LEED AP BD+C flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Integrative Process credit

In LEED v4 BD+C, a one-point credit requiring energy-related and water-related systems analysis before the end of schematic design; LEED v4.1 elevates this requirement to a prerequisite.

Simple box energy model

A massing-level energy model built during pre-design to compare at least two energy options against a baseline, informing orientation, envelope, and system selection before design hardens.

Water budget

An estimate of indoor, outdoor, and process water demand paired with available supply sources, prepared during the discovery phase to reveal synergies such as rainwater harvesting for irrigation.

Access to Quality Transit

Credit requiring a main entrance within 1/4-mile walking distance of bus or BRT stops, or 1/2-mile of rail or ferry stations, served by a minimum number of weekday trips.

Diverse uses

Seven or more distinct service or retail uses within 1/2-mile walking distance of the project entrance, counted toward the Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses credit.

High Priority Site

Credit awarded for development on a brownfield, in a distressed or low-income community, or on an infill site adjacent to existing development, each with documented eligibility.

Bicycle Facilities credit

Requires short-term bicycle storage for 2.5% of peak visitors, long-term storage for 5% of regular occupants, and shower and changing facilities within a short walk of the entrance.

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention

The Sustainable Sites prerequisite requiring an erosion and sedimentation control plan that conforms to the EPA Construction General Permit or stricter local requirements and is implemented throughout construction.

Site assessment

Credit requiring evaluation of topography, hydrology, soils, vegetation, climate, human health effects, and adjacent properties before design, documenting conditions that inform the project's design response.

Heat island reduction

Strategy combining shaded or high-solar-reflectance hardscape with high-SRI or vegetated roofing to lower ambient temperature, quantified through separate nonroof and roof compliance measures.

Rainwater management

Credit requiring the project to replicate natural site hydrology by retaining on site the runoff from the 95th percentile rainfall event, or the 80th percentile in combined sewer areas.

Indoor Water Use Reduction

Prerequisite requiring a 20% reduction below the EPAct 1992 fixture baseline; the associated credit awards additional points for reductions up to 50% through efficient fixtures and fittings.

Building-Level Water Metering

Prerequisite requiring a permanent meter that measures total potable water use for the building and grounds, with consumption data tracked and shared for at least one year.

Cooling tower water use

Credit limiting potable water consumed by cooling towers by capping cycles of concentration, determined from an analysis of makeup water quality and treatment.

Fundamental Commissioning and Verification

Prerequisite requiring an independent commissioning authority to review owner requirements and basis of design, develop the commissioning plan, verify installation and performance, and deliver training and a systems manual.

Minimum Energy Performance

Prerequisite requiring whole-building energy simulation demonstrating improvement over the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 baseline, or prescriptive compliance using an ASHRAE advanced energy design guide.

Optimize Energy Performance

Credit worth up to 18 points in LEED v4 BD+C, awarded on a sliding scale that begins at 6% improvement over the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline and reaches 18 points at 50%.

Advanced energy metering

Credit requiring permanent meters that record electricity, gas, and water at the end-use level, collecting data at one-hour intervals or less and reporting it monthly.

Fundamental Refrigerant Management

Prerequisite prohibiting CFC-based refrigerants in new heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems, with a phase-out plan required for existing CFC equipment.

Storage and Collection of Recyclables

Prerequisite requiring a dedicated, accessible area serving the whole building that collects paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals throughout the building's occupancy.

Construction and Demolition Waste Management

Credit rewarding diversion of nonhazardous construction and demolition waste from landfill; 50% diversion earns one point and 75% earns two, with waste-to-energy excluded.

Environmental Product Declaration

A third-party verified report of a product's life-cycle environmental impacts; the disclosure credit requires 20 permanently installed products from at least 5 manufacturers.

Whole-building life-cycle assessment

Credit option requiring a cradle-to-grave assessment showing at least 10% reduction in three of six impact categories compared with a functionally equivalent baseline building.

Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance

Prerequisite requiring compliance with ASHRAE 62.1-2010 ventilation rates and outdoor air intake quality assessment, or a demonstrated alternative, for all occupied spaces.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control

Prerequisite prohibiting smoking inside the building and within 25 feet of entries, operable windows, and outdoor air intakes, with limited residential exceptions for designated outdoor areas.

Flush-out

Compliance path for the indoor air quality assessment credit requiring delivery of 14,000 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of floor area after construction and before occupancy.

Daylight credit

Credit requiring spatial daylight autonomy of 300 lux for 50% of occupied hours across 55% of floor area, while annual sunlight exposure stays at or below 10%.

Innovation credit

Credit worth up to six points, awarded for measurable environmental performance beyond the rating system, exemplary performance, approved pilot credits, or a LEED Accredited Professional on the team.

Pilot credit

A credit tested through the LEED pilot credit library; when successfully achieved, it can be counted toward the project's Innovation credit point total.

Regional Priority credit

One of six bonus credits designated by project zip code to address local environmental priorities; it is earned only if the underlying credit is achieved, up to four points.

USGBC regional councils

Groups that identify regionally significant credits for each zip code, weighting priorities such as water conservation in arid regions or air quality in nonattainment areas.

Community outreach

Early public participation that informs neighbors and stakeholders about a project's site, traffic, and construction impacts, shaping design decisions and reducing conflicts during construction and operation.