LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C) Overview
These study notes are designed to prepare candidates for the LEED AP BD+C exam, focusing on the core technical knowledge required to lead and manage green building projects. The notes cover the five LEED credit categories: Location and Transportation (LT), Sustainable Sites (SS), Water Efficiency (WE), Energy and Atmosphere (EA), Materials and Resources (MR), and Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ). Each subject includes key concepts, must-know details, practical applications, high-yield distinctions, common pitfalls, and review tasks. Candidates should supplement these notes with the official USGBC references and the LEED BD+C Reference Guide.
For Technical Conquer practice planning, this module is tracked as 80 questions over about 120 minutes with a listed pass mark of 70%. Treat those numbers as practice baselines and verify the current official format before scheduling.
How This Guide Is Organized
The sections below turn the syllabus into studyable subject blocks. Read a subject first, explain the must-know ideas without notes, then use questions, flashcards, and mind maps to test whether the knowledge holds under field-style pressure.
- Location and Transportation (LT)
- Sustainable Sites (SS)
- Water Efficiency (WE)
- Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
- Materials and Resources (MR)
- Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)
Exam Snapshot and Readiness Target
Format: 80 questions, 120 minutes, pass mark 70% (practice baseline; verify with USGBC)
Candidate level: Professional with experience in green building design and construction
Readiness target: Demonstrate mastery of LEED BD+C credit intents, prerequisites, and strategies
Most candidates should budget at least 36+ focused study hours, then adjust upward for unfamiliar equipment, code, regulatory, commissioning, controls, or calculation-heavy content.
Location and Transportation (LT)
Syllabus Focus
- LEED for Neighborhood Development location
- Sensitive land protection
- High-priority site and equitable development
- Surrounding density and diverse uses
- Access to quality transit
- Bicycle facilities
- Reduced parking footprint
- Green vehicles
Key Notes
- LT credits encourage compact, walkable, transit-oriented development to reduce automobile dependence.
- LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) location: projects within a certified LEED-ND development earn this credit automatically.
- Sensitive land protection: avoid development on prime farmland, floodplains, and habitats of endangered species.
- High-priority site: locate on a brownfield, infill, or previously developed site to earn credit.
- Surrounding density: calculate average density within a 1/4-mile radius; minimum 7 dwelling units per acre for residential or 35,000 sq ft per acre for non-residential.
- Access to quality transit: project must be within 1/4-mile walk of bus or streetcar stop, or 1/2-mile of rail or ferry terminal, with minimum daily trips.
- Bicycle facilities: provide secure bicycle storage and shower/changing facilities for occupants.
- Reduced parking footprint: do not exceed minimum local code parking requirements; provide preferred parking for carpools and vanpools.
Must Know
- Understand the difference between LEED-ND location and other LT credits.
- Know the distance thresholds for transit access (1/4-mile for bus, 1/2-mile for rail).
- Be able to calculate density and diverse uses within the required radius.
- Recognize that brownfield remediation is part of LT, not SS.
Field and Exam Application
- When evaluating a site, first check if it is in a LEED-ND development to automatically earn the first credit.
- For transit credit, verify the number of daily transit trips at the nearest stop; if below threshold, consider alternative strategies.
- Use GIS or mapping tools to measure surrounding density and diverse uses within the 1/4-mile radius.
High-Yield Distinctions
- LT credits focus on location and transportation choices; SS credits focus on site ecology and stormwater.
- LEED-ND location is an automatic credit if the project is within a certified ND; other LT credits require documentation.
- Bicycle network credit requires that the project is near a bicycle network, not just storage.
- Reduced parking footprint credit compares to base parking ratios from ITE or local code, whichever is more stringent.
Common Pitfalls
- Confusing LT credits with SS credits (e.g., brownfield remediation is LT, not SS).
- Assuming all transit stops qualify; must meet minimum trip frequency.
- Forgetting that bicycle storage must be accessible to all building users, not just employees.
- Misinterpreting 'diverse uses' as any commercial use; must be a mix of uses like retail, food, services.
Review Tasks
- List the LT credits and their intents.
- Calculate the density of a sample neighborhood given housing units and acreage.
- Identify which LT credits apply to a suburban office park vs. an urban high-rise.
- Review the LEED BD+C Reference Guide for LT credit requirements and exemplary performance.
Sustainable Sites (SS)
Syllabus Focus
- Construction activity pollution prevention
- Site assessment
- Site development - protect or restore habitat
- Open space
- Rainwater management
- Heat island reduction
- Light pollution reduction
Key Notes
- Construction activity pollution prevention is a prerequisite: implement an erosion and sedimentation control plan per EPA or local standards.
- Site assessment: evaluate site conditions such as topography, hydrology, climate, vegetation, soils, and human use before design.
- Protect or restore habitat: preserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to native or adapted vegetation.
- Open space: provide vegetated open space equal to building footprint or 20% of site area, whichever is greater.
- Rainwater management: manage runoff from the 95th percentile storm event using low-impact development (LID) techniques.
- Heat island reduction: use high-reflectance roofing (SRI ≥ 78 for low-slope, ≥ 29 for steep-slope) and/or vegetated roof; provide shaded or reflective paving.
- Light pollution reduction: meet backlight, uplight, and glare (BUG) ratings for exterior luminaires; reduce light trespass and sky glow.
Must Know
- The prerequisite is mandatory; all other SS credits are optional.
- Understand the difference between protect/restore habitat and open space credits.
- Know the SRI thresholds for roofing materials and the definition of vegetated roof.
- Be familiar with the BUG rating system for exterior lighting.
Field and Exam Application
- During site planning, conduct a thorough site assessment to identify sensitive areas to protect.
- For rainwater management, design rain gardens, permeable pavement, or cisterns to capture and treat runoff.
- Select roofing materials with high SRI values to reduce heat island effect; consider a green roof for additional benefits.
High-Yield Distinctions
- SS credits address site ecology and stormwater; LT credits address location and transportation.
- Protect/restore habitat focuses on on-site natural areas; open space focuses on providing accessible vegetated space.
- Rainwater management credit uses the 95th percentile storm event; not the 100-year storm.
- Heat island reduction has separate requirements for roof and non-roof (paving) surfaces.
Common Pitfalls
- Assuming that all vegetated areas count as open space; must be accessible to building occupants.
- Forgetting that the construction activity pollution prevention plan must be implemented before construction begins.
- Confusing SRI with albedo; SRI is a more comprehensive measure of solar reflectance and thermal emittance.
- Overlooking the requirement for exterior lighting to meet BUG ratings; not just total lumens.
Review Tasks
- Write a sample erosion control plan for a construction site.
- Calculate the open space requirement for a given building footprint and site area.
- Identify the SRI values for common roofing materials (e.g., white membrane, asphalt shingle).
- Review the LEED BD+C Reference Guide for SS credit requirements and exemplary performance.
Water Efficiency (WE)
Syllabus Focus
- Outdoor water use reduction
- Indoor water use reduction
- Cooling tower water use
- Water metering
Key Notes
- Outdoor water use reduction: reduce potable water use for irrigation by 50% or more using efficient fixtures, weather-based controllers, or xeriscaping.
- Indoor water use reduction: reduce aggregate water consumption by 20% (prerequisite) and up to 50% (credit) compared to baseline using low-flow fixtures and fittings.
- Cooling tower water use: use recycled water or treat makeup water to reduce cycles of concentration; achieve minimum 10 cycles for once-through systems.
- Water metering: install permanent water meters for total building water use and at least two subsystems (e.g., irrigation, cooling tower, domestic hot water).
Must Know
- The indoor water use reduction prerequisite requires a 20% reduction; the credit goes up to 50%.
- Baseline water use is calculated using flow rates from the EPAct 1992 or local code, whichever is more stringent.
- Outdoor water use reduction can be achieved through efficient irrigation, no irrigation, or use of captured rainwater.
- Cooling tower credit applies only to projects with cooling towers; use of alternative water sources like rainwater or reclaimed water is encouraged.
Field and Exam Application
- Select low-flow fixtures: toilets (1.28 gpf), urinals (0.5 gpf), faucets (1.5 gpm), showerheads (2.0 gpm).
- Design irrigation system with drip irrigation and smart controllers that adjust based on weather.
- For cooling towers, treat makeup water to reduce scaling and increase cycles of concentration.
High-Yield Distinctions
- WE credits focus on water conservation; EA credits focus on energy efficiency.
- Indoor water use reduction is based on fixture flow rates, not occupant behavior.
- Outdoor water use reduction can be achieved by using captured rainwater or reclaimed water, not just efficient fixtures.
- Water metering is a prerequisite for some LEED v4 projects; verify version requirements.
Common Pitfalls
- Forgetting that the indoor water use reduction prerequisite is mandatory.
- Using local code baseline instead of EPAct 1992 when EPAct is more stringent.
- Assuming that all irrigation systems qualify; must demonstrate 50% reduction from baseline.
- Not including cooling tower water use in the water budget if the project has a cooling tower.
Review Tasks
- Calculate the baseline and design indoor water use for a sample building with given fixture counts.
- Design an irrigation plan that reduces potable water use by 50%.
- Identify the required number of water meters and subsystems for a project.
- Review the LEED BD+C Reference Guide for WE credit requirements and exemplary performance.
Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
Syllabus Focus
- Fundamental commissioning and verification
- Minimum energy performance
- Building-level energy metering
- Fundamental refrigerant management
- Enhanced commissioning
- Optimize energy performance
- Advanced energy metering
- Demand response
Key Notes
- Fundamental commissioning (prerequisite): verify that energy-related systems are installed, calibrated, and perform per owner's project requirements (OPR) and basis of design (BOD).
- Minimum energy performance (prerequisite): demonstrate a 5% improvement in energy performance over ASHRAE 90.1-2010 baseline (or 10% for major renovations) using whole-building energy simulation.
- Building-level energy metering (prerequisite): install meters to track total building energy use.
- Fundamental refrigerant management (prerequisite): do not use CFC-based refrigerants in HVAC&R systems; phase out existing CFCs.
- Optimize energy performance (credit): achieve up to 50% improvement over baseline (points scale).
- Enhanced commissioning (credit): additional commissioning activities including design review, monitoring-based commissioning, and systems manual.
- Advanced energy metering (credit): install meters for all major energy end uses (e.g., lighting, HVAC, plug loads).
- Demand response (credit): participate in demand response programs or have capacity to shed load.
Must Know
- All EA prerequisites are mandatory; credits are optional but heavily weighted.
- Energy simulation must follow ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G modeling rules.
- Commissioning must be performed by a qualified commissioning authority (CxA).
- Refrigerant management: CFCs are prohibited; HCFCs are allowed but discouraged; HFCs with high GWP are targeted for reduction.
Field and Exam Application
- Engage a commissioning authority early in design to review OPR and BOD.
- Use energy modeling software (e.g., EnergyPlus, eQUEST) to demonstrate energy performance improvement.
- Specify high-efficiency HVAC equipment, LED lighting, and building envelope improvements to optimize energy performance.
- Install sub-meters for lighting, HVAC, and plug loads to qualify for advanced energy metering credit.
High-Yield Distinctions
- EA credits are the most heavily weighted in LEED BD+C; focus on energy performance and commissioning.
- Minimum energy performance prerequisite is based on ASHRAE 90.1-2010; later versions may be adopted by USGBC.
- Enhanced commissioning includes monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx) which is ongoing.
- Renewable energy credit is based on cost, not energy; use simulation to calculate offset.
Common Pitfalls
- Forgetting that fundamental commissioning is a prerequisite; cannot be skipped.
- Using incorrect baseline for energy simulation (must be ASHRAE 90.1-2010).
- Not including all energy end uses in the building-level metering prerequisite.
- Assuming that all refrigerants are acceptable; CFCs are banned, and HCFCs are being phased out.
Review Tasks
- List the EA prerequisites and credits.
- Describe the role of the commissioning authority.
- Calculate the energy performance improvement for a sample building using given simulation results.
- Identify which refrigerants are prohibited and which are allowed with restrictions.
- Review the LEED BD+C Reference Guide for EA credit requirements and exemplary performance.
Materials and Resources (MR)
Syllabus Focus
- Storage and collection of recyclables
- Construction and demolition waste management planning
- Building life-cycle impact reduction
- Building product disclosure and optimization - environmental product declarations
- Building product disclosure and optimization - sourcing of raw materials
- Building product disclosure and optimization - material ingredients
- Construction and demolition waste management
Key Notes
- Storage and collection of recyclables (prerequisite): provide dedicated areas for recyclable materials (paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metals).
- Construction and demolition waste management planning (prerequisite): develop a waste management plan; do not generate more than 2.5 lb of waste per square foot.
- Building life-cycle impact reduction (credit): reuse existing building structure/envelope, or conduct life-cycle assessment (LCA) to show 10% reduction in environmental impacts.
- Environmental product declarations (EPD): use products with published EPDs to earn credit.
- Sourcing of raw materials: use products with recycled content, regional materials, or responsibly sourced materials (e.g., FSC-certified wood).
- Material ingredients: use products with ingredient disclosure (e.g., Health Product Declarations) or avoid chemicals of concern.
- Construction and demolition waste management (credit): divert at least 50% of waste from landfill; up to 75% for additional points.
Must Know
- Both MR prerequisites are mandatory.
- Waste management plan must include diversion strategies (reuse, recycling, composting).
- LCA must follow ISO 14040/14044 standards and use a tool like Athena Impact Estimator.
- EPD credit requires at least 20 different permanently installed products from at least 5 manufacturers with EPDs.
Field and Exam Application
- Designate a recycling area on each floor for occupant recyclables.
- During construction, separate waste streams (e.g., wood, metal, drywall) to maximize diversion.
- Specify concrete with high recycled content (e.g., fly ash) to earn sourcing credit.
- Request EPDs from suppliers for major materials like steel, glass, insulation.
High-Yield Distinctions
- MR credits focus on material life cycle and waste; EQ credits focus on indoor air quality.
- Building life-cycle impact reduction credit can be achieved by reuse or LCA; LCA is more flexible.
- EPD credit is about transparency; sourcing credit is about environmental and social responsibility.
- Waste management credit is based on weight, not volume.
Common Pitfalls
- Forgetting that storage and collection of recyclables is a prerequisite; must be designed into the building.
- Not including all recyclable materials in the storage area (e.g., batteries, electronics).
- Assuming that all wood products count as FSC-certified; must have chain-of-custody documentation.
- Confusing EPD with Health Product Declaration (HPD); EPD covers environmental impacts, HPD covers health hazards.
Review Tasks
- Design a recycling storage area for a sample office building.
- Create a construction waste management plan with diversion targets.
- Calculate the percentage of recycled content in a given material mix.
- Identify the difference between EPD, HPD, and Cradle to Cradle certification.
- Review the LEED BD+C Reference Guide for MR credit requirements and exemplary performance.
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)
Syllabus Focus
- Minimum indoor air quality performance
- Environmental tobacco smoke control
- Enhanced indoor air quality strategies
- Low-emitting materials
- Construction indoor air quality management plan
- Indoor air quality assessment
- Thermal comfort
- Interior lighting
Key Notes
- Minimum IAQ performance (prerequisite): meet ASHRAE 62.1-2010 ventilation rates for mechanically ventilated spaces or ASHRAE 62.2 for residential.
- Environmental tobacco smoke control (prerequisite): prohibit smoking inside the building and designate outdoor smoking areas at least 25 ft from entries and operable windows.
- Enhanced IAQ strategies (credit): use additional ventilation, filtration (MERV 13 or higher), or CO2 monitoring.
- Low-emitting materials (credit): use paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, flooring, and composite wood that meet VOC content limits.
- Construction IAQ management plan (credit): protect HVAC system during construction, use low-VOC materials, and flush out building before occupancy.
- IAQ assessment (credit): conduct a baseline IAQ test after construction and before occupancy.
- Thermal comfort (credit): design HVAC system to meet ASHRAE 55-2010 comfort criteria; provide individual comfort controls.
- Interior lighting (credit): provide high-quality lighting with appropriate light levels and controls.
Must Know
- Both EQ prerequisites are mandatory.
- Ventilation rates must comply with ASHRAE 62.1-2010; later versions may be accepted.
- Low-emitting materials credit has specific VOC limits for different product categories.
- Daylight credit requires simulation or measurement; prescriptive path is available for some spaces.
Field and Exam Application
- Design ventilation system to meet ASHRAE 62.1 using the ventilation rate procedure.
- Specify low-VOC paints (VOC < 50 g/L for flat, < 150 g/L for non-flat) and adhesives.
- During construction, seal duct openings and use temporary filters to protect HVAC.
- After construction, perform a flush-out with 100% outdoor air for 14,000 cubic feet per square foot of floor area.
High-Yield Distinctions
- EQ credits focus on occupant health and comfort; EA credits focus on energy efficiency.
- Minimum IAQ performance prerequisite uses ASHRAE 62.1; enhanced IAQ strategies credit goes beyond code.
- Low-emitting materials credit covers multiple product categories; each has its own threshold.
- Daylight credit requires both illuminance and glare control; quality views credit requires line of sight.
Common Pitfalls
- Forgetting that environmental tobacco smoke control is a prerequisite; must have a smoking policy.
- Assuming that all low-VOC products qualify; must check specific VOC limits per product type.
- Not considering that construction IAQ management plan must be implemented during construction, not after.
- Confusing thermal comfort with temperature control; thermal comfort includes humidity, air speed, and radiant temperature.
Review Tasks
- Calculate the required outdoor air ventilation rate for a sample space using ASHRAE 62.1.
- List the VOC limits for paints, adhesives, and flooring.
- Develop a construction IAQ management plan.
- Perform a daylight simulation for a sample room and determine if it meets the credit requirements.
- Review the LEED BD+C Reference Guide for EQ credit requirements and exemplary performance.
How To Use These Notes With Practice Questions
Do not jump straight from reading to a full mock. Work by subject first: review the key notes, make a short recall sheet from memory, then answer a focused question set. After each miss, decide whether the problem was missing theory, weak code/source recall, poor measurement setup, calculation error, or a field sequence you did not visualize.
Technical Conquer's question bank, flashcards, mind maps, and spaced review tools are most useful after this instruction layer because they reveal which parts of the notes are not yet retrievable.
Final Review Checklist
- Review all prerequisites: they are mandatory and must be documented.
- Focus on EA credits as they carry the most points; understand energy modeling and commissioning.
- Practice calculating water use reductions and waste diversion rates.
- Be familiar with ASHRAE standards (62.1, 55, 90.1) and how they apply to LEED credits.
- Understand the difference between credit intents and requirements; know which credits are prescriptive vs. performance-based.
- Use the LEED BD+C Reference Guide as your primary study resource; supplement with USGBC website and case studies.
- Take practice exams to identify weak areas; review those subjects in depth.
Official Sources and Further Reading
Use these sources as the final authority for format, eligibility, rules, regulatory limits, and exam updates. Study notes are a preparation layer, not a replacement for official candidate guidance.