LEED GA EXAM PREPGreen Building LEED

Certification, and Sustainability

Presented by:

Gang Chen, Architect, AIA, LEED AP BD+C . ArchiteG, Inc (ArchiteG.com)

GreenExamEducation.com

Copyright 2011, Gang Chen

ArchiteG.comWe’ll cover these materials:

1. Go over the official GBCI LEED GA Exam candidate handbook and a brief introduction of the 14 related PDF files (About 20% to 30% of the test content will come from these materials). You can download them at GBCI.org

2. LEED GA Exam Guide covers the remaining 70% to 80% of the content.

3. USGBC LEED Addenda:

http://www.usgbc.org/addenda

LEED Exam Preparation Strategies, Methods, Tips,

Suggestions, Mnemonics and Exam Tactics to Improve Your

Exam Performance1.The nature of LEED exams and exam

strategies

2.LEED exam preparation requires short-term memory

3.LEED exam preparation strategies and scheduling

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ArchiteG.com4.Timing of review: the 3016 rule; memorization

methods, tips, suggestions, and mnemonics

5.The importance of good and effective study methods

6.The importance of repetition: read this book at least three times

7.When should you start to do sample questions and mock exams?

8.How much time do you need for LEED exam preparation?

9.The importance of a routine

10. The importance of short, frequent breaks and physical exercise

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Mnemonics for memorizing these 10 key points:

Nancy Smith Shows Tom Michaels a Red TREe

(Note the underlined word in this sentence and the underlined words in the 10 key points above)

11. A strong vision and a clear goal

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Overview 1.What is LEED? What is the difference between

LEED, LEED AP, LEED Green Associate, LEED AP+ and LEED Fellow?

2.Why did the GBCI create the new three-tier LEED credential system?

3.Do I need to have LEED project experience to take the LEED exams?

4.How do I become a LEED AP+? Do I have to take the LEED Green Associate Exam first to become a LEED AP+?

ArchiteG.com5.How many questions do you need to answer

correctly to pass the LEED exams?

6.What are the key areas that USGBC uses to measure the performance of a building’s sustainability?

7.How many LEED exams does USGBC have?

8.Are the LEED Exams valid and reliable

9.How many member organizations does the USGBC have?

10.How many regional chapters does the USGBC have?

ArchiteG.com11. What is the main purpose of USGBC?

12. What are the guiding principles of the USGBC?

13. How much energy and resources do buildings

consume in the US?

14. What is the most important step to get your

building certified?

15. What are the benefits of green buildings and

LEED Certification?

16. Who developed the LEED green building rating systems

ArchiteG.com17. What current reference guides and specific

green building rating systems does the USGBC have?

18.How does LEED fit into the green building market?

19. What are the benefits of LEED certification for your building?

20. What is the procedure of LEED certification for your building?

ArchiteG.com21. How much is the building registration fee and

how much is the building LEED certification fee?

22. How are LEED credits allocated and weighted?

23. Are there LEED certified products?

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Introduction to the LEED Green Associate Exam

1.What is the scope of the LEED Green Associate Exam?

2.What is the latest version of LEED and when was it published?

3.How many possible points does LEED v3.0 have?

4.How many different levels of building certification does USGBC have?

ArchiteG.com5. What is the process for LEED certification?

What are the basic steps for LEED certification?

6. What does the registration form include?

7. What is precertification?

8. What is CIR?

9. When do you submit a CIR?

10. What are the steps for CIR?

11. Will CIR guarantee a credit?

ArchiteG.com12. What tasks are handled by GBCI and what tasks

are handled by USGBC?

13. What are MPRs?

14. What types of projects should use LEED-NC?

15. What types of projects should use LEED-CS?

16. What types of projects should use LEED for Schools?

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LEED Green Associate Exam Technical Review

1. What do green buildings address?2. Key stake holders and an integrative approach3. The mission of USGBC4. The structure of LEED Rating System5. LEED certification tools

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6. Specific Technical Information

A. Sustainable Sites (SS)

B. Water Efficiency (WE)

C. Energy and Atmosphere (EA)

D. Materials and Resources (MR)

E. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

F. Innovation and Design Process (ID)

G. Regional Priority (RP)

ArchiteG.comNote: Each credit category is described in a standard format, including Overall Purpose, Mnemonics, Core Concepts, Recognition, Regulation and Incentives, Overall strategies and technologies, and Specific Technical Information, and Summary and Mnemonics.

Specific Technical Information for each credit includes Purpose, Credit Path, Submittals, Synergies, Possible Strategies and Technologies, Extra Credit (Exemplary Performance), Project Phase, LEED Submittal Phase, Related Code or Standard, and Responsible Party.

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  A few of the credits are for CS only, and are

unlikely to be tested on the LEED Green Associate Exam. We just list these credits’ names and related points, omitting their detailed discussions.

ArchiteG.comFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

and Other Useful Resources

1.I found the reference guide way too tedious. Can I only read your book and just refer to the USGBC reference guide (if one is available for the exam I am taking) when needed?

2.Is one week really enough for me to pre-pare for the exam while I am working?

ArchiteG.com3. Would you say that if I buy your LEED exam

guide series books, I could pass the exam using no other study materials? The books sold on the USGBC website run in the hundreds of dollars, so I would be quite happy if I could buy your book and just use that.

4. I am preparing for the LEED exam. Do I need to read the 2” thick reference guide?

ArchiteG.com5.For LEED V3.0, will the total number of points be

more than 110 in total if a project gets all of the extra credits and all of the standard credits?

6.I wanted to know whether, for the exam, you need to know if each prerequisite/ credit is pre-design, schematic design, etc.

7.Are you writing new versions of books for the new LEED exams? What new books are you writing?

ArchiteG.com8. Important documents that you need to

download for free, become familiar with and memorize

9. Important documents that you need to download for free, and become familiar with

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In summary, the easiest way to prepare for LEED GA Exam: 1. Start by downloading and reading the most current

and official LEED GA candidate handbook from GBCI.org

http://www.gbci.org/main-nav/professional-credentials/exam-guide/preparation/leed-green-associate.aspx

2. Download the 14 FREE PDF files per the links listed at the end of the candidate handbook. These 14 PDF files should cover about 20% to 30% of the LEED GA Exam scope.

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Forget about the USGBC LEED GA Study Guide or USGBC Core Concept Guide, they are pretty much the same and does NOT have enough information. Many people failed because they completely depend on these two books. USGBC and GBCI are two different entities now, so these two books are NOT really the “official” guide books.

The LEED GA Exam tests you information harder than the USGBC LEED GA Study Guide or USGBC Core Concept Guide, but easier than the almost 700-page USGBC reference guide.

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3. My book, LEED GA Exam Guide, covers the remaining 70% to 80% of the LEED GA Exam scope and focuses on them. Do NOT read too many books and go to too many websites, and do NOT spread yourself too thin. LEED GA Exam Guide will help you pass the exam on the first try (One reader passed the LEED GA Exam by reading ONLY my book for three days), and it’ll be a very useful reference book you’ll refer to again and again long after the exam. It contains MORE information than the official USGBC reference guide, but it costs only 25% of the price of the official USGBC reference guide.

ArchiteG.com4. Download the latest USGBC LEED Addenda

for the LEED BD&C and become familiar with them. USGBC issues LEED Addenda on a quarterly basis. GBCI does test the info in the USGBC LEED Addenda. See link below for the latest USGBC LEED Addenda:

http://www.usgbc.org/addenda

ArchiteG.com5. Do 2 to 3 sets of mock exams to find your

weakness. My other book, LEED GA Mock Exam is very similar to the real exam. It has 2 sets of mock exams. Time your LEED prep effort properly. Save one set of mock exam and do it 3 days before the exam, but do NOT do the mock exam the night before the exam: You’ll go into a panic mode if you do not do well, and you’ll have NO time to recover and review your weakness.

ArchiteG.com6. Last but NOT least, go over the portions you

marked up and the questions that you answered incorrectly.

7. To register for the LEED GA Exam, go to:

http://prometric.com/GBCI/

“Prometric offers the most extensive, professional and secure testing network (our channel) in the world where tests are delivered in over 160 countries in over 7,500 locations.”

ArchiteG.com

LEED GA Mock Exam1. LEED GA Mock Exam #1

2. Review LEED GA Mock Exam #1: Answer and explanation

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LEED GA Speaker Event

Final Quiz

See separate Quiz Sheet

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Free online course for qualifying for taking the LEED GA Exam

https://www.usgbc.org/CourseCatalog/coursedetail.aspx?ID=90004028

Course Title: Yes in my BackyardFORMAT: On Demand: Article/Print

COURSE LEVEL: 100 (Basic Awareness)

GBCI Category: Project Site Factors

PRICE: $0.00

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For More Information, See

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