USGBC LEED AP Building
Design + Construction
(BD+C) Exam
,USGBC LEED AP Building Design + Construction (BD+C) Exam
Question 1
Which pairing correctly distinguishes “Advanced Energy Metering” from “On-site renewable energy
systems”?
A. First area: Whole-building energy tracking; second area: efficiency measures.
B. First area: solar PV; second area: Whole-building energy tracking.
C. First area: efficiency measures; second area: Whole-building energy tracking.
D. First area: Whole-building energy tracking; second area: solar PV.
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation:
The area “Advanced Energy Metering” covers Whole-building energy tracking, whereas “On-site
renewable energy systems” covers solar PV. Matching each responsibility to its own focus keeps the
two areas distinct. Exchanging the responsibilities, or replacing one with efficiency measures, does
not preserve both relationships.
Question 2
An assessment of “Alternative Transportation Access” compares “quality transit accessibility” with
“pedestrian infrastructure”. Which description retains the technical relationship being examined?
A. Two responsibilities belonging only to Transportation Demand Management (TDM).
B. Two distinct responsibilities within Alternative Transportation Access.
C. One responsibility within Alternative Transportation Access and one within Transportation
Demand Management (TDM).
D. One responsibility within Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and one within
Transportation Demand Management (TDM).
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation:
The two responsibilities, quality transit accessibility and pedestrian infrastructure, share the focus
Alternative Transportation Access. They can be distinguished from one another while still belonging
to the same broader work area. Assigning either to a different focus does not retain the stated
relationship.
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,USGBC LEED AP Building Design + Construction (BD+C) Exam
Question 3
An assessment of “Advanced Energy Metering” compares “Whole-building energy tracking” with
“submetering of major load categories”. Which description retains the technical relationship being
examined?
A. Two responsibilities belonging only to Submetering systems for major water subsystems.
B. One responsibility within Advanced Energy Metering and one within Water Metering.
C. One responsibility within Water Metering and one within Submetering systems for major water
subsystems.
D. Two distinct responsibilities within Advanced Energy Metering.
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation:
The two responsibilities, Whole-building energy tracking and submetering of major load categories,
share the focus Advanced Energy Metering. They can be distinguished from one another while still
belonging to the same broader work area. Assigning either to a different focus does not retain the
stated relationship.
Question 4
For “Low-Emitting Materials”, which pair keeps both responsibilities within that focus?
A. Leadership extraction practices; composite wood.
B. VOC limits for adhesives; bio-based materials.
C. bio-based materials; Protecting absorptive materials.
D. VOC limits for adhesives; composite wood.
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation:
The pair VOC limits for adhesives and composite wood retains two responsibilities within
Low-Emitting Materials. The alternatives introduce bio-based materials, Leadership extraction
practices, or Protecting absorptive materials, which are associated with other work areas. A pair is a
direct match only when both of its responsibilities fit the stated focus.
Question 5
An assessment of “Heat Island Reduction” compares “Non-roof and roof strategies” with “vegetated
roofing systems”. Which description retains the technical relationship being examined?
A. Two distinct responsibilities within Heat Island Reduction.
B. One responsibility within Enhanced IAQ Strategies and one within LEED System Synergies and
Trade-offs.
C. One responsibility within Heat Island Reduction and one within Enhanced IAQ Strategies.
D. Two responsibilities belonging only to Enhanced IAQ Strategies.
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation:
The two responsibilities, Non-roof and roof strategies and vegetated roofing systems, share the
focus Heat Island Reduction. They can be distinguished from one another while still belonging to the
same broader work area. Assigning either to a different focus does not retain the stated
relationship.
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, USGBC LEED AP Building Design + Construction (BD+C) Exam
Question 6
Which pairing correctly distinguishes “Habitat Conservation, Restoration, and Biodiversity” from
“Integrative Design Process”?
A. First area: Restoring disturbed soils, utilizing native or adapted vegetation, and implementing
bird-friendly design; second area: street design.
B. First area: Restoring disturbed soils, utilizing native or adapted vegetation, and implementing
bird-friendly design; second area: discovery phases.
C. First area: discovery phases; second area: Restoring disturbed soils, utilizing native or adapted
vegetation, and implementing bird-friendly design.
D. First area: street design; second area: Restoring disturbed soils, utilizing native or adapted
vegetation, and implementing bird-friendly design.
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation:
The area “Habitat Conservation, Restoration, and Biodiversity” covers Restoring disturbed soils,
utilizing native or adapted vegetation, and implementing bird-friendly design, whereas “Integrative
Design Process” covers discovery phases. Matching each responsibility to its own focus keeps the
two areas distinct. Exchanging the responsibilities, or replacing one with street design, does not
preserve both relationships.
Question 7
Which technical focus most directly encompasses “Load shedding, peak demand reduction, and
grid-interactive building capabilities”?
A. Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
B. Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) and Certification Levels
C. LEED System Synergies and Trade-offs
D. Demand Response
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation:
Load shedding, peak demand reduction, and grid-interactive building capabilities is an aspect of
Demand Response. This choice preserves the specific relationship between the responsibility and its
technical focus. The other choices identify separate focuses, rather than the direct category of the
activity described.
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Design + Construction
(BD+C) Exam
,USGBC LEED AP Building Design + Construction (BD+C) Exam
Question 1
Which pairing correctly distinguishes “Advanced Energy Metering” from “On-site renewable energy
systems”?
A. First area: Whole-building energy tracking; second area: efficiency measures.
B. First area: solar PV; second area: Whole-building energy tracking.
C. First area: efficiency measures; second area: Whole-building energy tracking.
D. First area: Whole-building energy tracking; second area: solar PV.
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation:
The area “Advanced Energy Metering” covers Whole-building energy tracking, whereas “On-site
renewable energy systems” covers solar PV. Matching each responsibility to its own focus keeps the
two areas distinct. Exchanging the responsibilities, or replacing one with efficiency measures, does
not preserve both relationships.
Question 2
An assessment of “Alternative Transportation Access” compares “quality transit accessibility” with
“pedestrian infrastructure”. Which description retains the technical relationship being examined?
A. Two responsibilities belonging only to Transportation Demand Management (TDM).
B. Two distinct responsibilities within Alternative Transportation Access.
C. One responsibility within Alternative Transportation Access and one within Transportation
Demand Management (TDM).
D. One responsibility within Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and one within
Transportation Demand Management (TDM).
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation:
The two responsibilities, quality transit accessibility and pedestrian infrastructure, share the focus
Alternative Transportation Access. They can be distinguished from one another while still belonging
to the same broader work area. Assigning either to a different focus does not retain the stated
relationship.
5490 Page 2
,USGBC LEED AP Building Design + Construction (BD+C) Exam
Question 3
An assessment of “Advanced Energy Metering” compares “Whole-building energy tracking” with
“submetering of major load categories”. Which description retains the technical relationship being
examined?
A. Two responsibilities belonging only to Submetering systems for major water subsystems.
B. One responsibility within Advanced Energy Metering and one within Water Metering.
C. One responsibility within Water Metering and one within Submetering systems for major water
subsystems.
D. Two distinct responsibilities within Advanced Energy Metering.
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation:
The two responsibilities, Whole-building energy tracking and submetering of major load categories,
share the focus Advanced Energy Metering. They can be distinguished from one another while still
belonging to the same broader work area. Assigning either to a different focus does not retain the
stated relationship.
Question 4
For “Low-Emitting Materials”, which pair keeps both responsibilities within that focus?
A. Leadership extraction practices; composite wood.
B. VOC limits for adhesives; bio-based materials.
C. bio-based materials; Protecting absorptive materials.
D. VOC limits for adhesives; composite wood.
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation:
The pair VOC limits for adhesives and composite wood retains two responsibilities within
Low-Emitting Materials. The alternatives introduce bio-based materials, Leadership extraction
practices, or Protecting absorptive materials, which are associated with other work areas. A pair is a
direct match only when both of its responsibilities fit the stated focus.
Question 5
An assessment of “Heat Island Reduction” compares “Non-roof and roof strategies” with “vegetated
roofing systems”. Which description retains the technical relationship being examined?
A. Two distinct responsibilities within Heat Island Reduction.
B. One responsibility within Enhanced IAQ Strategies and one within LEED System Synergies and
Trade-offs.
C. One responsibility within Heat Island Reduction and one within Enhanced IAQ Strategies.
D. Two responsibilities belonging only to Enhanced IAQ Strategies.
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation:
The two responsibilities, Non-roof and roof strategies and vegetated roofing systems, share the
focus Heat Island Reduction. They can be distinguished from one another while still belonging to the
same broader work area. Assigning either to a different focus does not retain the stated
relationship.
5490 Page 3
, USGBC LEED AP Building Design + Construction (BD+C) Exam
Question 6
Which pairing correctly distinguishes “Habitat Conservation, Restoration, and Biodiversity” from
“Integrative Design Process”?
A. First area: Restoring disturbed soils, utilizing native or adapted vegetation, and implementing
bird-friendly design; second area: street design.
B. First area: Restoring disturbed soils, utilizing native or adapted vegetation, and implementing
bird-friendly design; second area: discovery phases.
C. First area: discovery phases; second area: Restoring disturbed soils, utilizing native or adapted
vegetation, and implementing bird-friendly design.
D. First area: street design; second area: Restoring disturbed soils, utilizing native or adapted
vegetation, and implementing bird-friendly design.
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation:
The area “Habitat Conservation, Restoration, and Biodiversity” covers Restoring disturbed soils,
utilizing native or adapted vegetation, and implementing bird-friendly design, whereas “Integrative
Design Process” covers discovery phases. Matching each responsibility to its own focus keeps the
two areas distinct. Exchanging the responsibilities, or replacing one with street design, does not
preserve both relationships.
Question 7
Which technical focus most directly encompasses “Load shedding, peak demand reduction, and
grid-interactive building capabilities”?
A. Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
B. Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) and Certification Levels
C. LEED System Synergies and Trade-offs
D. Demand Response
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation:
Load shedding, peak demand reduction, and grid-interactive building capabilities is an aspect of
Demand Response. This choice preserves the specific relationship between the responsibility and its
technical focus. The other choices identify separate focuses, rather than the direct category of the
activity described.
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