LEED AP BD+C v4 Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
What does the acronym "LEED" stand for? - Answers Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design
What does the acronym "GBCI" stand for? - Answers Green Business Certification Inc.
Buildings are __________ and people are __________ - Answers certified; credentialed
What are the knowledge domains? - Answers 1. LEED Process, 2. Integrative Strategies, 3.
Location and Transportation, 4. Sustainable Sites, 5. Water Efficiency, 6. Energy and
Atmosphere, 7. Materials and Resources, 8. Indoor Environmental Quality, 9. Project
Surroundings and Public Outreach
How many LEED BD+C adaptations are there? - Answers 8
What are the LEED BD+C adaptations? - Answers 1. New Construction and Major Renovations, 2.
Core and Shell Development, 3. Schools, 4. Retail, 5. Data Centers, 6. Warehouses and
Distribution Centers, 7. Hospitality, 8. Healthcare
What are the LEED certification levels, and how many LEED points are required for each
certification level? - Answers Certified: 40; Silver: 50; Gold: 60; Platinum: 80
How should project teams determine a project's rating system if more than one rating system
could apply? - Answers Use the 40/60 rule:
- if a rating system would be appropriate for <40% of a project's gross floor area, do not use that
rating system
- if a rating system would be appropriate for >60% of a project's gross floor area, that rating
system should be used
- in between, project team uses discretion
How many LEED impact categories are there? - Answers 7
What are the LEED impact categories? - Answers 1. Reverse contribution to global climate
change
2. Enhance individual human health and well-being
3. Promote and restore water resources
4. Protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services
5. Promote sustainable and regenerative material resources cycles
6. Build a greener economy
, 7. Enhance social equity, environmental justice, community health, and quality of life
What are the Minimum Program Requirements? - Answers 1. Must be in a permanent location
on existing land
2. Must use reasonable LEED boundaries
3. Must comply with project size requirements (minimum of 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area)
What are the certification programs available to projects that include multiple buildings? -
Answers Volume and Campus
What is a CIR? - Answers Credit interpretation ruling. CIR's are project-specific, and are not
precedent-setting.
What is a LEED interpretation? - Answers Interpretations are similar to CIR's, but are precedent-
setting, whereas CIR's are project-specific.
What is the triple bottom line? - Answers People, planet, profit
What is USGBC's mission? - Answers USGBC's mission is to *transform* the way buildings and
communities are designed, built, and operated, *enabling* an environmentally and socially
responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that *improves* the quality of life.
What is a passing score on the LEED AP exam? - Answers 170
What is the most highly weighted LEED impact category? - Answers Reversing global climate
change
The preliminary construction review should take place within how long after substantial project
completion? - Answers 2 years
What is a master site? - Answers A master site must be registered, can achieve credits for any
projects included in the master site, but cannot be LEED certified itself.
What is the difference between interpretations and addenda? - Answers Interpretations answer
questions; addenda incorporate changes.
What documents apply to incomplete spaces? - Answers 1. Letter of commitment (owner)
2. Tenant design and construction guidelines (tenants)
What is a project's development footprint? - Answers All of a project's impermeable surfaces
(>50% permeable pavement does not contribute).
Density [does / does not] include structured parking - Answers does NOT
What is the equation used to calculate hotel occupancy? - Answers HO = 1.5 x (guest rooms) x
What does the acronym "LEED" stand for? - Answers Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design
What does the acronym "GBCI" stand for? - Answers Green Business Certification Inc.
Buildings are __________ and people are __________ - Answers certified; credentialed
What are the knowledge domains? - Answers 1. LEED Process, 2. Integrative Strategies, 3.
Location and Transportation, 4. Sustainable Sites, 5. Water Efficiency, 6. Energy and
Atmosphere, 7. Materials and Resources, 8. Indoor Environmental Quality, 9. Project
Surroundings and Public Outreach
How many LEED BD+C adaptations are there? - Answers 8
What are the LEED BD+C adaptations? - Answers 1. New Construction and Major Renovations, 2.
Core and Shell Development, 3. Schools, 4. Retail, 5. Data Centers, 6. Warehouses and
Distribution Centers, 7. Hospitality, 8. Healthcare
What are the LEED certification levels, and how many LEED points are required for each
certification level? - Answers Certified: 40; Silver: 50; Gold: 60; Platinum: 80
How should project teams determine a project's rating system if more than one rating system
could apply? - Answers Use the 40/60 rule:
- if a rating system would be appropriate for <40% of a project's gross floor area, do not use that
rating system
- if a rating system would be appropriate for >60% of a project's gross floor area, that rating
system should be used
- in between, project team uses discretion
How many LEED impact categories are there? - Answers 7
What are the LEED impact categories? - Answers 1. Reverse contribution to global climate
change
2. Enhance individual human health and well-being
3. Promote and restore water resources
4. Protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services
5. Promote sustainable and regenerative material resources cycles
6. Build a greener economy
, 7. Enhance social equity, environmental justice, community health, and quality of life
What are the Minimum Program Requirements? - Answers 1. Must be in a permanent location
on existing land
2. Must use reasonable LEED boundaries
3. Must comply with project size requirements (minimum of 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area)
What are the certification programs available to projects that include multiple buildings? -
Answers Volume and Campus
What is a CIR? - Answers Credit interpretation ruling. CIR's are project-specific, and are not
precedent-setting.
What is a LEED interpretation? - Answers Interpretations are similar to CIR's, but are precedent-
setting, whereas CIR's are project-specific.
What is the triple bottom line? - Answers People, planet, profit
What is USGBC's mission? - Answers USGBC's mission is to *transform* the way buildings and
communities are designed, built, and operated, *enabling* an environmentally and socially
responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that *improves* the quality of life.
What is a passing score on the LEED AP exam? - Answers 170
What is the most highly weighted LEED impact category? - Answers Reversing global climate
change
The preliminary construction review should take place within how long after substantial project
completion? - Answers 2 years
What is a master site? - Answers A master site must be registered, can achieve credits for any
projects included in the master site, but cannot be LEED certified itself.
What is the difference between interpretations and addenda? - Answers Interpretations answer
questions; addenda incorporate changes.
What documents apply to incomplete spaces? - Answers 1. Letter of commitment (owner)
2. Tenant design and construction guidelines (tenants)
What is a project's development footprint? - Answers All of a project's impermeable surfaces
(>50% permeable pavement does not contribute).
Density [does / does not] include structured parking - Answers does NOT
What is the equation used to calculate hotel occupancy? - Answers HO = 1.5 x (guest rooms) x
