bicycle storage and shower facilities, and the manufacturer specifications for the chosen bicycle storage facilities are not required for the bicycle network, but for the bicycle storage and shower facilities.
Reference:
• LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Location and Transportation Credit: Bicycle Facilities, page 1281
• LEED v4.1 Bicycle Storage Requirements
Question #154
Which of the following characteristics are a requirement of a compliant water meter?
- A . Must be digital
- B . Must be permanently installed
- C . Must transmit data to a remote location
- D . Must be capable of storing data for 36 months
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
A compliant water meter is a device that measures and records the total potable water use of the building and associated grounds. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, a compliant water meter must meet the following requirements1:
• It must be permanently installed and measure the total water use of the building and grounds.
• It must have a remote communication capability or be readable from a location that is accessible to building management.
• It must have a data storage capability of at least 18 months, or be connected to a system that can store data for at least 18 months.
• It must have a resolution of 0.5 gallons (2 liters) or less, or the smallest unit of measure that is appropriate for the expected water use of the building.
Reference: • LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Water Efficiency Prerequisite: Building-Level Water Metering, page 3781
• Water metering | U.S. Green Building Council
B
Explanation:
A compliant water meter is a device that measures and records the total potable water use of the building and associated grounds. According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, a compliant water meter must meet the following requirements1:
• It must be permanently installed and measure the total water use of the building and grounds.
• It must have a remote communication capability or be readable from a location that is accessible to building management.
• It must have a data storage capability of at least 18 months, or be connected to a system that can store data for at least 18 months.
• It must have a resolution of 0.5 gallons (2 liters) or less, or the smallest unit of measure that is appropriate for the expected water use of the building.
Reference: • LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Water Efficiency Prerequisite: Building-Level Water Metering, page 3781
• Water metering | U.S. Green Building Council
Question #155
What credit rewards customers who change their normal consumption patterns in response to the varying price of energy over time?
- A . Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Demand Response
- B . Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Advanced Energy Metering
- C . Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Building Level Energy Metering
- D . Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Green Power and Carbon Offsets
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
The Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Demand Response rewards projects that participate in demand response programs that aim to reduce peak electricity demand and shift the load to off-peak periods. The LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction states that "the intent of this credit is to increase participation in demand response technologies and programs that make energy generation and distribution systems more efficient, increase grid reliability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions"1. The project team must either implement a permanent demand response program or develop a plan to implement a program within a year of occupancy. The project team must also demonstrate that the building has the capability to reduce its peak electricity demand by at least 10% in response to demand response signals.
Reference: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Energy and Atmosphere Credit:
Demand Response, page 2721
Demand response | U.S. Green Building Council2
A
Explanation:
The Energy and Atmosphere Credit, Demand Response rewards projects that participate in demand response programs that aim to reduce peak electricity demand and shift the load to off-peak periods. The LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction states that "the intent of this credit is to increase participation in demand response technologies and programs that make energy generation and distribution systems more efficient, increase grid reliability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions"1. The project team must either implement a permanent demand response program or develop a plan to implement a program within a year of occupancy. The project team must also demonstrate that the building has the capability to reduce its peak electricity demand by at least 10% in response to demand response signals.
Reference: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Energy and Atmosphere Credit:
Demand Response, page 2721
Demand response | U.S. Green Building Council2
Question #156
What stage of LEED for Neighborhood Development certification listed below is eligible for points under Building Design and Construction: New Construction, Location and Transportation Credit, LEED for Neighborhood Development Location?
- A . LEED v4, LEED for Neighborhood Development Conditional Approval
- B . LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot, Stage 3 LEED for Neighborhood Development Certified Project
- C . LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot, Stage 1 LEED for Neighborhood Development Pre-reviewed Plan
- D . LEED 2009, Stage 1 Conditional Approval of LEED for Neighborhood Development Plan
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
The only stage of LEED for Neighborhood Development certification that is eligible for points under Building Design and Construction: New Construction, Location and Transportation Credit, LEED for Neighborhood Development Location, is LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot, Stage 3 LEED for Neighborhood Development Certified Project. This is because the credit requires that the project be located within the boundary of a development that has achieved certification under LEED for Neighborhood Development (either Stage 2 or Stage 3 under the Pilot or 2009 rating systems, or Certified Plan or Certified Project under the LEED v4 rating system)1 The other stages listed in the question are either conditional approvals or pre-reviews that do not guarantee certification23
Reference: 1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Location and Transportation Credit: LEED for Neighborhood Development Location, page 460. 2: LEED for Neighborhood Development Location C Above Green 3 3: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide – U.S. Green Building Council 1
B
Explanation:
The only stage of LEED for Neighborhood Development certification that is eligible for points under Building Design and Construction: New Construction, Location and Transportation Credit, LEED for Neighborhood Development Location, is LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot, Stage 3 LEED for Neighborhood Development Certified Project. This is because the credit requires that the project be located within the boundary of a development that has achieved certification under LEED for Neighborhood Development (either Stage 2 or Stage 3 under the Pilot or 2009 rating systems, or Certified Plan or Certified Project under the LEED v4 rating system)1 The other stages listed in the question are either conditional approvals or pre-reviews that do not guarantee certification23
Reference: 1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Location and Transportation Credit: LEED for Neighborhood Development Location, page 460. 2: LEED for Neighborhood Development Location C Above Green 3 3: LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide – U.S. Green Building Council 1
Question #157
What building classification requires the energy model to determine the predicted power usage effectiveness (PUE) for Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Minimum Energy Performance?
- A . Office
- B . Hospital
- C . Warehouse
- D . Data Center
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
This building classification requires the energy model to determine the predicted power usage effectiveness (PUE) for Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Minimum Energy Performance, because data centers have high energy intensity and cooling demand, and PUE is a metric that measures how efficiently a data center uses energy12.
Reference: = LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Study Finds No Effect of LEED Certification on Federal Buildings ….
D
Explanation:
This building classification requires the energy model to determine the predicted power usage effectiveness (PUE) for Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite, Minimum Energy Performance, because data centers have high energy intensity and cooling demand, and PUE is a metric that measures how efficiently a data center uses energy12.
Reference: = LEED v4: Building Design + Construction Guide, Study Finds No Effect of LEED Certification on Federal Buildings ….
Question #158
Under the Building Design and Construction rating systems, projects can opt for a review process that helps teams determine if the project is on track to achieve LEED certification at its preferred level.
This process is referred to as
- A . Split Review
- B . Appeal Review
- C . Expedited Review
- D . Credit Interpretation Ruling
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
A split review is an optional review process that allows project teams to submit the design and construction portions of their projects separately. This can help teams determine if the project is on track to achieve LEED certification at its preferred level, and identify any issues or clarifications needed before the final review. A split review also reduces the documentation burden and review time for the construction review12.
Reference: = Submitting a project for review, The LEED Submittal Process and Appeals
A
Explanation:
A split review is an optional review process that allows project teams to submit the design and construction portions of their projects separately. This can help teams determine if the project is on track to achieve LEED certification at its preferred level, and identify any issues or clarifications needed before the final review. A split review also reduces the documentation burden and review time for the construction review12.
Reference: = Submitting a project for review, The LEED Submittal Process and Appeals
Question #159
The scope of analysis in Materials and Resources Credit, Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, Option 4.
Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment is a
- A . gate-to-gate assessment
- B . cradle-to-gate assessment
- C . cradle-to-grave assessment
- D . cradle-to-cradle assessment
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
The scope of analysis in Materials and Resources Credit, Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, Option 4. Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment is a cradle-to-grave assessment. This means that the life cycle assessment (LCA) covers all stages of the building’s life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) to the disposal or reuse of the building components at the end of their service life (grave)1. The LCA must include the following life cycle stages: product stage, construction process stage, use stage, and end-of-life stage2. The LCA must also account for the environmental impacts of the building’s structure and enclosure, as well as any other building elements that are permanently attached to and share service systems with the building2.
Reference: Whole building life cycle assessment through LEED v4
Building life-cycle impact reduction | U.S. Green Building Council
C
Explanation:
The scope of analysis in Materials and Resources Credit, Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction, Option 4. Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment is a cradle-to-grave assessment. This means that the life cycle assessment (LCA) covers all stages of the building’s life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) to the disposal or reuse of the building components at the end of their service life (grave)1. The LCA must include the following life cycle stages: product stage, construction process stage, use stage, and end-of-life stage2. The LCA must also account for the environmental impacts of the building’s structure and enclosure, as well as any other building elements that are permanently attached to and share service systems with the building2.
Reference: Whole building life cycle assessment through LEED v4
Building life-cycle impact reduction | U.S. Green Building Council
Question #160
In the calculations for Water Efficiency Credit, Outdoor Water Use Reduction, food gardens
- A . must be calculated using at least 20% from an alternative water source
- B . must be calculated using 100% potable water
- C . may be included or excluded from the calculations
- D . may be calculated using a standard 20% reduction from baseline
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
Food gardens may be included or excluded from the calculations for Water Efficiency Credit, Outdoor Water Use Reduction, as per the project team’s discretion. If included, food gardens must be calculated using 100% potable water. If excluded, food gardens must be irrigated with 100% captured rainwater, recycled graywater, or water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for nonpotable uses.
Reference: Outdoor Water Use Reduction credit in LEED BD+C: New Construction v4.1 – LEED v4.11 LEED v4 BD+C WE Guide2
C
Explanation:
Food gardens may be included or excluded from the calculations for Water Efficiency Credit, Outdoor Water Use Reduction, as per the project team’s discretion. If included, food gardens must be calculated using 100% potable water. If excluded, food gardens must be irrigated with 100% captured rainwater, recycled graywater, or water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for nonpotable uses.
Reference: Outdoor Water Use Reduction credit in LEED BD+C: New Construction v4.1 – LEED v4.11 LEED v4 BD+C WE Guide2