LEED Green Associate Practice Test

Rain gardens are primarily designed to do what?

1. Improve air quality

2. Manage stormwater and promote infiltration

3. Provide recreational space

4. Reduce urban heat islands

The correct answer is: Manage stormwater and promote infiltration

Rain gardens are primarily designed to manage stormwater and promote infiltration. These landscaped areas are strategically placed to capture runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways, and streets. By allowing water to infiltrate into the soil, rain gardens help recharge groundwater supplies and reduce the volume of stormwater that would otherwise flow into drainage systems. This process mitigates flooding, erosion, and contamination of local waterways, thereby enhancing the overall management of stormwater in urban environments. The other options, while they may have some relevance in broader discussions about green infrastructure, do not represent the primary function of rain gardens. For instance, while rain gardens can contribute to improved air quality as a secondary benefit through vegetation growth, that is not their main design purpose. Similarly, providing recreational space is not a focused goal, as rain gardens are typically more functional than recreational. Lastly, reducing urban heat islands can occur due to the cooling effects of vegetation in rain gardens, but again, this is a secondary outcome rather than the main objective.