ASHRAE Standards and LEED Green Associate Exam: What to Know

Photo Credit: Mer Chau Anyone who has studied for the LEED Green Associate exam knows how difficult it is to remember the four main ASHRAE standards referenced in the LEED rating systems. However, it’s nearly guaranteed that you will encounter one or more questions about the ASHRAE standards on the exam, so it’s in your best interest to memorize, memorize, memorize!

For example, you might see a question like this one on the exam:

MERV ratings for air filters are determined by which of the following standards?

A. ASHRAE 90.1

B. ENERGY STAR

C. ASHRAE 52.2

D. Greenguard

(See answer at the bottom of the article.)

Want more practice questions like this one? Once you've studied, try our 100 free practice questions to see how well you know the ASHRAE standards and other topics covered on the exam.

What Is ASHRAE?

ASHRAE is the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers. The organization develops standards related to the design of the indoor environment, and focuses on HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), energy use, and refrigeration.

ASHRAE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which essentially means that ASHRAE’s standards follow a specific process and meet certain requirements that make them legitimate.

The LEED rating systems reference ASHRAE standards in many credits, in some cases requiring the project to exceed these standards for certification.

The Four Standards to Know for the Exam

When studying for the LEED exam, try using memorization tricks to remember how to differentiate the ASHRAE standards. Some examples of these memorization tricks are included below.

ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1

Purpose: Provides minimum requirements for energy efficient building design. It addresses many building systems, including HVAC, lighting, the building envelope, and other equipment.
Keywords: Energy and lighting
Credits Referenced:
Sustainable Sites (SS) Credit 8: Light Pollution Prevention
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Performance
EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance
EA Credit 2: On-Site Renewable Energy
How to Remember: Sigmund Freud had an rrational fear of the number 62, probably because it meant he wouldn’t get enough fresh air.

ASHRAE/IESNA 62.1
Purpose: Provides minimum ventilation (fresh air) requirements for many types of facilities. The amount of ventilation required depends on the number of people occupying the space, whether the building is smokingor on-smoking, etc.
Keyword: Ventilation
Credits Referenced:
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Prerequisite 1, Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance
IEQ Credit 1, Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring
IEQ Credit 2, Increased Ventilation
IEQ Credit 6, Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort
How to Remember: The North and South Poles are at 90 degrees latitude, where it takes a lot of energy to keep their buildings warm.

ASHRAE 55
Purpose: Provides HVAC system performance requirements that ensure thermal comfort for occupants.
Keyword: Thermal comfort
Credits Referenced:
EQ Credit 6, Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort
IEQ Credit 7, Thermal Comfort - Design
How to Remember: 55 degrees is a comfortable temperature. (Note: This isn't neccessarily true, it's just how to remember it.)

ASHRAE 52.2
Purpose: Establishes methods for testing air filters for performance (how well they remove particulates from the air). “MERV”, or the minimum efficiency reporting value, measures the effectiveness of air filters.
Keywords: MERV filtration, air particulates
Credits Referenced:
IEQ Credit 3, Construction IAQ Management Plan During Construction
IEQ Credit 5, Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control
How to Remember: There are 52 weeks in a year, and you should probably change your air filters once a year. (Note: Again, this isn't neccessarily true.)

If you're looking for more memorization tips and tricks, Poplar's All-in-One LEED Green Associate study guide comes with a free memorization guide. Learn how to create "memory palaces" in your brain, develop power word associations, and more!

Answer to practice question: C

Photo credit: Mer Chau

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