Term
What constitutes the largest use of energy in buildings in the United States?
a) Space cooling
b) Space heating
c) Electric lighting
d) Water heating |
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Definition
B
According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration, 38% of all energy used within buildings is used for space heating. Lighting is the second largest |
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Term
Green building emphasizes using what type of design process?
a) Linear
b) Multistage
c) Integrative
d) Tiered
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Definition
C) Integrative design
In a conventional linear design, disciplinary boundaries can lead to inefficient solutions. Integrative design, conversely, brings together owners, operators ,architects, engineers, and other stakeholders to identify cross-disciplinary opportunities to improve the environmental performance of building projects. |
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Term
What are the three dimensions of sustainability often described as the triple bottom line or the three-legged stool.
a) Economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility
b) Economic theory, cultural agendas, and global variety
c) Energy efficiency, water efficiency, and indoor enviornmental quality
d) Government standrds, building codes, and building practices |
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Definition
A
The conventional bottom line evaluates only economic prosperit. The triple bottom line, in contrast, is a way to evaluate performance relative to overall impact, including the human and environmental effects associated with performance. |
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Term
Life-cycle assessment is used to determine the ____?
a) Balance of natural cycles such as the hydrogen cycle
b) Enviornmental aspects and potential impacts of a given product
c) Life span of a building and its components
d) Environmental systems affected over the life of a building |
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Definition
B
Life-cycle assessment is a method used to analyze the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service. (LEED Referance Guide for Green Building Opperations & Maintenance, 2009 Edition, page 499) |
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Term
When is the best time to incorporate an integrative approach for a building project?
a) Predesign
b) Schematic design
c) Design development
d) Construction documents
e) Construction |
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Definition
A) Predesign
The predesign period of an environmentally responsive design process is the first phase in the development of a project. Bringing professionals together as early as possible in the process decreases the barriers to implementing innovative strategies such as passive thermal comfort and links between the site and the building. |
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Term
Credit weightings are based on ___?
a) Relative costs and benefits of each credit
b) Environmental impacts and human benefits
c) Carbon footprint and embodied energy
d) Expected environmental performance |
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Definition
B) Environmental impacts and human benefits
LEED credits are weighted based on their relative importance. Credits that most directly address the most important environmental impacts and human benefits are given the greatest weight. |
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Term
Implementation of green building strategies such as daylighting, passive cooling, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and stack ventilation contributes to what type of cost savings?
a) Reduced first costs
b) Reduced maintenance costs
c) Reduced life-cycle costs
d) Reduced end-of-life costs
e) Reduced imminent costs |
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Definition
C) Reduced life-cycle costs
Life-cycle cost analysis considers the long-term costs of building materials and design strategies. |
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Term
The installation of low-flow faucet aerators at hand washing stations will result in which of the following (select two)?
a) Reduced hours of occupancy
b) Reduced energy use
c) Reduced water use
d) Increased occupatn productivity
e) Reduced stormwater runoff |
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Definition
B & C, Reduced energy and water use
Reducing the flow of water at hand-washing stations results in less water used per minute, thereby decreasing the total water used when washing hands. This in turn results in less hot water use, thereby decreasing the energy used to heat water. |
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Term
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Definition
Capable of decomposing under natural conditions. (EPA) |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of greenhouse gas emissions associated with an activity. A comprehensive carbon footprint includes building construction, operation, energy use, building-related transportation, and the embodied energy of water, solid waste, and construction materials. |
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Term
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Definition
A basic unit of nature that includes a community of organisms and their nonliving environment linked by biological, chemical, and physical processes.
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Term
| define: Environmental Sustainability |
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Definition
| Long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations. (EPA) |
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Term
| define: High-Performance Green Building |
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Definition
| A structure designed to conserve water and energy; use space, materials, and resources efficiently; minimize construction waste; and create a healthful indoor environment. |
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Term
| define: Integrated Design Team |
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Definition
| All the individuals involved in a building project from early in the desing process, including the design professionals, the owner's representatives, and the general contractor and subcontractors. |
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Term
| define: Life-Cycle Assessment |
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Definition
| An analysis of the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service. |
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Term
| define: Market Transformation |
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Definition
| Systematic improvements in the performance of a market or market segment. For example, EPA's Energy Star program has shifted the performance of homes, buildings, and appliances toward higher levels of energy efficiency by providing recognition and comparative performance information through its Energy Star labels. |
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Term
| define: Regenerative Design |
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Definition
| Sustainable plans for built environments that inprove existing conditions. Regenerative design goes beyond reducing impacts to create positive change in the local and global environments. |
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Term
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Definition
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
-(Brundtland Commission) |
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