LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Pervious pavement is used to reduce runoff

What is pervious pavement used for? by allowing runoff to filter through the
pervious material.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

It is a measure of the ability of a surface

material to reflect sunlight in forms of
visible, infrared, and ultraviolet
What is SOLAR REFLECTANCE?
wavelengths, which is measured on a scale
of 0 to 1. Black paint has an albedo of 0 and
white paint has an albedo of 1.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

The heat island effect is a situation where

What is HEAT ISLAND effect?
the absorption of heat by hardscapes,
buildings and dark materials then radiates
to surrounding areas. The term describes
the event where radiant air and surface
temperatures in urban areas are higher than
rural or suburban areas nearby.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

1. dark surfaces that absorb heat (black

roofs, asphalt)
2. vehicle exhaust
What can cause the heat island effect?
3. air-conditioners
4. reduced air flow from tall buildings and
narrow streets
LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

A measure of the constructed surface’s

What is SOLAR REFLECTANCE INDEX (SRI)?
ability to stay cool in the sun by reflecting
solar radiation and emitting thermal
radiation. It is defined such that a standard
black surface (initial solar reflectance 0.05,
initial thermal emittance 0.90) has an initial
SRI of 0, and a standard white surface (initial
solar reflectance 0.80, initial thermal
emittance 0.90) has an initial SRI of 100

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Reducing heat islands reduces air

temperatures which would reduce the need
What are the benefits of reducing heat islands?
to cool that air in buildings. Thus energy
consumption is lowered.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Real property whose use may be

complicated by the presence or possible
What is a BROWNFIELD?
presence of a hazardous substance,
pollutant, or contaminant.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

What term defines paving systems that are open

Pervious. There are many types of pervious
and allow moisture to soak into the ground
paving systems.
below?
LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

It promotes water runoff instead of

infiltration into the subsurface. This term is
What do IMPERVIOUS surfaces promote?
mostly used when discussing hardscape
surfaces.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

By what amount can HEAT ISLANDS elevate

10 degrees F or more
temperatures in urban area?

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Sustainable Sites (SS) and Energy and

Atmosphere (EA). Heat islands increase
Heat islands impact what LEED category(s)? temperatures resulting in the need for more
air conditioning (and more energy to cool
the air)

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Strategies include using materials with

higher solar reflectance properties in the
What STRATEGIES are employed to reduce the
site design, provide shaded areas, and
HEAT-ISLANDS?
reduce hardscape surfaces and installing
vegetated roofs.
LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

What generally defines OPEN SPACE area? Local zoning requirements

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Waste light from building sites that produces

glare, is directed upward to the sky, or is
What is light pollution? directed off the site. Waste light does not
increase nighttime safety, utility, or security
and needlessly consumes energy

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

A site not previously developed or graded

What is a GREENFIELD site? that could support open space, habitat, or
agriculture.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

What are examples of IMPERVIOUS surfaces? Parking lots, roads, sidewalks, and plazas.
LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Light colored paving materials

Green roofs
What helps reduce the heat island effect? Cool roofs
Shading
Underground parking

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Soil erosion and sedimentation of local

What does runoff contribute to?
waterways

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

HARVESTED RAINWATER can be substituted for Landscape irrigation, fire suppression, toilet
what types of potable water use? and urinal flushing, and custodial uses.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Vegetation, growing medium, filter fabric,

What does a VEGETATED roof consist of?
drainage, and a waterproof membrane.
LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Landscape elements designed to remove silt

and pollution from surface runoff water.
What is a bioswale? They consist of a swaled drainage course
with gently sloped sides and filled with
vegetation, compost and/or riprap.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

When runoff deposits sediment into water

What is sedimentation? ways, leading to a decline in water quality by
blocking sunlight.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

They reduce the heat island effect, retain

What are some of the benefits of VEGETATED runoff, insulating benefits, aesthetically
ROOFS? pleasing, have longer life and less
maintenance than conventional roofs.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Rain gardens
What are some ways to capture rainwater to Green roofs
prevent runoff? Retention pond
Bioretention pond
LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

What is emissivity as described in the common The ability of a material to emit energy
Green Building guideline? through radiation

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

1. Preserve open space and sensitive areas.

2. Minimize hardscape.
What are the five strategies to address for
3. Use native landscaping.
site design?
4. Reduce light pollution.
5. Protect and restore habitat.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

1. Minimize impervious areas.

What are the three design strategies to 2. Control rainwater.
manage rainwater? 3. Incorporate rainwater management into
site design.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

1. Develop a sustainable management plan

What are the three strategies to address for 2. Implement conservation programs.
site maintenance? 3. Maintain site lighting to prevent light
pollution.
LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Open space is undeveloped land, but it

differs from greenfield sites since open
What is OPEN SPACE?
space could have been developed in the past
and restored to an undeveloped state

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

What do reflective materials help with? Reducing the heat island effect

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Integrated Pest Management - a method of

pest management that protects human
What is IPM? health and the surrounding environment and
improves economic returns through the
most effective, least-risk option

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

An evaluation of an area's above ground

and subsurface characteristics, including
its structures, geology, and hydrology.
What is a SITE ASSESSMENT? Site assessments typically help determine
whether contamination has occurred and the
extent and concentration of any release of
pollution sources
LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Construction activity pollution prevention should Soil erosion

address what environmental protection Waterway sedimentation
measures? Airborne dust

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

What team member creates an erosion and

sedimentation control (ESC) plan for construction Civil engineer
activity pollution prevention?

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

What does protecting and restoring habitat help

Promoting biodiversity
with?

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Replicating the natural hydrology and water

How should projects reduce runoff?
balance of the site
LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

Low-impact development (LID) and green

What are ways to manage runoff?
infrastructure

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

An approach to managing rainwater runoff

that emphasizes on-site natural features to
protect water quality, by replicating the
What is LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID)?
natural land cover hydrologic regime of
watersheds, and addressing runoff close to
its source.

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®

The backlight-uplight glare method is used

in LEED v4 for light pollution reduction. By
What is a BUG rating? selecting exterior lighting with specific BUG
ratings the project team can easily reduce
light pollution

LEED v4 Green Associate source: USGBC®