LEED GA ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ cradle to cradle
Answer: Closed system where materials are reused at the end of
their useful life. Continuous loop of reuse that eliminates waste.
◉ upstream activities
Answer: Related to the extraction of the raw materials used in a
product.
◉ downstream activities
Answer: related to the processing of materials all the way through to
the delivery of the final product to the end user
◉ embodied energy
Answer: The total amount of energy used to extract materials and
manufacture, transport, install, and use a product across its life
cycle.
◉ Triple Bottom Line
,Answer: people, planet, and profit dimensions of an organization in
decision making. stakeholder approach, not shareholder approach
so that the bottom line for all parties can be increased.
◉ no! any additional costs are recovered in long-term savings
Answer: do green buildings cost more than nongreen buildings?
◉ regenerative building
Answer: closed systems that use only as much water and energy as
they can produce
◉ integrative process
Answer: A design process in which multidisciplinary teams
collaborate to meet sustainable design objectives from the inception
of a project to its completion.
◉ discovery, implementation, occupancy
Answer: three phases of the integrative design process
◉ discovery phase
Answer: most critical phase of the entire building design process.
occurs before schematic design begins. team members gather
information relevant to the project and bring the data to project
meetings to inform the design process. (integrative process phase)
,◉ implementation phase
Answer: integrative process phase where team members compile
and analyze the results of research relating to system interactions
between disciplines. then the building design begins to develop.
◉ occupancy phase
Answer: integrative process phase where performance assessment
mechanisms are used to measure actual building performance
against expectations
◉ 1. conduct research and collect data within the scope of the work
2. analyze the data
3. share data analyses with team members at group workshops
4. receive feedbacks to identify synergies, wastes, and other
opportunities for savings and efficiency across all disciplines
5. create/refine design
Answer: 5 steps in the iterative process
◉ negative feedback loop
Answer: A feedback loop that causes a system to change in the
opposite direction from which it is moving and self-correct
, ◉ positive feedback loop
Answer: feedback loop that causes a system to change further in the
same direction (ex: climate change)
◉ Prius effect
Answer: The effect of changed behavior as a result of making
information about a subject more visible and available (ex:
measuring energy efficiency increases energy efficiency)
◉ leverage point
Answer: a point in a system in which a small change can yield large
results
◉ new construction and major renovations, core and shell
development, schools, retail, data centers, warehouses and
distribution centers, hospitality, healthcare
Answer: rating systems for LEED building design and construction
(8)
◉ commercial interiors, retail, hospitality
Answer: rating systems for LEED interior design and construction
(3)
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ cradle to cradle
Answer: Closed system where materials are reused at the end of
their useful life. Continuous loop of reuse that eliminates waste.
◉ upstream activities
Answer: Related to the extraction of the raw materials used in a
product.
◉ downstream activities
Answer: related to the processing of materials all the way through to
the delivery of the final product to the end user
◉ embodied energy
Answer: The total amount of energy used to extract materials and
manufacture, transport, install, and use a product across its life
cycle.
◉ Triple Bottom Line
,Answer: people, planet, and profit dimensions of an organization in
decision making. stakeholder approach, not shareholder approach
so that the bottom line for all parties can be increased.
◉ no! any additional costs are recovered in long-term savings
Answer: do green buildings cost more than nongreen buildings?
◉ regenerative building
Answer: closed systems that use only as much water and energy as
they can produce
◉ integrative process
Answer: A design process in which multidisciplinary teams
collaborate to meet sustainable design objectives from the inception
of a project to its completion.
◉ discovery, implementation, occupancy
Answer: three phases of the integrative design process
◉ discovery phase
Answer: most critical phase of the entire building design process.
occurs before schematic design begins. team members gather
information relevant to the project and bring the data to project
meetings to inform the design process. (integrative process phase)
,◉ implementation phase
Answer: integrative process phase where team members compile
and analyze the results of research relating to system interactions
between disciplines. then the building design begins to develop.
◉ occupancy phase
Answer: integrative process phase where performance assessment
mechanisms are used to measure actual building performance
against expectations
◉ 1. conduct research and collect data within the scope of the work
2. analyze the data
3. share data analyses with team members at group workshops
4. receive feedbacks to identify synergies, wastes, and other
opportunities for savings and efficiency across all disciplines
5. create/refine design
Answer: 5 steps in the iterative process
◉ negative feedback loop
Answer: A feedback loop that causes a system to change in the
opposite direction from which it is moving and self-correct
, ◉ positive feedback loop
Answer: feedback loop that causes a system to change further in the
same direction (ex: climate change)
◉ Prius effect
Answer: The effect of changed behavior as a result of making
information about a subject more visible and available (ex:
measuring energy efficiency increases energy efficiency)
◉ leverage point
Answer: a point in a system in which a small change can yield large
results
◉ new construction and major renovations, core and shell
development, schools, retail, data centers, warehouses and
distribution centers, hospitality, healthcare
Answer: rating systems for LEED building design and construction
(8)
◉ commercial interiors, retail, hospitality
Answer: rating systems for LEED interior design and construction
(3)
