As my LEED AP exam day quickly approaches, I find myself fairly confident with all of the credits as I fill out the semi blank study guide. However, there is a lot more to the exam than just understanding the credits. Knowing the credit intentions and requirements is just 1/4 the battle. But thats ok! Hopefully I can shed some light on those other things you’ll need to know within the next day or two.
To recap, there are 4 basic “sections” within the LEED AP Exam format that you’ll be tested on:
- Knowledge of LEED Credit Intents and Requirements
- Coordinate Project and Team
- Implement LEED Process
- Verify, Participate in, and Perform Technical Analysis Required for LEED Credits
At the end of the test, you’ll see how well you did in each category and then an overall score. By studying the reference book and your favorite study guides, you’ll have a lot of information to help you answer questions from each of these sections. This being said, there are going to be quite a few questions dealing with “who does what”, or how the certification process works, which isn’t directly mentioned in the reference guide. Many of these answers are found online at the USGBC website – you just have to fish for them. Again, I’ll do my best to post useful information from a variety of resources soon.
Below is a useful table of responsibilities and decision making for each credit in the LEED certification process. I really don’t think you should spend too much time memorizing a table like this, rather – I think it would be useful to carefully go through it a few times. Read each credit number, associate it with the information you know about the credit and see who is responsible. After a while it should become almost “common sense” to you. For example, of course the contractor is the only trade responsible for MR 2.1 & 2.2 – Construction Waste Management because he/she is really the only one who will be on site to deal with the disposal and diversion waste during construction while collecting the receipts and tickets from the haulers.
click image for enlargement (opens a new window)
Again I thank you dearly for your support and the success of greenexamacademy.com. Thank you, and good luck! Cheers!
48 Comments On This Post
Fun! I’m half ready to bet that you’re going to score a 200 on Monday’s exam!
Haha Adam, I wish! I’m not a great test taker when it comes to multiple choice exams – which is why I’m doing everything I can to study, including this website. That being said, I wouldn’t mind a 200 =)
I noticed an error in the “Yet Another Helpful LEED AP Chart – Know Your Roles (Decision Makers)”.
It states Earth and Atmosphere instead of “Energy and Atmosphere”
Thanks
In almost every submittal, it says for example, ‘architect or responsible party’.
Who is this responsible party?
Pat,
Great website, smart work.
hey i notice in your chart you mentioned “Earth and Atmosphere” instead of “Energy and Atmosphere”
thanks.
Nav
Pat,
I just took a sample test (greenexamprep)and the correct answer for the question ‘Decision Maker for MRc5.1 and MRc5.2’ turned out to be the Owner-Developer, not the Contractor (which was my answer).
Just thought I’d let you know. Thanks!
Sam
If you are not trying to acheive a point in a section, do you still need to acheive the prerequistes for that section?
Troy,
Yes, all prerequisites must be met, regardless if any other credits within that categories are planned to be achived or not. Thanks!
I am confused, why would a mechanical engineer have anything to do with WE credits?
@ Jessie,
That’s a good question. My understanding is that the mechanical engineer in involved with many of the things having to do with water efficiency type systems, i.e. recycled water and irrigation systems, etc.
To me, the mechanical engineer also includes the plumbing engineer in these types of credits. In my own work experience (although it’s non-LEED), our mechanical engineers and plumbing engineers go hand-in-hand a lot of the time.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Short answer: because mechanical engineers can do anything!!
But Pat’s right, I work at an HVAC firm and as an ME I work with the plumbing as well all the air related stuff.
i am stuck at 80% for greenprep exam.everytime there is something new to learn.what shud i do?any one else facing the same problem?
Hi greenair,
I would make sure I really pay attention to the questions that I answer incorrectly. Even go so far at to write them down to make sure I don’t get the same questions wrong each time.
They do a good job of explaining their answers, so make sure you really read through those explanations as well.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
I have a couple of questions about the chart.
Why isn’t the Civil engineer apart of WE 2? If wastewater was treated on site, wouldn’t they be involved?
EA2, wouldn’t the Owner be involved with the decision to have on-site renewable?
EQ 4.3 Why no Contractfor if they are involved with the 3 other simular credits?
EQ5, shouldn’t mechanical engineer be involved with exhausting spaces and providing ventilation?
ID2, what does the Contractor have to do with the LEED AP. Isn’t the Owner the only decision maker because they would make sure that someone was hired with the qualifications?
Hi Robin,
You have to be careful to understand that this chart has to do with the “decision makers”, which is a little different than who is involved in what credit.
The decision makers are the people who are involved with certain parts of the LEED ONLINE CREDIT TEMPLATES and kind of “sign off” on certain things, if that makes sense.
The owner would be “involved” with a lot more than you see in the chart, but it’s the owner who is a “decision maker” for the ones you see above.
So, to answer your specific questions:
EA2: yes, the owner would be involved, but is not a DECISION MAKER for the LEED Online credit template
EQ4.3: contractor isn’t a decision maker for this particular credit dealing with carpet systems.
EQ5: LEED AP is in charge with seeing that the requirements are fulfilled for this credit, based on the work that the mech. engineer does and also the contractor too.
ID2: You’re somewhat correct here. Actually, the contractor, owner and LEED AP should be under this credit as they are the team that will most likely hire a LEED AP.
Thanks for the comments, Robin. I hope that makes sense – I know it’s a little confusing!
Good luck!
Pat, are you familar with Shawn Shahfar’s LEEDPASS book? I was just looking through it and in his chapter on Decision Makers, he has a few things different than the chart posted to this site.
SS4.3 He has Owner, LEED AP and Architect
EQp2 He has Owner and Mechanical
What do you think?
I used his book before, and frankly, i found quite a few important errors in it before, especially in the practice questions section. (This was his first edition of LEEDPASS)
Those particular credits you mentioned are pretty vague as far as the decision maker is concerned. It ultimately comes down to the owner with those, but I can see where he’s coming from, so it wouldn’t hurt just to know the extras.
That’s just my personal opinion. Anybody else?
I agree about your comments on errors in the book. He has a few credits as Construction Phase submittals when the LEED Reference Guide clearly notes that they are Design.
Hi Pat,
Thanks for the website… 🙂
A few observations regarding this decision makers chart…
As per the LEED NC v2.2 3rd edition ref guide,
there are a few discrepancies with ur chart:
MR C1.1, 1.2, 1.3: Owner & Architect only are decision makers. Conractor is not included.
EAp3: Owner is the sole decision maker. ur chart mentions ME too.
EQp2 & SS 4.3: Acc to ref guide, Owner AND Design team member are responsible, whereas ur chart states only owner.
I hope I am not wrong with these observations…PL let me know what is right.
Thanks,
Swatee
Thanks for the information that you are giving. I want to see more.
S. Charts
Do you have copies of study charts that are helpful in the prep for the exam?
Hi Pat,
The chart in your walkthrough is different than the chart on this page. SSp1 shows LEED AP/ Arch. instead of Civil Eng. Also, SSc4.1 Shows LEED AP/ Arch. where the chart on this page only shows the owner.
Which is correct?
Tyler, I will update this chart as soon as I can. The walkthrough has all of the latest information. Thanks for pointing that out for me!
Pat,
Can we not just note the professionals, including LEED AP, as Design Team in lieu of Architect, Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, etc.? This is the way it is charted in the Reference Guide.
Pat,
With regards to my posting above, I purchased your LEED AP Walkthrough yesterday.
I now have the Reference Guide, the LEEDPASS manual and the Walkthrough, all giving different accounts on the roles of the Decision Makers. I really prefer the simplified “Design Team”, as it categorizes them collectively as a group.
The only one I would have issue with is perhaps breaking out the LEED AP as a stand alone.
Hi Rookwood,
It’s up to you how you want to learn the material. On eht real exam, however, you may find a few questions that go beyond “design team” and ask you for your knowledge of which engineers or member of the design team will make a decision.
If you believe you are familiar with this already, and don’t want to learn the specific designer or engineer, that is ok – but I go beyond design team to make sure people aren’t surprised when they take the real thing.
Regarding LEEDPASS, I’ve heard that there were quite a few mistakes, so I would be reluctant to trust the information in that guide. It’s really up to you.
Thanks for your purchase, rookwood, and best of luck to you!
If there are test questions regarding specific disciplines, then I agree that is what I should be learning.
With regards to LEEDPASS, I have seen it touted as one of the best out there. However, after a cursory review of LEEDPASS vs Walkthrough (I’ve had each less than 3 days), it appears that yours seems much more user “friendly”. After only a few pages up front, LEEDPASS becomes a “cut and paste” off the Reference Guide.
What I am doing is collecting as much data as I can, picking out the meat of each and creating my own sort of “highlight reel” in a word document. What I need to do is stop collecting all these materials (I have three 2″ binders full of data), read the Reference Guide simultaneous with your Walkthrough, and select one on-line outfit (Colorado? or Greenexamprep?) and begin concentrating on the test.
thank you so much for this great chart! This is what I’m getting wrong on the practice exams and I was a little freaked out having to go look for that info (my exam is on saturday!)THANKS!!!
Pat,
Is this the definitive chart? I have seen other materials that have different DM’s. Does the website or reference guide have a list we can look at?
Is all the material updated currently, cause i see that the chart has not been? it is definitely a great chart by the way!
Anyone knows what USGBC web links provide the info about decision makers? Thanks.
In Pat’s Decision Makers chart, CONTRACTOR is a decision maker in MR 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 BUILDING REUSE. But on page 240, Reference Guide, CONTRACTOR is NOT a decision maker for those three credits.
Could anyone please clarify this? Thanks.
Regarding the decision maker for MR 5.1 & 5.2, someone said that in the greenexamprep test, the correct answer was the owner, however, the Reference Guide shows it to be the Contractor on page 240 (3rd Ed. 2.2)
What is correct?
Hi,Pat
I could find some rule to determine decision maker for each credit in the chart.
Then, I’m not clear about Architect and LEED AP. When Architect and LEED AP can be decision maker in general?
Thanks,
Question from Building Green.com practice exam: What tool is most appropriate for assigning project team roles on a LEED project? correct answer: Leed Scorecard. What is the Leed scorecard? Is this the project checklist? Is the project team roles the same as the decision maker chart?
I don’t see any electrical engineer is involved in any LEED credit. Does this mean an EE out of bound of LEED certification process?
What do you suggest i use as a practice test, most cost effective off online?
Any info would help.
Thanks
Carl
PS I am Canadian and will test in Canada
In Pat’s Decision Makers chart, CONTRACTOR is a decision maker in MR 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 BUILDING REUSE. But on page 240, Reference Guide, CONTRACTOR is NOT a decision maker for those three credits.
Is the reference guide out of date? Thanks.
Can you help me imagine why the contractor is listed in 7.2 as a decision maker. He would be much more involved- for example, in 5.2 . .more site issues. &.2 is mostly design choices isnt it?
thanks
Pat,
I have noted a few issues with the LWT materials.
Credit 7.1 material states the site credit applies to the SITE. This only applies to hardscape of the site, parking, courtyard, walks, etc. Does not include roof area, or other open space areas.
On page 25 of the manual the word INCLUDE is missing a U and there is a gap.
The site credit implementation should correctly state that the EXISTING imperviousness of the site is (1) equal to or less than 50% or (b) greater than 50%. The worksheet page calls this out as IMPERVIOUS SURFACE of the site.
For Prereq EAp2 Your materials claim a 5 year phase out, the USGBC book claims a phase out at completion for HVAC unless its connected to a CWS. The walkthru materials seems to have its information reversed.
Comments appreciated.
i’m using a decision makers chart that i got from here – http://www.areforum.org/forums/forum12/84590.html
Is this chart up to date as of today? Or does it include the various changes that people have pointed out in these comments?
Hi Pat,
I am a little confused about the difference between the “decision makers” and the point advocates. For instance, in one of the practice exams it asks:
Which of the following people makes the final decision on MR Credit 5.1 Regional Materials?
A. Engineers
B. Contractors
C. Owner-Developers
D. Architects
The Credit Characteristics table as well as your Decision Makers table states that it is the architect and the contractor. I chose architect and was wrong. The answer was B. Contractors. Is there a chart or something that specifies who the actual point advoate is when several parties are involved in the decision making?
P.S. Thanks so much for the site! Its been a tremendous help!
Hi Pat,
This whole Decision Maker doesn’t really make sense to me and i notice their is not alot of info on it with exception to just memorizing it all (which their is already enough that needs to be memorized). Is their a formula or format or definition on what the role of the decision maker is or how the decision maker is determined for each credit?
Thanks and all your work is awesome!
Stephen
You’re right, for the amount of times these “name the final all-mighty decision maker” questions pop up on the practice and real exams you would think there would be an official chart by usgbc or another outside expert that explains who and why. I know for some credits it would be possible for there to be more than one final decision maker, as this chart shows, but thats never the way the question is written. Even the reference manual does a really bad job of covering this. The chart above is a good start. I took the time to try to solve this puzzle.
One thing I’ve noticed is that many of the construction submittal credits have the final say by the contractor, but there are a few exceptions.
Heres my list, feel free to critique!!…
* still unsure
SSP1 – Contractor
SS1 – Owner
SS2 – LEED AP
SS3 – Owner
SS4.1 – Owner
SS4.2 – Architect
SS4.3 – Owner
SS4.4 – Civil Eng
SS5.1 – Contractor
SS5.2 – Civil Eng
SS6.1 – Civil Eng
SS6.2 – Civil Eng
SS7.1 – Contractor
*SS7.2 – LEED AP
SS8 – Lighting Designer
WE1.1 – LArch
WE1.2 – LAarch
WE2 – Mech Eng
WE3.1 – Mech Eng
WE3.2 – Mech Eng
EAP1 – CxA
EAP2 – Mech Eng
EAP3 – Mech Eng
EA1 – Mech Eng
EA2 – Mech Eng
EA3 – CxA
EA4 – Mech Eng
EA5 – Mech Eng
EA6 – Owner
*MRP1 – Architect (Owner?)
*MR1.1 – Str Engineer (Architect?)
*MR1.2 – Str Engineer (Architect?)
*MR1.3 – Architect
MR2 thru 7 – Contractor
EQP1 – Mech Engineer
EQP2 – Owner
EQ1 – Mech Engineer
EQ2 – Mech Engineer
EQ3.1 – Contractor
EQ3.2 – Contractor
EQ4.1 – Contractor
Eq4.2 – Contractor
Eq4.3 – Architect
Eq4.4 – Contractor
*EQ5 – LEED AP
EQ6.1 – Mech Engineer
EQ6.2 – Mech Engineer
EQ7.1 – Mech Engineer
EQ7.2 – Owner
EQ8.1 – Architect
EQ8.2 – Architect
David, Thanks for the chart! Does anyone have certification that David’s * credits are correct?
Seriously, who ever put together this site is a god send! thank you sooo much! i have a week left to study and this info is helping soo much!
Pat, do you have a LEED EB Chart made up. I have a ton of NC charts but they are not the same as EB.
Thanks