1. The document outlines 24 concepts to know to pass the LEED AP exams, including prerequisites, minimum program requirements, potential technologies and strategies, LEED certification steps, and calculations related to densities, floor area ratios, indoor water use reduction, solar reflectance index, renewable energy production, green power and carbon offsets, and flush-out requirements. 2. Key concepts include prerequisites for becoming a LEED AP, minimum program requirements for LEED certification, reference standards and guides, the LEED certification process, and calculations required for various water, energy, and indoor air quality credits. 3. Memorizing the concepts, especially those related to calculations, is important for passing the exams.

1. 24 concepts you should
know to pass the LEEP AP
Exams

2. 1) Prerequisites, Requirements and Intents
• Memorize the information regarding prerequisites to
become a LEED AP
• Know the definitions and goals of each USGBC standard
• Know the purpose/intent of each credit category

3. 2) Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs)
• “All projects applying for LEED certification must meet a set of minimum program
requirements” according to the USGBC
• The Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) are the minimum characteristics or
conditions that make a project appropriate to pursue LEED certification.
• MPRs serve the purpose of giving clear guidance to customers, protecting the integrity
of the LEED program, and reducing challenges that occur during the LEED process
• All LEED projects (except LEED for Homes and Neighborhood Development) must meet
all MPRs to become certified. MPRs include:
• 1. Must be in a permanent location on existing land
• 2. Must use reasonable LEED boundaries
• 3. Must comply with project size requirements
Reference: LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide

4. 3) Potential Technologies and Strategies
• Potential Technologies and Strategies found in the
Reference Guides for each Credit Category are
commonly found on the exam.

5. 4) Summary of Reference Standards,
Implementation and Exemplary Performance
• Study and memorize the Reference Standards,
the implementation of the standards, and what,
if any, Exemplary Performance credits are
available.
• Know standards such as ASHRAE, Green Seal, and
Green Label

6. Project Experience
The following concepts are related to project
experience and have appeared on LEED AP
Exams.

7. 5) LEED Pilot Credits
• Pilot Credits are ideas and strategies that are
entirely new to LEED that may be implemented
for the first time on a LEED project.
• Standard Pilot Credits are each worth 1 point
and are earned within the Innovation category.
Reference: USGBC.org

8. 6) Owners Project Requirements
• Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) is a “written
document that details the ideas, concepts, and criteria
determined by the owner to be important to the success
of the project.”
• This document also establishes the owner’s goals for the
building and its function.
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

9. 7) Basis of Design (BoD)
• Basis of Design (BoD) is the information that helps the
team accomplish the owner’s project requirements.
• It includes:
• System descriptions
• Indoor environmental quality criteria
• Design assumptions
• References to applicable codes
• Standards
• Regulations
• Guidelines
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

10. 8) LEED Certification Steps
• To make sure a project meets all credit requirements
and creates synergies between each credit, project
teams should make sure they follow the steps in the
LEED Reference Guides.

11. 9) Credit Interpretation Process (CIRs)
• The Credit Interpretation Process (CIR) “supports high-
performance, cost-effective project outcomes through
an analysis of the interrelationships among systems.”
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

12. 10) LEED Online
• Teams manage their projects on the LEED Online website. LEED Online is
a web application designed specifically for managing LEED certification
projects.
• LEED Online contains credit templates and allows teams to upload
documentation (e.g. photos, site plans, floor plans, site rendering,
project descriptions, etc) and submit their Credit Interpretation
Requests (CIRs).
• LEED Online contains the LEED Scorecard, which lists all the credits that
the project is attempting. It helps teams keep track of their LEED
Certification plan.
Reference: Poplar Network LEED v4 GA Study Guide

13. 11) LEED Project Registration Costs
• Registration fee: There is a flat fee calculated on a per-project basis
that you’ll pay at the time of registration
• Certification fee: The certification fee is charged on a per-project basis
and based on the size of the project and the rating system under which
the project is registered. Certification fees are due when you submit
your application for review. GBCI will not begin your review until
payment in full has been received
• Other fees: Other fees related to expedited reviews and other optional
parts of the certification process may apply.
• Member discounts: USGBC Silver, Gold and Platinum level member
organizations will have a discounted LEED registration and certification
rate.
Reference: USGBC.org

14. 12) LEED Certification Review Process
• LEED certification involves four main steps:
• Registration: Register your project by completing required
forms and submitting payment.
• Apply: apply by submitting your completed certification
application through LEED Online and paying a certification
review fee.
• Review: Your LEED application will be reviewed by GBCI.
• Certify: You will receive a certification decision informing you
of your certification.
Reference: USGBC.org

15. 13) LEED Charrette and Kickoff Process
• During the initial four-hour meeting or design charrette, teams “explore
opportunities to incorporate innovative strategies, achieve exemplary
performance for existing LEED credits, and develop pilot credits, based on the
project scope.”
• The goal is to combine team expertise to optimize green strategies across all
aspects of building design and construction.
• Then, a team of stakeholders is assembled and a kickoff meeting is held to
introduce the team members, review roles and responsibilities, and review all
remaining activities.
• To participate in a Charrette visit the following link:
https://www.poplarnetwork.com/edu/leed-specific-charrette-exercise
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

16. 14) Integrative Process and IPD
• The Integrative Process Credit “requires implementing a
detailed energy and water analysis to maximize synergies of
the building systems through design improvements.”
• Throughout the design process, teams will identify
opportunities to achieve synergies across building systems.
• Assessing the site will help project teams meet the site
condition and building and site program requirements.
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

17. 15) LEED Site Boundary
• In order for a project to become LEED certified, teams must
follow and report specific site boundaries meaning land in and
around the project space that are affected as a result.
• This includes the site area affected by the construction, including
parking and open space.
• The LEED project boundary may not be “gerrymandered” or
be designed to exclude portions of a space simply for the
purposes of seeking LEED certification.
Reference: LEED GA Study Guide

18. 16) LEED Impact Categories
• LEED v4 Impact Categories “emphasize the potential for projects to
contribute positively to their communities and to the planet.”
• They determine requirements of the rating system and are used to assign
points to each credit. There are also incentives to pursue higher-point-
valued credits and higher certification levels.
• The following are Impact Categories:
• Enhance human health and well-being
• Reverse contribution to climate change
• Enhance community, social equity, environmental justice and quality of life
• Build a greener economy
• Promote sustainable and regenerative resource cycles
• Protect biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Protect and restore water resources
Reference: USGBC.org

19. 17) LEED Interpretations and Addenda
• Addenda is made up of LEED Interpretations and
Corrections.
• LEED Interpretations are rulings decided by USGBC on
inquiries submitted by LEED project teams.
• Corrections “are permanent changes and
improvements to LEED 2009 and v4 resources,
including rating systems and reference guides.”
Reference: USGBC.org

20. Calculations
Difficult calculation questions are common on the LEED
AP v4 exams. Calculations may include basic addition and
subtraction, but also may include more complex
calculations which we will review next.

21. 18) Calculating densities per acre
• Density is a ratio of building coverage on a given
parcel of land to the size of that parcel.
• Density can be calculated as Combined density: square
footage/acre or as separate residential (DU/acre) and
non-residential densities (FAR).
References: Poplar Network LEED GA Study Guide, BD+C Reference Guide

22. 19) Floor Area Ratios (FAR)
• To calculate residential density, you “divide the number of
dwelling units by the amount of residential land.”
• To calculate nonresidential density, use floor area ratio (FAR):
• Floor-area Ratio (FAR) is “the density of nonresidential land use,
exclusive of structured parking, measured as the total nonresidential
building floor area divided by the total buildable land area available
for nonresidential buildings.”
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

23. 20) Indoor Water Use Reduction Calculations
• The Indoor Water Use Reduction prerequisite and credit require
projections based on occupants’ usage of flush and/or flow rates for
toilets, sinks, showers, etc.
• These calculations are important to Water Efficiency Indoor Water Use
Reduction (prerequisite or credits). Below is an example calculation from
the BD+C Reference Guide.

24. 21) Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)
• Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) is related to calculations of roofs or
calculations of slope for a heat island roof.
• “The most effective measure of a roofing material’s ability to
reject solar heat is the measure of the constructed surface’s ability
to stay cool in the sun by reflecting solar radiation and emitting
thermal radiation.”
• To calculate the SRI for a given material, “obtain its solar
reflectance and thermal emittance via the Cool Roof Rating Council
Standard (CRRC-1).”
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

25. 22) Renewable Energy Production
• Calculate the total amount of energy generated by the system
and convert this value into the equivalent cost using either utility
rates or virtual energy rates.
• To receive credit for renewable energy systems savings,
calculate the equivalent cost of the energy generated using the
methodology outlined in the related credit.
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

26. 23) Green Power and Carbon Offset
• The goal of Green Power and Carbon Offsets credit is “to encourage the
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the use of grid-source,
renewable energy technologies and carbon mitigation projects.”
• To calculate the use of the project’s electricity and nonelectricity energy
use totals to determine the required amount of green power and/or
carbon offsets to be purchased.
• Projects that use green power or RECs must convert their annual grid-
generated electricity use to MWh. See example calculation below:
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide

27. 24) Flush-out Requirement Calculations
• Flush-out is a part of the Indoor Air Quality Credit
• Flush-out can be done in two ways:
• Option 1: Before occupancy, teams can “install new filtration media and perform a
building flush-out by supplying a total air volume of 14,000 cubic feet of outdoor air
per square foot.”
• Option 2: Once the space is occupied, “it must be ventilated at a minimum rate of
0.30 cubic foot per minute (cfm) per square foot of outdoor air (1.5 liters of outside
air per second per square meter).”
• OR After construction ends and before occupancy, teams can conduct baseline IAQ
testing using LEED protocols for all occupied spaces. ASTM standard methods, EPA
compendium methods or ISO methods can be used.
Reference: BD+C Reference Guide