LEED AP Neighborhood Development

What is the primary focus of the LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) rating system?

• AIndividual building energy performance
• BNeighborhood-scale planning and design for sustainability
• CInterior space design
• DBuilding operations and maintenance

Which organizations jointly developed the LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system?

• AEPA and HUD
• BUSGBC, Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
• CAIA and ASHRAE
• DICC and ANSI

What is a prerequisite under Smart Location and Linkage (SLL)?

• ACertified green buildings
• BSmart location
• CWalkable streets
• DConnected and open community

Which of the following land types is prohibited for LEED ND development under the Smart Location prerequisite?

• APreviously developed land
• BLand within a 1/2-mile walk of transit
• CPrime farmland that has not been previously developed
• DInfill sites in existing urban areas

What is the purpose of the Imperiled Species and Ecological Communities prerequisite?

• ATo require wildlife corridors in all developments
• BTo protect habitat for imperiled species and ecological communities identified by state N…
• CTo mandate native plant landscaping
• DTo require environmental impact statements

What is the minimum intersection density required to earn points for Compact Development under LEED ND?

• A50 intersections per square mile
• B90 intersections per square mile
• C140 intersections per square mile
• D200 intersections per square mile

Which LEED ND credit category has the highest total possible points?

• ASmart Location and Linkage
• BNeighborhood Pattern and Design
• CGreen Infrastructure and Buildings
• DInnovation

What does the Walkable Streets credit in LEED ND require?

• AMinimum sidewalk widths and continuous street tree canopy only
• BBuilding facades built close to the street, functional entries facing the street, ground-…
• COnly the installation of crosswalks
• DPedestrian bridges connecting all buildings

What is the purpose of the Connected and Open Community prerequisite?

• ATo require all homes have internet connectivity
• BTo ensure the project is physically integrated with the surrounding community through con…
• CTo mandate open floor plans in buildings
• DTo require public Wi-Fi throughout the neighborhood

Under LEED ND, what is meant by 'diverse uses'?

• AHaving multiple paint colors on buildings
• BProviding a variety of land uses (residential, commercial, civic, recreational) within wa…
• CUsing diverse construction materials
• DHaving diverse architectural styles

Which transit type qualifies for the highest points under the Reduced Automobile Dependence credit?

• ABus stop with weekday service
• BBus rapid transit with 10-minute peak headways
• CHeavy or light rail station
• DCommuter rail with 2 daily trips

What is a 'charrette' in the context of LEED ND?

• AA type of green building material
• BA collaborative design workshop that engages stakeholders in the planning process
• CA stormwater management device
• DA type of transit vehicle

What is the purpose of the Certified Green Buildings credit in LEED ND?

• ATo require all buildings be painted green
• BTo encourage individual buildings within the neighborhood to achieve green building certi…
• CTo require LEED Platinum for all structures
• DTo mandate solar panels on every building

Under the Floodplain Avoidance prerequisite, what must projects located within a 100-year floodplain demonstrate?

• ANothing — floodplain development is always prohibited
• BCompliance with FEMA requirements and the National Flood Insurance Program
• CThat they will build structures above the 500-year flood elevation
• DThat they will fill in the floodplain before construction

How does LEED ND define a 'previously developed site'?

• AAny site that has been surveyed
• BA site that was previously altered by paving, construction, or land use that would typica…
• CAny site with existing utilities
• DA site that has been rezoned

What is the purpose of the Wetland and Water Body Conservation prerequisite?

• ATo require the creation of new wetlands
• BTo protect existing wetlands and water bodies from development impacts
• CTo mandate water features in all developments
• DTo require stormwater ponds

Which design strategy earns points under the Tree-Lined and Shaded Streetscapes credit?

• APlanting trees only in parks
• BProviding street trees along at least 60% of new and existing streets within the project
• CInstalling artificial shade structures exclusively
• DRemoving existing trees to improve sight lines

What three stages of certification does LEED ND offer?

• ABronze, Silver, Gold
• BPlan, Pre-certified Plan, Certified Neighborhood Development
• CConditional Approval, Plan, Certified Neighborhood Development
• DStage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3

What is the minimum project size for LEED ND certification?

• A1 acre
• B2 or more buildings on at least 2 contiguous lots
• C10 acres
• D50 dwelling units

Which of the following best describes 'smart growth' principles as they apply to LEED ND?

• ABuilding as many housing units as possible
• BCompact, mixed-use, transit-oriented development that preserves open space and reduces au…
• CBuilding only single-family homes on large lots
• DMaximizing parking capacity

What does the Housing Types and Affordability credit promote?

• ALuxury housing exclusively
• BA diverse mix of housing types and price points to create an inclusive neighborhood
• CSingle-family homes only
• DOnly affordable housing

Under the Bicycle Network and Storage credit, what is required for maximum points?

• AA single bike rack at the entrance
• BA comprehensive bicycle network connecting to existing bicycle infrastructure, plus secur…
• COnly painted bicycle lanes
• DA bicycle repair shop within the neighborhood

What is the purpose of the Stormwater Management credit in LEED ND?

• ATo collect rainwater for drinking
• BTo manage stormwater runoff through green infrastructure to reduce flooding and protect w…
• CTo eliminate all impervious surfaces
• DTo redirect stormwater to adjacent properties

Which of the following is an Innovation credit strategy in LEED ND?

• ABuilding more parking than required
• BAchieving exemplary performance in an existing credit beyond the stated requirements
• CUsing only conventional building materials
• DMaximizing the number of drive-through restaurants

What is the purpose of Regional Priority credits in LEED ND?

• ATo give extra points for projects in specific regions regardless of performance
• BTo address geographically specific environmental or social priorities identified by USGBC…
• CTo prioritize urban projects over rural projects
• DTo require different standards for different climate zones

A developer wants to build on a site adjacent to a wetland. Under LEED ND, what minimum buffer distance must be maintained from the wetland?

• A25 feet
• B50 feet
• C100 feet
• DNo buffer is required

What is the minimum density threshold for the Smart Location prerequisite if a project is not served by transit?

• A3 dwelling units per acre
• B7 dwelling units per acre
• CProjects without transit cannot meet the Smart Location prerequisite
• DThere is no density requirement

What does the Access to Civic and Public Space credit require?

• AA civic center in every neighborhood
• BThat park or public open space be located within a 1/4-mile walk of at least 90% of dwell…
• CThat every building have a courtyard
• DMunicipal government offices within the project

Which of the following is NOT a LEED ND certification level?

• ACertified
• BSilver
• CGold
• DDiamond

What is the purpose of the Reduced Parking Footprint credit?

• ATo eliminate all parking
• BTo minimize the environmental and land-use impacts of surface parking through strategies…
• CTo require underground parking for all vehicles
• DTo convert parking lots to parks

Under LEED ND, what is a 'transit-oriented development'?

• AAny development with a bus stop nearby
• BA compact, walkable, mixed-use development designed around high-quality transit service
• CA transit maintenance facility
• DA park-and-ride lot

What is the significance of intersection density in LEED ND?

• AIt measures traffic signal timing
• BIt measures street connectivity, which correlates with walkability and reduced vehicle mi…
• CIt counts the number of traffic accidents
• DIt measures the distance between stop signs

Which water efficiency strategy is addressed in the Green Infrastructure and Buildings category?

• AOcean desalination
• BIndoor and outdoor water use reduction through efficient fixtures, irrigation, and water…
• CBottled water distribution
• DSwimming pool requirements

What does the Mixed-Income Diverse Communities credit promote?

• AExclusively market-rate housing
• BA range of housing price points including affordable units to create economically diverse…
• COnly subsidized housing
• DSegregated housing by income level

A LEED ND project is located within a 1/2-mile walk of a rail transit station with 72 weekday trips. How does this affect the project's scoring potential?

• AIt has no effect on scoring
• BIt significantly enhances scoring potential for transit-related credits in both SLL and N…
• CIt only affects the Innovation category
• DIt penalizes the project for being too urban

What is the purpose of the Solar Orientation credit in LEED ND?

• ATo require solar panels on all buildings
• BTo orient streets and buildings to maximize passive solar heating and natural daylighting…
• CTo measure annual sunshine hours
• DTo prohibit north-facing buildings

Under LEED ND, what is the maximum number of Innovation credits that can be earned?

• A3 points
• B5 points
• C6 points
• D10 points

What does the Neighborhood Schools credit encourage?

• AOnline-only education
• BLocating schools within or near the neighborhood to reduce school bus transportation and…
• CConstructing the largest possible schools
• DPrivate school enrollment

Which of the following is a strategy for earning the Heat Island Reduction credit in LEED ND?

• AInstalling dark-colored asphalt on all surfaces
• BUsing high-albedo (reflective) paving materials, shade trees, and green roofs to reduce a…
• CIncreasing the amount of surface parking
• DRemoving all vegetation from streetscapes

What is the purpose of the Local Food Production credit?

• ATo require restaurants in the neighborhood
• BTo provide space and support for community gardens, farmers' markets, and local food prod…
• CTo mandate organic food stores
• DTo eliminate imported food

A project team is evaluating whether to develop a greenfield or a brownfield site. Which site type does LEED ND most strongly incentivize?

• AGreenfield sites in rural areas
• BPreviously developed brownfield sites near existing infrastructure
• CGreenfield sites far from transit
• DUndeveloped sites in flood zones

What is the role of a LEED AP with ND specialty on a project team?

• ATo design all buildings individually
• BTo serve as a knowledgeable resource on LEED ND requirements, facilitate the certificatio…
• CTo approve the final certification
• DTo replace the need for a project architect

How does the Brownfield Remediation credit benefit a LEED ND project?

• AIt allows projects to skip the Smart Location prerequisite
• BIt awards points for remediating contaminated sites, turning environmental liabilities in…
• CIt provides additional parking allowances
• DIt exempts the project from stormwater requirements

What is the relationship between vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and LEED ND?

• ALEED ND aims to increase VMT
• BLEED ND aims to reduce VMT through compact development, mixed uses, transit access, and w…
• CVMT is not considered in LEED ND
• DLEED ND requires VMT to remain constant

Which of the following is required by the Agricultural Land Conservation prerequisite?

• AAll food must be locally grown
• BProjects must not develop on prime farmland, unique farmland, or farmland of statewide im…
• CAgricultural uses must be included in the neighborhood
• DA community garden must be provided

What does the On-Site Renewable Energy Sources credit in LEED ND encourage?

• AConnecting to the standard electrical grid only
• BGenerating renewable energy on-site through solar, wind, geothermal, or other renewable s…
• CUsing natural gas exclusively
• DImporting renewable energy certificates without on-site generation

A LEED ND project proposes to build a gated community with limited street connections to surrounding neighborhoods. How does this affect certification?

• AIt has no effect on certification
• BIt would likely fail the Connected and Open Community prerequisite
• CIt would earn bonus points for security
• DIt only affects the Innovation category