I’ve seen a few sample questions ask about certain facts regarding a building’s environmental, health, and economic impact. These facts can also be good to know in case anyone asks you, “Why do you want to pass the LEED AP Exam?” (Or at least, these would be my answers…)Because…
“Commercial, institutional, and residential buildings account for approximately:
- 40% of global consumption of raw materials
- 30% of primary U.S. energy consumption
- 60% of U.S. electricity consumption
- 12% of U.S. potable water consumption, including 5 billion gallons a day for flushing toilets
- 136 million tons of construction and demolition debris – annually about 40% of the total U.S. solid waste stream of roughly 2.5 lbs. of solid waste per square foot of floor space for construction of a typical commercial building
- 35% of U.S.carbon dioxide emissions (a greenhouse gas)
- It’s estimated that U.S. businesses lose 60 to 400 billion dollars annually as a result of building-related illnesses.
- The average American spends 90% of their time indoors, so the potential for buildings to either adversely affect or positively support human health and productivity in the U.S. is therefore significant.”
These are straight off the USGBC Colorado Study Guide. It’s crazy to think about the numbers, but this is why this whole LEED movement is happening. Don’t waste too much time memorizing all of this information, it’s just good to know in case you run into a question involving these facts on exam day.All the best to you!
3 Comments On This Post
Hey – I just found your website, and have found it helpful. I dont know if this will help anyone else, but these are some sentances that i came up with to help remember the order of credits (i’m hoping to just write them all down when i first start taking the test, so they are there for me to remember)- I know they dont make sense, but its easier for me to remember a nonsense statement than the order of a bunch of credits!
Sustainable sites:
Construction sites develope dense brown cars: site storm water heats lights.
(for 4.1-4.4) busses and bikes help low emitting vehicles find parking.
Water:
50% down to none wastes water usage.
IEQ:
Minimum tobacco monitors more ventilation.
Indoor air has low emittance if you can control chemicles, lights, and comfort.
Materials & Resources:
collecting & building waste materials recyles regions rapidly, but certifiably.
Energy & Atmosphere:
Comission minimum refrigerant: optimize renewable comissioning: refrigerate to measure & verify green power.
Sarah-
Those are really awesome sentences! I wish I had those to help me memorize the credits when I was first starting to study for LEED AP.
I’ll see if I can somehow incorporate these into a post in the near future for everyone to see. I’ll make sure to give you “credit” for them.
=)
Thanks Sarah! Cheers!
Hey Pat,
Don’t know if this means a whole lot, but the percentages for energy consumption and electricity consumption are 37% and 68% respectively. Thanks for all your help!
Sam