Tag: LEED

LEED AP BD+C: Setting Exam Timeline – 4 Considerations

time

This is part of a series of articles on the experience of giving the LEED AP BD+C examination. You can access the entire series from our Menu Topic titled ‘ LEED‘.

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Screenshots for Menu Topic Locations

Our first article looked at why the LEED AP BD+C exam could prove difficult to crack. The following 2 weeks elaborated on 11 Essential ‘Need -to-Knows’ before LEED AP BD+C Prep (Part 1, Part 2). We then looked at LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Free). This was followed by a list of Paid Resources and Materials (Study Resources; Practice Questions; Project Experience and Direct Classes/ Webinars) available online, in case you felt the need for them after referring to the free items.

This week, we look at LEED AP BD+C: Setting Exam Timeline – 4 Considerations. Setting a realistic timeline is crucial for preparation. It should take into account various factors that would differ between individuals.

  1. Experience
  2. Gap after GA
  3. Time Available
  4. Speed, Stress, Patience

1) Experience

LEED Specific Project Experience, Prior Industry experience, Professional and Academic Background

Like mentioned earlier, many of our team did not have prior LEED Specific Project Experience. This makes it harder to pass the exam, although it is still doable. You need to factor this into your timeline. However, our candidates were either Architects, Engineers, or had some prior Sustainability background. This is extremely useful and partially makes up for the lack of LEED Specific Project experience.

You may want to increase or decrease the prep time based on your comfort level and background. From the experience of our team candidates, the average timeline for preparation ranged from 1 – 1.5 months. Once the timeline was set, a date was fixed, and the exam fees was paid. This becomes a push factor to work towards the goal, with a deadline looming ahead.

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2) Gap after GA

Having a Gap between the LEED Green Associate and LEED AP Examinations

We would suggest you give both exams (LEED Green Associate and LEED AP) with at least a year’s gap in between.

For one, it is a slightly stressful experience – so taking a break might help.

Secondly, these preparations if tackled well, don’t just help you pass the exam. You get a larger understanding of the Sustainability Industry. To grow as a professional, we suggest you first pass the LEED Green Associate examination. Then try and use the expanded understanding from the exam by engaging in related industry activities for at least a year. You could then apply that experience into your preparation for the next level.

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3) Time Available

Amount of time available to dedicate to studying for the exam

You may be working full time, part – time, not at all or studying. This will strongly impact your timeline.

For example, one of our candidates set a timeline of 1.5 months. This included –

  • First Month – 6-7 hours LEED studies per day 
  • Last 15 days – 10+ hours each day

You could decide based on this example accordingly.

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4) Speed, Stress, Patience

Learning Speed, Stress Management Ability, Patience Level

Our team consisted of various kinds of people. Quick and slow learners. Some can retain concepts for longer, while others may need to revise more often. The ability to handle pressure also differs. Stress increases as the exam date nears. It is better to truly assess your personal speed, studying style, level of patience and stress management ability to avoid unnecessary pressure to build up. Ultimately it is preferable to treat the experience as not just an exam, but an opportunity to grow professionally. So self-assess, decide and go for it!

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That’s all for today. We hope the LEED Series has been helpful for you so far.

If you have suggestions for other topics or questions related to this content, kindly let us know in the comments.

Alternatively, you could leave us a message here.

Thank you for reading!

 

LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Paid)-3

paid 3

This is part of a series of articles on the experience of giving the LEED AP BD+C examination. Our first article looked at why the LEED AP BD+C exam could prove difficult to crack. The following 2 weeks elaborated on 11 Essential ‘Need -to-Knows’ before LEED AP BD+C Prep (Part 1, Part 2). We then looked at LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Free). This was followed by a list of Paid Resources and Materials (Study Resources) available online, in case you felt the need for them after referring to the free items. Last week, we continued the list of Paid items – Practice Questions. Today is our final article on Paid Resources – LEED Project Experience and Direct Classes/ In-Person training/ Webinars.

As mentioned in earlier posts – If you have prior experience with LEED projects (or some sort of Sustainability background), then things become relatively easier. If not, then you might feel the need to use a guided study course, or other paid materials. Today’s article addresses this scenario.

Note: We have tested and used some of following resources and can tell you what we found useful. There are others that we feel could be good based on the credibility of the source (these have not been tried by us, so the decision to use them would lie with you). Our aim is to create an exhaustive list of materials, so that the Menu is in front of you to make your decision (our articles are not endorsing any online courses/ question banks. However, we would like to give due credit to pages that our team found useful while attempting the exam. Ultimately, it is totally up to your choice and discretion whether to subscribe to them). We have mentioned Sources Reviews, Prices (any offers), Subscription time, Important Links and Material Inclusions. All prices are rounded off to the nearest 5 or 10.

  1. Study Resources
    • Green Building Academy
    • GBES
    • GreenCE
    • USGBC
    • GBRI
    • Everblue
    • American Technical Publishers
  2. Practice Questions
    • GBES
    • GreenCE
    • Green Building Academy
    • GBRI
    • Everblue
    • American Technical Publishers
  3. LEED Project Experience
  4. Direct Classes/ In-Person Training/ Webinars

3) LEED Project Experience

Considering the importance of LEED experience to become a professional, to add CE hours, and of course to help pass the exams, some websites have started offering this option. They use real project examples and tools and provide the service as online modules.

(a) GBRI

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner  (List of other Education Partners)

(i) $150 | LEED v4 Project Implementation | 2-Years Access

Inclusions | 4-week course, Utilizing an actual LEED v4 BD+C project – elaborating on Credit Requirements, Reference Standards, Implementation Strategies, and Documentation Guidelines, highlighting Changes from the previous version of LEED. Course is approved for 15 GBCI/ AIA LUs including 6 LEED Specific BD+C Hours.

(b) GBES

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner (List of other Education Partners), Tested their Question Bank – Good quality experience

(i) $850 | LEED v4 BD+C Project Immersion

Inclusions | 6 Live Interactive Work Sessions/office hours with coaches, Short Videos + PDFs Explaining Every Credit, 24/7 Coaching through a Learning Platform, Q&A with LEED Experts, Recorded Videos, Technical Reviews about implementation and documentation of Credits, Access to LEED Tools and Templates, 30 Hours of GBCI Approved CE (worth $249). Here is a preview video.

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4) Direct Classes/ In-Person training/ Webinars

We didn’t try out this option. However, if you prefer face to face lessons, these are provided by some organizations in specific locations.

(a) GBES

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner (List of other Education Partners), Tested their Question Bank – Good quality experience

(i) $180 | LEED AP BD+C Exam Prep On Demand Webinar | 120-Day Access (can watch as many times as needed in the 120-Day period)

Inclusions | 11 hours of Video Instruction, 24/7 Access, Works with PCs, Macs, iPads, all major browsers and smart phones

(b) GBRI

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner  (List of other Education Partners)

(i) $250 | All-Inclusive LEED v4 BD+C Exam Preparation | Access to classroom sessions for 1 year

Inclusions | Live/ On Demand Classes every month on specific days and times, 500+ Practice Test Questions with explanations, 2 Simulated Mock Exams, Study Guide, Flash Cards and Memory Charts (printable), includes LEED GA Exam Prep

Offers | Money Back Guarantee with some conditions; LEED Green Associate Material Free with the package

(c) Everblue

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner (List of other Education Partners)

(i) $900 | LEED Accredited Professional Building Design + Construction Training | 2-Day course, Access to materials for 6 months

Inclusions | Live, Instructor led training, Printed Guide, Access to instructors for follow-up questions, 300+ Practice Questions, LEED Credit Reference sheets. The course is offered in Washington, Chicago, Manhattan, Los Angeles on dates between October to December 2018. You could check the schedule here.

Offers | In-house, Flexible courses with Discounts and Offers available for Corporate and Group Training.

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That’s all for today! This concludes our list of Paid Resources and Materials for LEED AP BD+C Preparation.

Hope this was helpful. If you have suggestions for other topics or questions related to this content, kindly let us know in the comments.

Alternatively, you could leave us a message here.

Thank you for reading!

LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Paid)-2-Practice Questions

paid 2

This is part of a series of articles on the experience of giving the LEED AP BD+C examination. Our first article looked at why the LEED AP BD+C exam could prove difficult to crack. The following 2 weeks elaborated on 11 Essential ‘Need -to-Knows’ before LEED AP BD+C Prep (Part 1, Part 2). We then looked at LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Free). This was followed by a list of Paid Resources and Materials (Study Resources) available online, in case you felt the need for them after referring to the free items. This week, we continue the list of Paid items – Practice Questions. We are listing standalone practice question sets, along with study packages that include questions.

As mentioned in earlier posts – If you have prior experience with LEED projects (or some sort of Sustainability background), then things become relatively easier. If not, then you might feel the need to use a guided study course, or other paid materials. Today’s article addresses this scenario.

Note: We have tested and used some of following resources and can tell you what we found useful. There are others that we feel could be good based on the credibility of the source (these have not been tried by us, so the decision to use them would lie with you). Our aim is to create an exhaustive list of materials, so that the Menu is in front of you to make your decision (our articles are not endorsing any online courses/ question banks. However, we would like to give due credit to pages that our team found useful while attempting the exam. Ultimately, it is totally up to your choice and discretion whether to subscribe to them). We have mentioned Sources Reviews, Prices (any offers), Subscription time, Important Links and Material Inclusions. All prices are rounded off to the nearest 5 or 10.

  1. Study Resources
    • Green Building Academy
    • GBES
    • GreenCE
    • USGBC
    • GBRI
    • Everblue
    • American Technical Publishers
  2. Practice Questions
  3. LEED Project Experience
    • GBES
    • GBRI
  4. Direct Classes/ In-Person Training
    • GBRI
    • Everblue

2) Practice Questions

(a) GBES

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner (List of other Education Partners), Tested their Question Bank – Good quality experience

We tested the $80, 500-practice questions. This was a decision towards the later stages of exam preparation. We felt there was need to attempt at least 5 seriously timed exams before giving the final paper. The course provides 5 timed exams of 100 questions each. You also have the option of shuffling the questions and attempting them chapter-wise. Here is a video by GBES showing a demo of the practice tests. Their explanations are very elaborate and useful. You can also mail and ask them doubts. They respond quite quickly.

(i) $45 | Practice Test – LEED AP BD+C

Inclusions | Exam Simulator with 100 questions in 2 hours.

(ii) $80 | LEED AP BD+C v4 Practice Tests for BD+C Exam Prep | 120-day access

 Inclusions | Exam Simulator with 500 practice questions

(iii) $100 | LEED AP BD+C Silver Pack | 120-day access

Inclusions | Exam Simulator with 500 practice questions, 200 flashcards

(iv) $230 | LEED AP BD+C Platinum Pack | 120 day access

Inclusions | Exam Simulator with 500 practice questions, 200 flashcards, Study Guide, 11 On-Demand Webinars, 12 Study Sheets

Offers | The $40 GBES 100 question exam, is available free with the annual subscription to Education@USGBC. Student and Faculty Discounts are available on the GBES website.

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(b) GreenCE

Source Review | Tested Continuing Education videos (good quality Content and Experience), LEED Green Associate Course available for Free here (Chapter-wise videos and 3 practice exams could be viewed to gauge for quality)

(i) $30 | GREEN BUILDING PRINCIPLES & LEED v4 Simulated Exams

Inclusions | Exam Simulator with 100 questions for LEED AP BD+C (along with 400 questions for LEED Green Associate)

(ii) $230 | Green Building and the LEED AP BD+C Exam

Inclusions | Study Guide, 90+ LEED practice questions, Study Sheets, Certificate of Completion for 8 AIA HSW Hours, Tips,  Study Methods, Hands-on exercises, Slideshow format with Audio

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(c) Green Building Academy

Source Review | Tested | Proved great for LEED Green Associate, Reasonable Price, Accessible and helpful staff

Their question bank for LEED AP BD+C could be expanded, so that it is as extensive as what they provide for LEED Green Associate. However, their team is super accessible when you have doubts, and they go out of their way to clarify them for you. (even if they must call back, or WhatsApp!)

(i) $75 | LEED v4 AP BD+C Made Easy | 6 months subscription (3 months initial subscription, can be renewed for another 3 months at no cost)

Inclusions | Detailed videos chapter-wise (including explanations for calculations), downloadable PDFs, Questions, Forum

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(d) GBRI

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner  (List of other Education Partners)

(i) $45 | LEED v4 BD+C Mock Exam – 30 Questions

Inclusions | Mock test with 30 Questions, Explanations

(ii) $70 | LEED AP Practice Tests

Inclusions | 3 Practice Tests with 100 questions each, Explanations, Review of all questions, including correct answers.

(iii) $250 | All-Inclusive LEED v4 BD+C Exam Preparation

Inclusions | 500+ Practice test questions, 2 simulated Mock exams, On-Demand classroom sessions, Study Guides, Flashcards, Memory Charts

Offers | Free LEED Green Associate Package, Money Back Guarantee with some conditions

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(e) Everblue

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner (List of other Education Partners)

(i) $50 | LEED AP Building Design + Construction v4 Practice Questions

Inclusions | 200 Digital Practice Questions

(ii) $200 | LEED AP BD+C v4 Exam Prep (On-demand)

Inclusions | 3 Study Sections and 2 Practice Exams (100 questions each), 8.5 AIA LU/HSWs

(iii) $500 | LEED Accredited Professional Building Design + Construction – Start NOW! Online | Access to course materials for 6 months

Inclusions | Self-guided content, on demand access to 8-hour course presentation, access to instructors for follow-up questions, 300+ practice questions,  LEED Credit Reference Sheets

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(f) American Technical Publishers

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner (List of other Education Partners)

(i) $105 | LEED AP® BD+C Exam Preparation Guide ATPWebBook™ | Access for 5 years (needs Internet, not downloadable)

Inclusions | 450-page Study Guide (concise text and detailed, full-color illustrations and photos), 170+ Checkpoint Questions for continual assessment, Knowledge Retention and Calculation exercises, 100-Question Practice Exam, Illustrated Glossary, Key Terms list, Factoids, Appendix

(ii) $320 | Study Bundle: LEED BD+C Study Guide and BD+C Reference Guide (V4)

Inclusions | Hard copy: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction + 450-page Study Guide(concise text and detailed, full-color illustrations and photos), 170+ Checkpoint Questions for continual assessment, Knowledge Retention and Calculation exercises, 100-Question Practice Exam, Appendix | Online Learner Resources (ATPeResources.com): Quick Quizzes, Illustrated Glossary, Flashcards, Media library with 6 videos and animations

Offers | School Price for 5 or more ATPWebBooks, Member Price for Study Bundle $270

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That’s all for today! Since this list of Resources and Materials is quite long, we have broken it into 3 parts. The next part will cover sources for LEED Project Experience and Direct Classes/ In-Person training.

Hope this was helpful. If you have suggestions for other topics or questions related to this content, kindly let us know in the comments.

Alternatively, you could leave us a message here.

Thank you for reading!

LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Paid)-1

paid 1

This is part of a series of articles on the experience of giving the LEED AP BD+C examination. Our first article looked at why the LEED AP BD+C exam could prove difficult to crack. The following 2 weeks elaborated on 11 Essential ‘Need -to-Knows’ before LEED AP BD+C Prep (Part 1, Part 2). Last week we started with LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Free). This week we delve into a list of available online Paid Resources and Materials that you could refer to if needed.

Like we mentioned in earlier posts – If you have prior experience with LEED projects (or some sort of Sustainability background), then things become relatively easier. If not, then you might feel the need to use a guided study course. Today’s article addresses this scenario.

Note: We have tested and used some of following resources and can tell you what we found useful. There are others that we feel could be good based on the credibility of the source (these have not been tried by us, so the decision to use them would lie with you). Our aim is to create an exhaustive list of materials, so that the Menu is in front of you to make your decision (our articles are not endorsing any online courses/ question banks. However, we would like to give due credit to pages that our team found useful while attempting the exam. Ultimately, it is totally up to your choice and discretion whether to subscribe to them). We have mentioned Sources Reviews, Prices (any offers), Subscription time, Important Links and Material Inclusions. All prices are rounded off to the nearest 5 or 10.

Since this list is quite long, we are breaking it into 3 parts.

  1. Study Resources
  2. Practice Questions
    • GBES
    • GreenCE
    • Green Building Academy
    • GBRI
    • Everblue
    • Poplar and Green Step
  3. LEED Project Experience
    • GBES
    • GBRI
  4. Direct Classes/ In-Person Training
    • GBRI
    • Everblue

1) Study Resources

(a) Green Building Academy

Source Review | Tested | Proved great for LEED Green Associate, Reasonable Price, Accessible and helpful staff

(i) $75 | LEED v4 AP BD+C Made Easy | 6 months subscription (3 months initial subscription, can be renewed for another 3 months at no cost)

Inclusions | Detailed videos chapter-wise (including explanations for calculations), downloadable PDFs, Questions, Forum

We bought and tested this online course for the LEED Green Associate exam. [At the time (in 2016), this was the cheapest complete course we found in the market at $55. The resource provided informative videos and downloadable PDFs along with  timed exams and explanations. Their forums were also very useful, where you could read questions and answers by other candidates or post your own doubts.]

Our experience led us to subscribe to it for the LEED AP BD+C stage. This version of the examination is more technical than LEED Green Associate since it involves calculations. For $75, Green Academy provides very detailed videos for each chapter which also explain how to solve problems.

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(b) GBES

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner, Tested their Question Bank – Good quality experience

(i) $35 | LEED AP BD+C Study Sheets

Inclusions | 12 Study Sheets (PDF format, can be printed)

(ii) $35 | LEED AP BD+C Flashcards | No Expiration Date

Inclusions | 200 flashcards (Can be printed 6 to a sheet or studied online)

(iii) $60 | LEED AP BD+C Study Guide

Inclusions | 200+ page Study Guide (including key terms, case studies, sample questions)

(iv) $100 | LEED AP BD+C Silver Pack | 120-day access

Inclusions | Exam Simulator with 500 practice questions, 200 flashcards

(v) $230 | LEED AP BD+C Platinum Pack | 120 day access

Inclusions | Exam Simulator with 500 practice questions, 200 flashcards, Study Guide, 11 On-Demand Webinars, 12 Study Sheets

Offers | 25% Off Everything for Labor Day Weekend, Student and Faculty Discounts

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(c) GreenCE

Source Review | Tested Continuing Education videos (good quality Content and Experience) , LEED Green Associate Course available for Free here (Chapter-wise videos and 3 practice exams could be viewed to gauge for quality)

(i) $230 | Green Building and the LEED AP BD+C Exam

Inclusions | Study Guide, 90+ LEED practice questions, Study Sheets, Certificate of Completion for 8 AIA HSW Hours, Tips,  Study Methods, Hands-on exercises, Slideshow format with Audio

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(d) USGBC

(i) $100 | Web-based Reference Guide (all rating systems) | 1-year Access

Inclusions | Fully interactive Web-based Reference Guide, 50 Multimedia Modules, Tutorials and Case Studies

(ii) $200 | Education@USGBC | 1-year Access

Inclusions | Access to all listed study materials and Continuing Education Resources (400+ courses including Web-based Reference Guide)

(iii) $220 (e-document PDF), $250 (Hard copy) | LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction

Inclusions | 90-day Access to full suite of Web-based guide content (50 multimedia modules, interactive videos, tutorials, case studies, presentations and documents) with purchase of a hard copy or e-copy of the LEED v4 Reference Guide

Offers | Member Price for Hard copy of Reference Guide is $200

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(e) GBRI

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner  (List of other Education Partners)

(i) $250 | All-Inclusive LEED v4 BD+C Exam Preparation

Inclusions | 500+ Practice test questions, 2 simulated Mock exams, On-Demand classroom sessions, Study Guides, Flashcards, Memory Charts

Offers | Free LEED Green Associate Package, Money Back Guarantee with some conditions

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(f) Everblue

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner

(i) $200 | LEED AP BD+C v4 Exam Prep (On-demand)

Inclusions | 3 Study Sections and 2 Practice Exams (100 questions each), 8.5 AIA LU/HSWs

(ii) $500 | LEED Accredited Professional Building Design + Construction – Start NOW! Online | Access to course materials for 6 months

Inclusions | Self-guided content, on demand access to 8-hour course presentation, access to instructors for follow-up questions, 300+ practice questions,  LEED Credit Reference Sheets

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(g) American Technical Publishers

Source Review | USGBC Education Partner

(i) $105 | LEED AP® BD+C Exam Preparation Guide ATPWebBook™ | Access for 5 years (needs Internet, not downloadable)

Inclusions | 450-page Study Guide (concise text and detailed, full-color illustrations and photos), 170+ Checkpoint Questions for continual assessment, Knowledge Retention and Calculation exercises, 100-Question Practice Exam, Illustrated Glossary, Key Terms list, Factoids, Appendix

(ii) $320 | Study Bundle: LEED BD+C Study Guide and BD+C Reference Guide (V4)

Inclusions | Hard copy: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction + 450-page Study Guide(concise text and detailed, full-color illustrations and photos), 170+ Checkpoint Questions for continual assessment, Knowledge Retention and Calculation exercises, 100-Question Practice Exam, Appendix | Online Learner Resources (ATPeResources.com): Quick Quizzes, Illustrated Glossary, Flashcards, Media library with 6 videos and animations

Offers | School Price for 5 or more ATPWebBooks, Member Price for Study Bundle $270

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That’s all for today! Since this list of Resources and Materials is quite long, we have broken it into 3 parts. The next part will cover sources for Practice Questions.

Hope this was helpful. If you have suggestions for other topics or questions related to this content, kindly let us know in the comments.

Alternatively, you could leave us a message here.

Thank you for reading!

LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Free)

LEED ram f

(Updates below)

This is part of a series of articles on the experience of giving the LEED AP BD+C examination. Last week we completed our 2-part article on 11 Essential ‘Need-To-Knows’ before LEED AP BD+C Prep (Part 1, Part 2). Now, we start to look at Resources and Materials (both Freely available and Paid) that would be useful for this preparation.

This week we start with Freely available online resources. Based on your level of experience and knowledge, you may be able to pass the exam by using just the free resources. Some of our team however, felt the need for additional support. So, they made use of some ‘Paid’ resources which we talk of next week in case you feel the need for those.

Note: We have employed exhaustive online research, to explore all possible sources on the topic, as we felt that relying on any one source may not be enough.

Our articles are not endorsing any online courses/ question banks. However, we would like to give due credit to pages that our team found useful while attempting the exam. Ultimately, it is totally up to your choice and discretion whether to subscribe to them.

  1. Online Book
  2. Other Resources
  3. Practice Questions
    • USGBC
    • GBRI
    • Everblue

1) Online Book

current online book screenshot
Screenshot for Online Book – Current Version [Image via USGBC]
  • Latest Link – This is a 160+ pages free Document that has everything you need to know for the exam. The latest update to the book was published by USGBC on 2nd July 2018. The link for this PDF is here.
  • Updates – We will keep updating this link. If at some point you are unable to access it, that could mean that USGBC has published another update and removed the earlier version. Just google LEED v4 BDC pdf and you should be able to find an org link saying current version.
  • Getting through the book – If you can get through this slightly intimidating document on your own, then you may not need to refer to other sources at all. If however, the thought of reading and getting through the first page onward is a little daunting, you could try a couple of different methods and resources (explained below and in ‘Method of Study’ in coming weeks).

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2) Other Resources

(a) USGBC
  • Introduction Video – USGBC provides a simple animated free introduction video that helps to get your bearings about the exam.
what is a leed ap
Screenshot for USGBC Introduction Video [Image by USGBC via YouTube]
  • Four-week study plan – This is something new we came across recently. The link provides a Syllabus  and a 28-day study plan (which includes PDFs and Videos) which should help you organize your preparation. The videos are a wonderful addition to their free resources.
  • LEED AP BD+C v4 checklist in Excel format – This excel sheet shows what an actual project checklist looks like, so it will give you an experience of the structure followed – prerequisites, credits, points possible.
excel screen shot
Screenshot v4 Checklist [ Image by USGBC]
  • Credit/ Prerequisite Database – All prerequisites and Credits are explained in considerable detail here. These pages should be included in the study schedule. They help you check for latest updates. Resources like Submittal Tips and Forms help to understand the practical side and applicability of the exam in LEED projects.
  • Reference Guide 67-page excerpt – This is a short section of the complete reference guide that is available free online. It is quite detailed and a little intimidating. You might not need this much detail for the exam, so maybe don’t look at it if you are short on time!
(b) GBRI
  • Glossary of Terms – These are key terms useful for LEED exams presented as a video and PDFs. They are available at 2 locations – here and here.
  • Introduction videos – This is a free introduction video on LEED Process, Integrative Strategies
GBRI
Screenshot for GBRI video – LEED Process, Integrative Strategies [Image by GBRI via YouTube]
(c) Green Building Academy

Also known as Conserve Academy, this is an excellent resource that we talk about in detail later. This is a paid resource, but Introduction videos and few chapters like ‘Location and Transportation’ for LEED AP BD+C are available for free.

  • Video for Location and Transportation Credit – Sensitive Land Protection
  • Video for Location and Transportation Credit – High Priority Site
(d) Poplar

This is a 27-page slideshow about useful LEED concepts.

(e) Quizlet

This application allows students to learn using tools and games. We had heard about this website and thought to give it a try. Searching for LEED AP BD+C gives a massive list of flashcards with useful terms to study for the exam. This material is created by users from around the world. It can offer a unique perspective and can be good for revision reading towards the later stages of preparation.

(f) GBES

Update: We recently found another free resource. A glossary of 257 v4 terms presented in Excel format. The file also includes translations in other languages like Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Italian.

(g) GreenCE

Update: While writing our article on Paid Resources, we came across this section on FREE courses offered by GreenCE. The courses are meant for collecting Continuing Education hours once you have passed the examination. However, these can be referred to earlier, during exam preparation as well. Since they refer to actual projects applying LEED Credits, they are very useful in understanding the certification process. There are General and Specific courses (BD+C, Homes, ID+C, O+M, ND).

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3) Practice Questions

(a) USGBC
  • 100 question mock exam – This is a free exam offered by USGBC. It is in computerized format and you can attempt it as many times as you need.
100 mock usgbc
Screenshot for 100 question Mock Exam [Image via USGBC]
  • 6 free questions – This is an article we found recently by one of the USGBC authors. It includes 6 questions in a computerized format. Extra free questions are always welcome. Right?!
6 questions
Screenshot for 6 question exam [Image via USGBC]
(b) GBRI

This is a 30 question Mock Examination. You would need to login to their site.

(c) Everblue

They offer 10 free practice questions and answers here.

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That’s all for this week. Hope this was helpful. Next time we outline a list of Paid resources that we thought were useful. You could refer to those if you feel the need for them.

If you have suggestions for other topics or queries related to this content, kindly let us know in the comments below. From this week, we are using DISQUS for comments!

Alternatively, you could leave us a message here.

Thank you for reading!

11 Essential ‘Need-To-Knows’ before LEED AP BD+C Prep (Part 2)

part 2

This article is written by our contributing Author – Aditi Bisen.

Last week in Part 1, we covered the first 5 (of the 11) essential ‘Need-To-Knows’ before starting preparation for the LEED AP BD+C examination. This week, we go through the remaining 6 ‘Need-To-Knows’.

  1. Candidate Handbook
  2. Exam Fees
    • LEED Green Associate
    • LEED AP BD+C
    • Combined Examination
  3. Requirements, Prior Knowledge
    • Mandatory Requirements
    • Recommendations
  4. Registration
    • Account
    • Credentials
    • Registration
  5. Scheduling
    • Prometric Centre
    • Alternate Exam Delivery
  6. Questions and Time Limit
  7. Format of Questions
  8. Minimum score and Marking System
    • Minimum Score
    • Marking
  9. Calculations
  10. Some memorizing required
  11. USGBC Help

6) Questions and Time Limit

(i) 2 hours, 100 questions

(ii) As mentioned in the first post, the questions are longer (than LEED Green Associate) and include more detail. You will need to quickly sift out relevant bits to answer the questions.

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7) Format of questions

(i) Questions are multiple choice.

(ii) There can be one choice or multiple choices as answers. (The exam will specify for each question whether it needs a single answer or more.)

(iii) During the exam, you can attempt, skip, mark questions (to come back to later), or leave comments for your reference.

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8) Minimum score and Marking System

(a) Minimum Score

You need to score a minimum of 170 out of 200.

(b) Marking

(i) The Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) marking system is unique. You cannot assume that if you answer 85 questions correctly, then you pass (That is, each question is not allotted 2 marks uniformly, which would mean 85 X 2=170).

(ii) 15 questions (of the 100) are not marked. They are only for evaluation purposes.

(iii) The remaining questions have the marks divided amongst them based on specific criteria such as difficulty level, application etc.

(iv) There is no negative marking! (Thank the Universe!!) You can safely attempt all questions.

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9) Calculations

(i) There are (basic) calculations involved in this examination.

(ii) You will have access to an inbuilt calculator on the exam screen.

(iii) In addition to this, you will be provided with a marker and sheet to do written calculations.

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10) Some memorizing required

This exam expects you to be trained enough to be a LEED AP BD+C professional. Consider this example – If you’re a doctor, you need to know various symptoms, their causes, preliminary treatments etc. off the top of your head. When your patients consult you, you can’t go around rummaging through notes and handbooks to give an answer. Well here you’re not a doctor, but still training to be a professional. So, we feel the same rules are applicable.

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11) USGBC Help

We have tried to mention all relevant ‘Need-To-Knows’, before starting LEED AP BD+C prep. You may have additional queries. You could leave a comment, contact us here, or refer to the USGBC help page. The USGBC page is a wonderful resource with many pre-answered questions. You can also ask them a question, if you feel, your query has not been covered in this section.

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Look out for the remaining articles in coming weeks. If you have suggestions for other topics or queries related to this content, kindly let us know in the comments below.

Alternatively, you could leave us a message here.

Thank you!

 

About the Author

Aditi Bisen started writing for ‘The Architecture Gazette‘ in 2016. She is an Architect and LEED AP BD+C with a Masters in Integrated Sustainable Design from National University of Singapore. You could connect with her here-

LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Google+

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11 Essential ‘Need-To-Knows’ before LEED AP BD+C Prep (Part 1)

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This article is written by our contributing Author – Aditi Bisen.

 

Last week, we started our series on the LEED Experience. We covered why the LEED AP BD+C (Accredited Professional – Building Design + Construction) examination proves more difficult to crack than the LEED Green Associate.

This week we talk of 5 (of the 11) essential ‘Need-To-Knows’ before starting preparation for the LEED AP BD+C examination.

  1. Candidate Handbook
  2. Exam Fees
    • LEED Green Associate
    • LEED AP BD+C
    • Combined Examination
  3. Requirements, Prior Knowledge
    • Mandatory Requirements
    • Recommendations
  4. Registration
    • Account
    • Credentials
    • Registration
  5. Scheduling
    • Prometric Centre
    • Alternate Exam Delivery
  6. Questions and Time Limit
  7. Format of Questions
  8. Minimum score and Marking System
  9. Calculations
  10. Some memorizing required
  11. USGBC Help

1) Candidate Handbook

This is a useful 26-page document, that you must read before everything else! In short it talks about the following things –

    1. Registration basics and eligibility requirements, fees and other special conditions
    2. Exam format, language, updates
    3. Important documentation, test center regulations and general rules
    4. After exam results, certificate, appeals
    5. References and sample questions

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2) Exam Fees

accounting-achievement-aerial-1043506
[Image via Pexels]
(a) LEED Green Associate – $ 250
(b) LEED AP BD+C – $350
(c) Combined Examination – $550

It is cheaper to give the combined exam which would mean both exams happen on the same day. However, we would strictly recommend against this option for 2 reasons –

(i) If you pass the first paper and not the 2nd, then you cannot even call yourself a LEED Green Associate. Since you’ve applied to become a LEED AP (Accredited Professional), you need to pass both exams (Check out FAQ No. 2 here)

(ii) Both Green Associate and AP BD+C although working towards the same goal, require different types of preparation. While Green Associate is more of an introductory exam, AP BD+C needs more in-depth knowledge and practice. Attempting them together would be strenuous and might prove counter-productive.

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3) Requirements, Prior Knowledge

architect-569361_1920
[Image via Pixabay]
(a) Mandatory Requirements

(i) You need to have passed the LEED Green Associate examination to be eligible to give the LEED AP BD+C exam. (We are referring to the standalone LEED BD+C exam – fees $350.)

(ii) You also must be 18 years of age or older.

(b) Recommendations

(i) GBCI recommends that you should have prior LEED project experience before attempting the examination.

(ii) It helps if you have some Architectural knowledge or experience, or anything to do with Construction, Sustainability or the Environment. You can of course still give the paper without this background, but that might need more preparation time and could be a harder learning curve.

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4) Registration

(a) Account

Create an account on the USGBC website (if you have passed LEED Green Associate, you would already have an account).

(b) Credentials

Go to Credentials

credentials1
Screenshot for Credentials [Image via USGBC]
(c) Registration

(i) Choose the BD+C exam, register and make payment (Make sure you enter your details carefully).

(ii) After registration, you have 1 year to pass the exam. This registration could be extended by 6 months on request by contacting GBCI.

(iii) Within the registration period, you get 3 attempts to pass the exam. Each fresh attempt needs to be paid for.

(iv) If you are unable to pass in 3 attempts, you need to wait 90 days, before registering again.

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5) Scheduling

Prometric
Screenshot for Scheduling [Image via Prometric]
(a) Prometric Centre

After registration, you schedule the exam on the Prometric website. Find the center closest to your location, choose the best date and time available and book a sitting. (Choose a slot that suits you, when your mind works best!)

(b) Alternate Exam Delivery

Recently another option called Alternate Exam Delivery (AED) has been started, where exams can be scheduled as a group in familiar surroundings outside of Prometric centers.

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That’s all for this time. We will be addressing the remaining ‘Need-To-Knows’ next week. Hope these were useful.

If you have suggestions for other topics or queries related to this content, kindly let us know in the comments below.

Alternatively, you could leave us a message here.

Thank you for reading!

About the Author

Aditi Bisen started writing for ‘The Architecture Gazette‘ in 2016. She is an Architect and LEED AP BD+C with a Masters in Integrated Sustainable Design from National University of Singapore. You could connect with her here-

LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Google+

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Additional Reading / References –

The LEED Experience

A series of Articles on the experience of the LEED BD+C examination.

AP
[Image via Pixabay]
This article is written by our contributing Author – Aditi Bisen.

The LEED AP BD+C (Accredited Professional – Building Design + Construction) is a useful professional credential to add to your Resume. Apart from its global recognition, it prepares individuals to handle a wide breadth of issues related to Building Design, Construction and Sustainability. Some of our writers attempted and passed the LEED AP BD+C examination with high scores (190+ out of 200). We decided to pool their understanding and resources to write a series of articles on the LEED Experience.

These articles are assuming that readers have already given the LEED Green Associate examination (This is an introductory exam, that in most cases needs to be passed before one attempts the LEED AP BD+C). We will later try and write a series on LEED Green Associate.

We will be using the following post series order for articles. Hope these are useful!

4 reasons why LEED AP BD+C was a difficult cookie to crack!

hunger-413685_1920
[Image via Pixabay]

1) 85% 

You need a minimum of 85% (170 / 200) to pass the examination!! This is a tall order.

2) Heavier load in 2 hours 

Unlike in LEED Green Associate, there are calculations involved. The questions are longer and more detailed, while you still get 2 hours to attempt 100 of them. This is taxing and requires planning and practice.

3) LEED Specific Experience 

Our writers had Architectural or Sustainability backgrounds, but almost no experience on LEED Specific Projects. Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) recommends that you should have prior LEED Project Experience before attempting the examination. If you have this experience, things become relatively easier, since the questions are effectively asking you how you worked on the projects.

4) Expense of resources 

The complete Reference Guide for LEED AP BD+C costs $200. Many people either didn’t want to, or could not afford to buy this Guide. This was a risk, since their preparation could be incomplete. However, they were able to achieve good scores using alternative materials provided by USGBC and other websites.

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Look out for the remaining articles in coming weeks. If you have suggestions for other topics or queries related to this content, kindly let us know in the comments below.

Alternatively, you could leave us a message here.

Thank you!

About the Author

Aditi Bisen started writing for ‘The Architecture Gazette‘ in 2016. She is an Architect and LEED AP BD+C with a Masters in Integrated Sustainable Design from National University of Singapore. You could connect with her here-

LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Google+

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E@BS 4/5: Residential – Skyville@Dawson

This is Segment 4 of our Chain of posts focused on ‘Energy @ the Building Scale’.
[Extension of Part 4/5: The Red System (Energy), Singapore – Published: 28th May 2018]

clusters editted
Plan diagrams showing Apartments Clusters

Skyville@Dawson is a 111,106 sq.m., 48-storey1 public housing project by WOHA Architects in Queenstown, Singapore. It is one of two Build-To-Order (BTO) projects commissioned by Singapore’s Housing Development Board (HDB), as part of their “Remaking Our Heartland” initiative (the other being SkyTerrace@Dawson by SCDA Architects)4. This “housing-in-a-park” concept would show transferability in future projects and towns like – Waterway Terraces, Bidadari, Punggol Northshore, Tampines North6. It is the first housing development to be awarded the GreenMark Platinum Rating10. Skyville@Dawson’s Sustainable Design features including Passive Strategies are elaborated below-

Contents

  1. MASSING AND CONFIGURATION
    • Orientation
    • Clustering and Modules
  2. FORM, DAYLIGHT, VENTILATION
    • Unit Thickness
    • Breathability – Horizontal Air Movement
    • Breathability – Vertical Air Movement
  3. INTEGRATION WITH GREEN AND BLUE
    • Horizontal Green
    • Site Integration with Green and Blue
  4. BUILDING ENVELOPE

1) MASSING AND CONFIGURATION

Orientation

(i) The Building is placed with its longer facades facing the North-South9 directions. This reduces exposure to the East and West directions, that are normally difficult to shade.

shadow studies
Shading Studies for Skyville@Dawson

Clustering and Modules

(i) 8 apartments in plan(as seen in Plan diagrams above), surround a courtyard. This cluster is repeated 2 more times, to create 3 sets of apartments enclosing courtyards. This configuration also provides self-shading, especially from low angle rays from the East and West directions (as seen in the Shadow Studies above).

(ii) In Elevation, 12 clusters form villages, each comprising of 80 apartments.

villages with border
Perspective diagrams showing Apartment Villages

(iii) The apartment layouts are column and beam free4. This provides the possibility of 3 layouts for residents – reducing wastage, allowing flexibility for multiple functions, family size and the future.

(iv) For standardization, efficiency and to reduce wastage, only 5 window types2  have been used in the entire development.

(v) The design uses precast and prefabricated10 elements to avoid errors and reduce wastage. This feature could also contribute towards LEED BD+C v4 Credit – Construction and Demolition waste management. 

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2) FORM, DAYLIGHT, VENTILATION

Unit Thickness

(i) The individual apartments are approximately 11 meters across in width, thus applying the Unit Thick Principle. Apartments also have openings in all directions. They are thus naturally ventilated and day lit, reducing artificial cooling and lighting costs.

unit thick
Plan diagram showing Unit Thick apartment blocks

Breathability – Horizontal Air Movement

(i) The clustering arrangement around courtyards, and the repetition of this module linearly, enables horizontal air circulation.

hori air movt
Plan diagram showing Horizontal air movement through courtyards and building block gaps

(ii) Common areas (Lobbies, Corridors, Staircases) and Apartments are naturally ventilated. Many units have not installed Air-conditioning3.

Breathability – Vertical Air Movement

(i) With minimal obstructions and the creation of Canyon like spaces, air moves vertically through the towers – accentuating the breezy atmosphere. The interaction of this air with greenery from sky gardens at intermediate levels, cools this air through evapotranspiration.

vertical air movt
Section diagram showing Vertical air movement through the towers

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3) INTEGRATION WITH GREEN AND BLUE

Horizontal Green

(i) ‘Sky Terraces’7 are located every 12 floors. These are designed as community spaces, where people can collect to interact with neighbors or simply visit to relax and enjoy the lush greenery.

hori greenery
Sky Gardens and Rooftop Garden

(ii) A ‘Sky Park’7 on the roof has planters, hedges, and beautiful city views. Photovoltaics3 power the common area lighting.

Site Integration with Green and Blue

(i) A 150 m long bio-swale (gently sloping ditch with specific plants) filters and treats site stormwater before discharging it into the city drainage system5. Another example of a bio-swale – water treatment and recycling loop can be seen in Kampung Admirality.

site green blue
Site Plan diagram showing location of Parks, Plaza and Bio-swale

(ii) The site is an ungated3 community, with Public Parks and Amenities that cater to the residents as well as the general public.

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4) BUILDING ENVELOPE

(i) Monsoon windows8 on the facade can be kept open during rains, thus providing cool breeze without wind-blown rain entering the home. A similar more advanced Monsoon Window design is utilized in another high-rise residential building – 1 Moulmein Rise, Singapore.

(ii) The walls on the facade have horizontal and vertical sunbreakers5. Balconies or horizontal ledges9 are used to provide shading for openings.

(iii) Double-height verandas10 on the ground level provide pleasant public spaces overlooking the parks.

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That’s all for today! We hope you enjoyed this segment. As always, we would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, queries, opinions.

Thank you!

See you next week.

Credits:
Graphics : Selected graphics are produced as part of a team project for M.Sc. Integrated Sustainable Design at National University of Singapore (Building Semester – Stage 1 – Complex Living Systems). Group Members – Gajender Kumar Sharma, Aditi Bisen, Huang Hongbo, Zhao Yanming
Text: Aditi Bisen

References/ Additional Reading:

  1. CTBUH. SkyVille @ Dawson – The Skyscraper Center. http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/skyville-dawson/14117. Accessed July 18, 2018.
  2. Furuto A. SkyVille @ Dawson / WOHA. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/215386/skyville-dawson-woha. Published 2012. Accessed July 18, 2018.
  3. ArchDaily. SkyVille / WOHA. https://www.archdaily.com/800832/skyville-woha. Published 2017. Accessed July 18, 2018.
  4. HISTORYSG. SkyVille@Dawson and SkyTerrace@Dawson are launched – Singapore History. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/734a75df-6ece-410f-a1f5-3d0453daf2fe. Published 2015. Accessed July 18, 2018.
  5. Australian Design Review. An exploration in affordable housing: Skyville @ Dawson. https://www.australiandesignreview.com/architecture/an-exploration-in-affordable-housing-skyville-dawson/. Published 2016. Accessed July 19, 2018.
  6. Zachariah NA. Dawson’s SkyVille and SkyTerrace projects are raising the bar for stylish public housing. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/home-design/dawsons-skyville-and-skyterrace-projects-are-raising-the-bar-for-stylish. Published 2015. Accessed July 19, 2018.
  7. Willis C. The Skyscraper Museum: GARDEN CITY | MEGA CITY: WOHA rethinks cities for the age of global warming. http://skyscraper.org/EXHIBITIONS/WOHA/skyville.php. Accessed July 24, 2018.
  8. Pearson CA. SkyVille@Dawson|Gardens in the Sky. Architectural Record. https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7925-skyvilledawson. Published 2013. Accessed July 24, 2018.
  9. BCA Singapore. BCA GreenMark Buildings Directory | Skyville @ Dawson. https://www.bca.gov.sg/green_mark/KnowledgeResources/BuildingDirectoryDetail.aspx?id=255. Accessed July 26, 2018.
  10. world-architects. SkyVille @ Dawson WOHA. https://www.world-architects.com/en/woha-singapore/project/skyville-dawson. Accessed July 26, 2018.

Q & A – 1

We interrupt the ongoing Chain of posts on E@BS to introduce our ‘Q & A’ column.

Our segment on Cleantech One [published: June 18, 2018] left us with 2 questions. We address one of them today –

Q) Integration with Green has positive effects on micro-climate and energy loads. However, landscaping has associated water and maintenance costs. There are also issues of insects that may not always be welcome in an urban/ strictly controlled setting like that of laboratories. What do you think about this?

A) Water and Maintenance Costs

Water use can be optimized and maintenance can be reduced by adopting certain simple measures. Some of the following have been adopted by our case-studies, specially Park Royal Hotel [published June 25th, 2018]. These measures also help buildings gain points for LEED certification categories – Water Efficiency, Sustainable Sites.

Reduction of Need (Water and Maintenance)

  • Selection of Plant Species – Native plants that are local to the site are adapted best to existing conditions. They are thus hardy and require little to no maintenance. Many species can also survive, without any external irrigation.
  • Rainwater Harvesting – Storage, treatment an recycling of rainwater for landscape irrigation helps reduce the requirement for Potable water use. In Park Royal, rainwater from upper floors, irrigates plants on lower floors by gravity.

Supplemental measures

  • Non – Potable water – If additional water is needed, then non-potable water recycled from site or outside, can be utilized. For example in Park Royal Hotel, recycled wastewater called NEWater is used for additional irrigation needs.
  • Drip Irrigation – If supplemental irrigation is required, then drip irrigation is an extremely efficient option. Compared to overhead spray irrigation (efficiency 50-70 per cent), drip irrigation can provide water use efficiencies of greater than 90 per cent. There are multiple other benefits of this type of irrigation which make it an indisputable choice. Various small villages, farmers and projects in India are benefiting from this technology. Some benefits include –
    • Efficiency – There is reduction of  evaporative losses and as water is delivered through pipes, to the plants as they need it.
    • Yield – Farmers in the states of Andhra Pradesh (Anantapur district, Chilli Crop) and Tamil Nadu (Tuberose flowers) in India for example, have seen crop yields double by adopting drip irrigation. This is possible since water along with fertilisers or required chemicals can be delivered to the plants ina precise manner, thus improving plant health.
    • Weeds – Weeds are reduced since the area between plants is not irrigated.
    • Runoff – Runoff , Erosion and related Pollution is prevented.
  • Sensors – Landscape areas could have rain sensors, that signal to turn off irrigation, when a minimum level of rainfall is achieved (d).

 

B) Insects

Insects or pests can be attracted to areas of vegetation and water. While all insects are not harmful, and many are extremely helpful and necessary for the ecosystem; they may not always be welcome in an urban/ strictly controlled setting like that of a laboratory. Let’s look at some ways to deal with this issue –

Pests around water features

Pests specially mosquitoes can be a dangerous problem around water features. Some steps that could be taken to guard against this are-

  • Design water features deeper than 2 feet, since larvae prefer shallow water bodies.
  • Use fountains or waterfalls, which increase circulation of water and reduce stagnant water.
  • Natural predators like dragonflies and back-swimmers help get rid of mosquito larvae. Care should be taken to avoid broad spectrum insecticides, which could kill these helpful creatures.
  • Remove organic debris, which is food for larvae – Pond Skimmers are useful contraptions for larger water bodies. For smaller water features, use pond skimmer nets. Pond spikes are good for preventing algal blooms.

Pest repellent Plant species

Another simple way is to choose plant species that naturally repel certain pests. This helps avoid the use of harmful insecticides and pesticides, that have other dire consequences. Some low maintenance species to choose from are –

  • Lavender – This plant has a lovely fragrance for humans. However, it repels mosquitoes, insects and smaller animals like rabbits. It is a tough drought-resistant plant and does well in warmer climates.
  • Citronella Grass – It has a lemony scent and is a common ingredient for mosquito repellents. It is a low maintainence plant and only requires a sunny spot in the ground in warm climates.
  • Marigolds – Their smell deters not only mosquitoes, but also aphids,  whiteflies, squash bugs,   thrips, tomato hornworms, mexican bean beetles. They flower annually and are easily grown in pots.

 

 

References/ Additional Reading: