Sustainability
5% of the examSustainability is 5% of the exam, blending green-building ratings with the environmental compliance that governs every jobsite. LEED is the flagship: administered by USGBC with certification through GBCI, with thresholds worth memorizing — Certified 40, Silver 50, Gold 60, Platinum 80. LEED work starts early; a team that waits for closeout to chase credits will impede move-in.
Compliance questions are concrete. Stormwater: an NPDES Construction General Permit and SWPPP when a site disturbs an acre or more, implemented through BMPs like silt fences and stabilized entrances. Hazardous materials: an asbestos survey before demolition of pre-1981 buildings, lead paint and PCBs handled under their own regimes, certain construction wastes regulated under RCRA. Spills: the CM's job is knowing who must be notified and ensuring it happens within required timeframes.
Strategically, sustainability criteria belong in the Design Management Plan, and life-cycle cost analysis is the economic engine that justifies efficiency investments — connecting this domain back to cost management.
Key concepts
- LEED thresholds: 40 / 50 / 60 / 80; USGBC and GBCI roles
- NPDES CGP + SWPPP at ≥1 acre disturbed; BMPs
- Asbestos surveys pre-1981; RCRA-regulated wastes
- Spill notification duties and timeframes
- Sustainability criteria in the Design Management Plan
- Life-cycle cost analysis as the justification engine
Exam tips
- Start LEED coordination during design, not closeout
- The 1-acre SWPPP trigger and the 1981 asbestos year are classic recall items
- Early integration is the cheapest integration — the exam rewards it consistently
37 practice questions in this domain
3 are in the free practice test; the rest unlock with premium.