When defining the boundary of a project site on an urban waterfront, a dock to be constructed by the developer can be included. This is because it is a planned and integral part of the project's development. Other options like houseboats, marinas, or jetties that were in place prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy or the date of property acquisition are generally not included in the project boundary as they were not part of the project's initial development plans. LEED requires that all project-related infrastructure, especially those constructed as part of the project, be included within the project boundary.

Installing highly efficient street lights and traffic lights throughout a neighborhood project contributes directly to the Infrastructure Energy Efficiency credit. This credit encourages the use of energy-efficient infrastructure to reduce the overall energy consumption of the project. By using efficient lighting, the project can lower its operational energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to the sustainability goals of the neighborhood.

For the Green Infrastructure and Buildings Credit: Infrastructure Energy Efficiency, the baseline energy use is an important metric. The goal of this credit is to encourage the use of energy-efficient infrastructure components such as lighting, pumps, and water distribution systems. To determine energy efficiency improvements, the baseline must be established based on standard practice for infrastructure elements.

Option B: the lowest first-cost infrastructure item assumed for the project is the correct answer. In this context, the baseline energy use refers to the energy consumption of the least expensive, standard infrastructure items that would normally be used in the project if no energy efficiency measures were implemented. This establishes the base case against which the energy performance improvements of more efficient systems can be measured. LEED then rewards projects that exceed this baseline with more energy-efficient infrastructure solutions (Reference: LEED v4 ND Reference Guide).

Option A: current infrastructure items used by IgCC standard is incorrect because the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) may be a helpful reference for sustainable construction, but it is not used as the baseline for this LEED credit.

Option C: infrastructure items recommended by the National Lighting Safety Institute is also incorrect. While this organization may provide guidelines on lighting safety, it is not relevant to the energy baseline determination.

Option D: a 15% increase above the minimum requirements for infrastructure items in the state's energy code is not applicable, as the baseline is determined by the lowest-cost infrastructure, not by a predetermined increase above state energy code requirements.

Thus, the baseline for energy use in this credit is determined by the lowest-cost, conventional infrastructure items, making Option B the correct answer (Reference: LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development).

For LEED credits that require bicycle storage as well as shower and changing facilities, the shower requirement can be met in office buildings by providing free access to a health club shower within the building. This option allows the project to comply with the intent of the LEED credit by ensuring that employees who cycle to work have convenient access to facilities that allow them to clean up and change, thereby promoting cycling as a viable commuting option. Offering free access to showers at a health club located within the same building ensures that the facilities are easily accessible and available to all employees, which meets the LEED requirements for this credit.

LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development, Current Version

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development

The calculation of an overall annual heating and/or cooling consumption reduction using an energy efficiency model is directly related to optimizing the energy performance of infrastructure in the development. This aligns with the Green Infrastructure and Buildings Credit for Infrastructure Energy Efficiency. The intent of this credit is to minimize the energy demand and enhance the efficiency of energy systems within the project. By demonstrating a reduction in energy consumption through a model, the project can document compliance with the criteria set forth in this credit, which focuses on energy-efficient infrastructure such as street lighting, public buildings, and central plants.

LEED v4 Neighborhood Development Guide: The guide specifies that the Infrastructure Energy Efficiency credit involves improving the energy efficiency of infrastructure, which includes heating and cooling systems (USGBC, LEED v4 Neighborhood Development Current Version).

LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development: This reference elaborates on the acceptable methods for documenting energy efficiency improvements, including the use of energy models to demonstrate reduced consumption (USGBC, LEED Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development).

USGBC Official Website: The website outlines the Green Infrastructure and Buildings category and the Infrastructure Energy Efficiency credit, providing guidance on the use of energy models for credit documentation (USGBC, LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System).