USGBC LEED-Green-Associate Online Access

A wind turbine is a source of green power, which is electricity generated from renewable sources that have low or zero greenhouse gas emissions. A wind turbine converts the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical power, which can then be used to generate electricity. Wind power is a clean, abundant, and sustainable form of energy that does not produce air pollution or contribute to climate change. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind power accounted for about 8.4% of the total U.S. electricity generation in 2020. The other options are not sources of green power, as they either rely on fossil fuels or nuclear energy, which have significant environmental and social impacts. Clean coal is a term used to describe technologies that aim to reduce the emissions and waste from burning coal, but it is still a carbon-intensive and polluting source of energy. Nuclear fission is a process that splits atoms to release energy, but it also produces radioactive waste that poses long-term health and safety risks. Natural gas captured by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process that injects water, chemicals, and sand into underground rock formations to release natural gas, but it also causes water contamination, air pollution, and seismic activity. References: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, p. 347 1; [U.S. Department of Energy website]

LEED certification is a process that evaluates the environmental performance and sustainability of a building project based on a set of rating systems. To earn LEED certification, a project must satisfy all the mandatory requirements, or prerequisites, of the chosen rating system, and earn a minimum number of points by meeting optional criteria, or credits. The number of points determines the level of certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points), or Platinum (80+ points)123.

Employing a LEED AP (Accredited Professional) on the project team is not a requirement for LEED certification, but it can provide an advantage, as LEED APs have demonstrated their knowledge and expertise in green building and LEED rating systems. Having a LEED AP on the project team can also earn one point under the Integrative Process credit4.

Conducting a whole-building life-cycle assessment is not a requirement for LEED certification, but it can be an option for earning points under the Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction credit. A life-cycle assessment is a method of evaluating the environmental impacts of a building over its entire life span, from extraction of materials to disposal or reuse3.

Earning a minimum of 50 points or meeting a prerequisite is not a sufficient condition for LEED certification, as it does not account for the other prerequisites or the level of certification. A project must meet all the prerequisites and earn at least 40 points to qualify for the lowest level of certification

ASHRAE 90.1-2010, Appendix G is the referenced standard for defining the baseline building performance for energy simulation modeling in LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction. The baseline building is a hypothetical building that represents the minimum energy performance required by ASHRAE 90.1-2010, which is a standard for energy efficiency in buildings. The baseline building is used as a benchmark to compare the proposed design of the project and to calculate the percentage of energy cost savings achieved by the project. The baseline building performance is evaluated by following the procedures and assumptions specified in Appendix G of ASHRAE 90.1-2010, such as building envelope, lighting, HVAC systems, service water heating, and renewable energy.

The other options are not relevant to the question, as they are standards for different aspects of green building, such as thermal comfort (ASHRAE 55-2010), air filtration (ASHRAE 52.2-2007), and ventilation (ASHRAE 62.1-2010).

References: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, p. 341 1; [ASHRAE website]

Maximizing daylighting opportunities with properly sized and oriented windows can significantly reduce a building’s energy use. By allowing more natural light into the building, the need for artificial lighting can be reduced, which in turn reduces electricity consumption. Additionally, if windows are properly oriented, they can also help with passive heating and cooling, further reducing energy use. References: LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, U.S. Green Building Council resources