LEED GREEN ASSOCIATES 1 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED 2026
# Term Definition
1 40/ 60 rule
A method used to choose the appropriate rating
system for the project if the project seems to fit
under multiple rating systems
2 Active daylighting
A system that tracks and collects the sunlight using
mechanical devices but they may not function well
on cloudy days
3 Adjacent Site
A site containing a previously developed site at its
minimum 25% of the boundary bordering parcels
4 Albedo A type of reflectivity measurement from 0 to 1,
which 0 represents black surfaces that absorb
solar radiation while 1 represents white surfaces
that reflect all solar radiation
5 Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs) Enable international projects to earn the
appropriate prereq and credits by allowing them
to meet international standards of their local
standards instead of US-based standards
6 Alternative Water Source non-potable water from on-site surfaces, or
freshwater sources, such as gray water, on-site
reclaimed water, collected rainwater, captured
condensate and rejected water from reverse
osmosis systems. Water from public utilities is
excluded
7 Basis of Design (BOD) Describes the information necessary to accomplish
the owner's project requirements, which includes
system requirements, design criteria, standards,
guidelines etc., developed by the architect/
engineer
, 8 Bio-based materials
Products other than food, that are biological
products, renewable agricultural materials or
forestry materials. they are derived from biomass.
Plans and animals can be examples but Hide
products such as leather and other animal skin
material are excluded in LEED calculations
# Term Definition
9 Biofuel fuels produced from organic material, includes
untreated wood waste, landfill gas, agricultural
crops or waste, animal waste, and other types of
organic wastes.
10 Blowdown
removal of the cooling tower's water in order to
minimize deposits of scales
11 BUG rating method
A luminaire classification system that classifies a
luminaire according to backlight, uplight, and glare
12 Building automation system (BAS)
a computer-based monitoring system which can
monitor, coordinate and control every individual
building system
13 Building exterior
defined as everything from the waterproofing
membrane inclusive of the waterproofing
membrane
14 building footprint describes the area that the building sits on
15 building interior
defined as everything inside the waterproofing
membrane
16 Built environment
all the man-made surroundings that are needed
for human activity, from roads to buildings to
neighborhoods
ANSWERS UPDATED 2026
# Term Definition
1 40/ 60 rule
A method used to choose the appropriate rating
system for the project if the project seems to fit
under multiple rating systems
2 Active daylighting
A system that tracks and collects the sunlight using
mechanical devices but they may not function well
on cloudy days
3 Adjacent Site
A site containing a previously developed site at its
minimum 25% of the boundary bordering parcels
4 Albedo A type of reflectivity measurement from 0 to 1,
which 0 represents black surfaces that absorb
solar radiation while 1 represents white surfaces
that reflect all solar radiation
5 Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs) Enable international projects to earn the
appropriate prereq and credits by allowing them
to meet international standards of their local
standards instead of US-based standards
6 Alternative Water Source non-potable water from on-site surfaces, or
freshwater sources, such as gray water, on-site
reclaimed water, collected rainwater, captured
condensate and rejected water from reverse
osmosis systems. Water from public utilities is
excluded
7 Basis of Design (BOD) Describes the information necessary to accomplish
the owner's project requirements, which includes
system requirements, design criteria, standards,
guidelines etc., developed by the architect/
engineer
, 8 Bio-based materials
Products other than food, that are biological
products, renewable agricultural materials or
forestry materials. they are derived from biomass.
Plans and animals can be examples but Hide
products such as leather and other animal skin
material are excluded in LEED calculations
# Term Definition
9 Biofuel fuels produced from organic material, includes
untreated wood waste, landfill gas, agricultural
crops or waste, animal waste, and other types of
organic wastes.
10 Blowdown
removal of the cooling tower's water in order to
minimize deposits of scales
11 BUG rating method
A luminaire classification system that classifies a
luminaire according to backlight, uplight, and glare
12 Building automation system (BAS)
a computer-based monitoring system which can
monitor, coordinate and control every individual
building system
13 Building exterior
defined as everything from the waterproofing
membrane inclusive of the waterproofing
membrane
14 building footprint describes the area that the building sits on
15 building interior
defined as everything inside the waterproofing
membrane
16 Built environment
all the man-made surroundings that are needed
for human activity, from roads to buildings to
neighborhoods
