LEED Green Associate Exam QUESTION
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of the LEED rating system?
a) To certify building contractors
b) To provide a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-
saving green buildings
c) To promote traditional building methods
d) To standardize interior design
Rationale: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
provides a framework for buildings to be environmentally responsible
and sustainable.
2. Which LEED credit category addresses energy performance of a
building?
a) Sustainable Sites
b) Energy and Atmosphere
c) Water Efficiency
d) Indoor Environmental Quality
Rationale: Energy and Atmosphere (EA) focuses on energy
performance, renewable energy, and building energy systems.
3. Which of the following is a prerequisite in LEED for water
efficiency?
, a) Water Metering
b) Outdoor Water Use Reduction
c) Enhanced Commissioning
d) Green Power
Rationale: Outdoor Water Use Reduction is a prerequisite to reduce
potable water consumption for irrigation.
4. What is the minimum LEED rating required to be considered “LEED
Certified”?
a) 10 points
b) 25 points
c) 40 points
d) 50 points
Rationale: LEED certification is awarded at 40–49 points for the base
Certified level.
5. Which of the following materials contributes to the LEED
Materials and Resources credit?
a) Concrete only
b) Recycled content materials
c) Paint only
d) Plastic
Rationale: Using materials with recycled content reduces
environmental impact and contributes to the Materials and Resources
(MR) credit.
6. Which of the following is a strategy to reduce heat island effect in
urban areas?
a) Use of black asphalt
, b) Use of reflective roofing and green roofs
c) Increasing interior lighting
d) Installing HVAC systems
Rationale: Reflective roofs and vegetated roofs reduce solar heat gain
and mitigate heat islands.
7. What is the primary intent of the Indoor Environmental Quality
category?
a) Reduce construction costs
b) Enhance indoor air quality and occupant comfort
c) Improve exterior landscaping
d) Increase building height
Rationale: Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) ensures the health and
comfort of building occupants.
8. Which of the following LEED rating systems is applicable to new
construction projects?
a) LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
b) LEED for Building Design and Construction (BD+C)
c) LEED for Neighborhood Development
d) LEED for Homes
Rationale: BD+C addresses the design and construction of new
commercial and institutional buildings.
9. What is the purpose of a building life-cycle assessment (LCA)?
a) To calculate project cost only
b) To evaluate environmental impacts of building materials and
systems over their entire life cycle
, c) To determine building height
d) To select interior colors
Rationale: LCA assesses energy, water, resource impacts, and
emissions over the life span of materials and systems.
10. Which of the following contributes to LEED credits under
Sustainable Sites?
a) Low-flow plumbing fixtures
b) Stormwater management
c) Energy-efficient lighting
d) Indoor air quality monitoring
Rationale: Sustainable Sites (SS) credits aim to reduce environmental
impacts related to site development, including stormwater runoff.
11. Which type of energy use is specifically addressed in the
Energy and Atmosphere category?
a) Only renewable energy
b) Only fossil fuels
c) All building energy use
d) Only lighting energy
Rationale: EA credits aim to reduce overall building energy
consumption, not just one energy type.
12. Which of the following is an example of a LEED Innovation
credit?
a) Use of low-flow fixtures
b) Implementation of a green education program for occupants
c) Energy-efficient HVAC system
d) Recycled concrete
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of the LEED rating system?
a) To certify building contractors
b) To provide a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-
saving green buildings
c) To promote traditional building methods
d) To standardize interior design
Rationale: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
provides a framework for buildings to be environmentally responsible
and sustainable.
2. Which LEED credit category addresses energy performance of a
building?
a) Sustainable Sites
b) Energy and Atmosphere
c) Water Efficiency
d) Indoor Environmental Quality
Rationale: Energy and Atmosphere (EA) focuses on energy
performance, renewable energy, and building energy systems.
3. Which of the following is a prerequisite in LEED for water
efficiency?
, a) Water Metering
b) Outdoor Water Use Reduction
c) Enhanced Commissioning
d) Green Power
Rationale: Outdoor Water Use Reduction is a prerequisite to reduce
potable water consumption for irrigation.
4. What is the minimum LEED rating required to be considered “LEED
Certified”?
a) 10 points
b) 25 points
c) 40 points
d) 50 points
Rationale: LEED certification is awarded at 40–49 points for the base
Certified level.
5. Which of the following materials contributes to the LEED
Materials and Resources credit?
a) Concrete only
b) Recycled content materials
c) Paint only
d) Plastic
Rationale: Using materials with recycled content reduces
environmental impact and contributes to the Materials and Resources
(MR) credit.
6. Which of the following is a strategy to reduce heat island effect in
urban areas?
a) Use of black asphalt
, b) Use of reflective roofing and green roofs
c) Increasing interior lighting
d) Installing HVAC systems
Rationale: Reflective roofs and vegetated roofs reduce solar heat gain
and mitigate heat islands.
7. What is the primary intent of the Indoor Environmental Quality
category?
a) Reduce construction costs
b) Enhance indoor air quality and occupant comfort
c) Improve exterior landscaping
d) Increase building height
Rationale: Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) ensures the health and
comfort of building occupants.
8. Which of the following LEED rating systems is applicable to new
construction projects?
a) LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
b) LEED for Building Design and Construction (BD+C)
c) LEED for Neighborhood Development
d) LEED for Homes
Rationale: BD+C addresses the design and construction of new
commercial and institutional buildings.
9. What is the purpose of a building life-cycle assessment (LCA)?
a) To calculate project cost only
b) To evaluate environmental impacts of building materials and
systems over their entire life cycle
, c) To determine building height
d) To select interior colors
Rationale: LCA assesses energy, water, resource impacts, and
emissions over the life span of materials and systems.
10. Which of the following contributes to LEED credits under
Sustainable Sites?
a) Low-flow plumbing fixtures
b) Stormwater management
c) Energy-efficient lighting
d) Indoor air quality monitoring
Rationale: Sustainable Sites (SS) credits aim to reduce environmental
impacts related to site development, including stormwater runoff.
11. Which type of energy use is specifically addressed in the
Energy and Atmosphere category?
a) Only renewable energy
b) Only fossil fuels
c) All building energy use
d) Only lighting energy
Rationale: EA credits aim to reduce overall building energy
consumption, not just one energy type.
12. Which of the following is an example of a LEED Innovation
credit?
a) Use of low-flow fixtures
b) Implementation of a green education program for occupants
c) Energy-efficient HVAC system
d) Recycled concrete
