Table of Contents

Green Associate Study Guide | LEED v4 First Edition

CHAPTER | 1

Introductory conversations into sustainable design and construction and the associated
benefits of the roles of the LEED AP and LEED rating systems

Introduction1
About the Studio4 LEED Green Associate Study Guide 
The Studio4 LEED Green Associate Study Guide Format 
A Bit of Housekeeping
A Bit of Study Advice
Commentaries: the Value of LEED
Recommended Reference Links

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CHAPTER | 2

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An analysis between traditional design and construction practice versus green building
strategies and the environmental impacts associated with each

Green Buildings and Communities

Green Building: Past, Present, Future
Green Building Core Principles
Traditional Thinking
Sustainable Thinking
Green Building Benefits
Economic Benefits
Social Benefits
Environmental Benefits
The Triple Bottom Line
Climate Change and Sustainable Communities
Green Building Costs
Hard Costs
Soft Costs
Life Cycle Costing
Value Engineering
Green Building Core Design Principles
The Sustainable Structure of Green Design
Integrated Design Approach
The Building Program
Design Flexibility for the Future
Location, Location, Location
Credit Interactions
Building Commissioning
Operations & Maintenance Program
Energy Audit

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Green Codes
Green Building Incentive Strategies
The Smarter Approach
Chapter Recap
Recommended Reference Links

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CHAPTER | 3

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A review of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Green Building Certification Institute
(GBCI), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the processes required
for, and associated with, LEED certification

USGBC, GBCI & LEED

Introduction 
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) 
USGBCs Mission
USGBCs Vision
Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI)
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 
USGBCs Guiding Principles
The Goals of LEED
The Flexibility of LEED
The Benefits of LEED Certification
The Benefits of LEED Accreditation
Accreditation vs Certification
LEED Rating Systems
Rating System Organization
LEED for Building Design and Construction
LEED for Interior Design and Construction
LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance
LEED for Neighborhood Development
Choosing Between LEED Rating Systems
Multiple Certifications
LEED Reference Guides
Reference Guide Structure
Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs)
Impact Category and Point Allocation
Credit Harmonization
Credit Synergies and Trade-offs
LEED Pilot Credit Library
LEED Committees
Project Certification Process
Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR)
LEED Interpretations

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Green Associate Study Guide | LEED v4 First Edition
Alternative Compliance Path (ACP)
Global Alternative Compliance Paths (Global ACP)
LEED Credentialing & Credential Maintenance
USGBC Trademark Policy and GBCI Logo Guidelines
Recommended Reference Links

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CHAPTER | 4

51

A review of the Integrative Design Process that gives teams an opportunity to be rewarded
for holding charrettes, having a certain number of team meetings, conducting a thorough
site assessment and having a LEED AP as a team member

Integrative Process (IP)

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Integrative Process (IP) Credit Matrix

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Integrative Process (IP) Overview
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Integrative Process (IP) Prerequisite and Credit
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Integrated Design Process
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Holistic, Whole Building Design Objectives
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Key Project Team Stakeholders and Disciplines
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Design and Construction Phase Plan
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Design Charrette
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Credit Interactions
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Building Commissioning 
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The Systems Thinking Approach
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The Goal
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Systems Thinking Approach
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Systems Thinking
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Systems61
Leverage66
Measuring Sustainable Building Performance
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The Life Cycle Approach
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Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
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Life Cycle Costing (LCC)
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Externalities and the Environment
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Planning for the End Game
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Integrative Process (IP) Referenced Standards
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Integrative Process (IP) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
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Integrative Process (IP) Related Terms
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Integrative Process (IP) Chapter Recap
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Integrative Process (IP) Recommended Reference Links
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Studio4 Project: IP Schematic Design Phase
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Green Associate Study Guide | LEED v4 First Edition

CHAPTER | 5

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The sustainable goals of the Location & Transportation category addresses the site location
relative to existing infrastructure, services, and transportation

Location and Transportation (LT)

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Location and Transportation (LT) Credit Matrix

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Location and Transportation (LT) Overview
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Location and Transportation (LT) Category Goals & Objectives
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Location and Transportation (LT) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues
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Location and Transportation (LT) Strategies82
Site Assessment
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Locate in a LEED for Neighborhood Development Location
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Sensitive Land Protection
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High Priority Site
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Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses
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Access to Quality Transit
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Bicycle Facilities
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Reduced Parking Footprint
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Green Vehicles
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Location and Transportation (LT) Triple Bottom Line
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Location and Transportation (LT) Referenced Standards
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Location and Transportation (LT) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
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Location and Transportation (LT) Related Terms
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Location and Transportation (LT) Chapter Recap
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Location and Transportation (LT) Recommended Reference Links
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Studio4 Project: LT Schematic Design Phase
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CHAPTER | 6

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The sustainable goals of the Sustainable Sites category addresses the development of and
construction on the project site

Sustainable Sites (SS)

Sustainable Sites (SS) Credit Matrix
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Sustainable Sites (SS) Overview
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Sustainable Sites (SS) Category Goals & Objectives
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Sustainable Sites (SS) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues
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Sustainable Sites (SS) Strategies104
Site Assessment
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Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
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Environmental Site Assessment (Schools and Healthcare)
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Site DevelopmentProtect or Restore Habitat
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Open Space
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Rainwater Management
Light Pollution Reduction
Site Master Plan (Schools only)
Joint Use of Facilities (Schools only)
Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines (Core and Shell only)
Places of Respite and Direct Exterior Access (Healthcare only)
Sustainable Sites (SS) Triple Bottom Line
Sustainable Sites (SS) Referenced Standards
Sustainable Sites (SS) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
Sustainable Sites (SS) Related Terms
Sustainable Sites (SS) Chapter Recap
Sustainable Sites (SS) Chapter Recommended Reference Links
Studio4 Project: SS Schematic Design Phase

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CHAPTER | 7

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The sustainable goals of the Water Efficiency category address the following areas: Indoor
potable water reduction; outdoor potable water reduction; water efficiency as a teaching
tool

Water Efficiency (WE)

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Water Efficiency (WE) Credit Matrix

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Water Efficiency (WE) Overview
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Water Efficiency (WE) Category Goals & Objectives
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Water Efficiency (WE) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues
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Water Efficiency (WE) Strategies130
Outdoor Water Use Reduction
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Indoor Water Use Reduction
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Fixture and Fitting Types
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Cooling Tower Water Use
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Metering Water Use
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Water Efficiency (WE) Triple Bottom Line
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Water Efficiency (WE) Referenced Standards
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Water Efficiency (WE) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
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Water Efficiency (WE) Related Terms
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Water Efficiency (WE) Chapter Recap
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Water Efficiency (WE) Recommended Reference Links
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Studio4 Project: WE Schematic Design Phase
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CHAPTER | 8

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The sustainable goals of the Energy and Atmosphere category address the following areas:
reducing energy demand; increasing energy efficiency; managing refrigerants; renewable
energy; ongoing energy performance

Energy and Atmosphere (EA)

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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Credit Matrix

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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Overview
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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Category Goals & Objectives
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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues
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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Strategies
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Designing the Building
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Reducing Energy Demand
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Passive and thermal design
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Demand Response
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Energy Audits, Assessments, and Monitoring
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Increasing Energy Efficiency and Performance
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Energy Simulation
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Using Alternative Energy Sources
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Renewable Energy Generation
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Investing in Alternative Energy Sources
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Managing Refrigerants
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Ensuring Energy Efficiency and Ongoing Performance
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Commissioning160
Metering Energy Use
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Building-Level Energy Metering
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Advanced Energy Metering
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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Referenced Standards
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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Related Terms
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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Chapter Recap
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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Recommended Reference Links
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Studio4 Project: EA Schematic Design Phase
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CHAPTER | 9

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The sustainable goals of the Materials and Resources category address the following areas:
sustainable construction and materials selection; waste management

Materials and Resources (MR)

Materials and Resources (MR) Credit Matrix
Materials and Resources (MR) Overview
The Stages of Waste Hierarchy

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Life Cycle Thinking and Assessment
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Materials and Resources (MR) Category Goals & Objectives
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Materials and Resources (MR) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues
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Materials and Resources (MR) Strategies179
Designing the Building
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Material Sourcing
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Defining Sustainable Products and Materials
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Furniture and Medical Furnishings (Healthcare only)
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Design for Flexibility (Healthcare only)
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Sustainable Purchasing Policies and Plans
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Toxic Source Reduction (Healthcare only)
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Materials and Resources (MR) Triple Bottom Line
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Materials and Resources (MR) Referenced Standards
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Materials and Resources (MR) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
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Materials and Resources (MR) Related Terms
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Materials and Resources (MR) Chapter Recap
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Materials and Resources (MR) Recommended Reference Links
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Studio4 Project: MR Schematic Design Phase
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CHAPTER | 10

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The sustainable goals of the Indoor Environmental Quality category address the following
areas: indoor air quality; thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics

Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)

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Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Credit Matrix

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Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Overview
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Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Category Goals & Objectives
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Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues
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Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Strategies
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Designing the Building
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Protecting the Building During Construction
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Protecting the Building After Construction and Before Occupancy
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Source Control
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Low-Emitting Materials
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Ventilation203
Occupant Comfort
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Thermal204
Lighting205
Daylight206
Views206
Acoustics207
Occupant Comfort Survey
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Green Cleaning and IPM Policies
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Triple Bottom Line
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Referenced Standards
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Related Terms
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Chapter Recap
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Recommended Reference Links
Studio4 Project: EQ Schematic Design Phase

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CHAPTER | 11

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The Innovation in Design credit category awards bonus points for projects that use new
and innovative technologies and strategies to improve a buildings performance

Innovation (IN)

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Innovation (IN) Credit Matrix

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Innovation (IN) Overview
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Innovation (IN) Category Goals & Objectives
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Innovation (IN) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues
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Innovation Descriptions
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Innovation221
Exemplary Performance
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Innovation Strategies
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Innovation (IN) Recommended Reference Links
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Studio4 Project: IN Schematic Design Phase
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CHAPTER | 12

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USGBC has identified environmental concerns that are important for every region of the
country and offers bonus points for credits that address those regional priorities

Regional Priority (RP)

Regional Priority (RP) Credit Matrix
Regional Priority (RP) Overview
Regional Priority (RP) Category Goals & Objectives
Regional Priority (RP) Category Documentation/Cross-Cutting Issues
Regional Priority (RP) Category Strategies
Regional Priority (RP) Recommended Reference Links
Studio4 Project: RP Schematic Design Phase

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Green Associate Study Guide | LEED v4 First Edition

CHAPTER | 13

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For professionals who support green building design, construction, and operations, the
LEED Green Associate credential denotes basic knowledge of green building principles and
practices, and LEED

LEED Green Associate Exam

Exam Overview
What you NEED to know
What you SHOULD know
General Codes
IP Category
LT Category
SS Category
WE Category
EA Category
MR Category
EQ Category
Exam Study Tips

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CHAPTER | 14

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Acronyms, abbreviations and definitions that may be unfamiliar or have specific meanings
in the context of sustainability and green building

Acronyms and Glossary of Terms

Acronyms & Abbreviations
Glossary of Terms
Integrative Process (IP) Category
Location and Transportation (LT) Category
Sustainable Sites (SS) Category
Water Efficiency (WE) Category
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Category
Materials and Resources (MR) Category
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Category

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CHAPTER | 15

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Additional resources, referenced and not referenced throughout this study guide

Appendix289
Rating System Matrix: IP - EA
Rating System Matrix: MR - RP
Fundamental Commissioning and Verification
Enhanced Commissioning
Commissioning Activities (Cx)
Commissioning Authority (CxA)
Integrative Process (IP) Referenced Standards
Location and Transportation (LT) Referenced Standards
Sustainable Sites (SS) Chapter Referenced Standards
Water Efficiency (WE) Referenced Standards
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Referenced Standards
Materials and Resources (MR) Referenced Standards
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Referenced Standards
Integrative Process (IP) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
Location and Transportation (LT) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
Sustainable Sites (SS) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
Water Efficiency (WE) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
Materials and Resources (MR) Related Synergies and Trade-offs
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Related Synergies and Trade-offs

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