How many impact categories are defined in LEED v4 according to the material?

• A. Five
• B. Nine
• C. Seven
• D. Four

Answer: (C)

LEED v4 uses seven impact categories to organize the rating system. These categories group the credits by the main areas where a project can influence sustainability, from where and how a project sits in its location and site, through how water, energy, materials, and indoor environments are managed, to broader performance concerns. This seven-category structure keeps the approach balanced, ensuring teams address site and location, resource use, and occupant health together rather than focusing on a single area. The number seven is the official framework for LEED v4; other numbers would not align with how the system is organized. Credits like Innovation or Regional Priority exist within that seven-category structure, but they don’t add extra categories themselves.