LEED AP with Operations and Maintenance (O+M ) Practice Exam

If a project demonstrates energy efficiency of 40% better than typical buildings, how many points will it earn under EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance?

1. 10 points

2. 15 points

3. 20 points

4. 25 points

The correct answer is: 15 points

The project earns 15 points under the EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance by demonstrating energy efficiency that is 40% better than typical buildings. This credit is designed to reward projects for implementing strategies that improve energy performance beyond standard benchmarks. In the context of LEED, the energy performance is evaluated against a baseline, which is typically modeled using the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) standards. The point thresholds are established based on the extent of improvement over this baseline. Achieving a 40% improvement signifies a substantial enhancement of energy efficiency, which is recognized as a significant achievement within the LEED rating systems. The points are tiered, meaning that different levels of performance improvement correspond to different point totals. In this case, the tier associated with a performance improvement of 40% specifically qualifies for 15 points. Projects achieving lower percentages of improvement would earn fewer points, while those exceeding this threshold would earn more, according to the established point distribution. Therefore, the result of 15 points accurately reflects the level of energy performance achieved.