Sustainability

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

ratio of energy entering through window to total energy incident on window. Lower number the better

what is the pathway to designing an energy efficient bldg

reduce loads passive systems active systems integrative systems onsite renewal offsite renewal

what is commissioning

service where commissioner agents inspect energy systems performs as supposed.

What is ecology?

study of interactions of organisms and they environment. Ecology is organized by orgnisms/population/communities/ecosystems/biosphere

portable water

treated drinking water

Why are parking areas bad for the environmrnt

urban heat island effect rain takes pollution into waterways more heat produced takes more electricity to cool

OPEC embargo 1973

led the way to energy efficient consciousness, car for example

Low E

microscopic coating that reflects infrared and ultraviolet rays and lets in visible light

CO2 monitors

monitor the amount of fresh air needed in a room according to its occupancy at a single time. Other sensors are: daylight dimming/occupancy lighting sensors/equip loads (sleep systems/smart strips?energy star quip)

What does the term "Net Zero" mean?

A building that makes as much energy as it uses

Ozone

A gas that if in stratosphere is good bc protects us from harmful sunrays. If in troposphere is bad, this case comes from pollution in air reacting to sunlight. Main ingredient is smog.

What is the "Antropocene"

A geological Age described as the dominant influence of human activity as shaping the nature of the environment

What is the 2nd law of thermodynamics?

A law of physics that describes entropy as the flow of energy from a more excited state to a less excited state (and the movement of heat from hot to cold)

What is 'xeriscaping'?

A practice of installing native and drought tolerant plants and landscape features to eliminate the need for irrigation

What is a greenfield site?

A site that has not been developed

What is a Renewable Energy Credit (REC)?

A system of offsetting the amount of non -renewable electricity used by purchasing credits to support the growth of renewable energy sources feeding in to the grid

Which agency sets up minimum energy requirements for various building components (HVAC, electricity, wall insulation, windows, roofs etc.) based on various building locational region or zone in the United States?

ASHRAE

biomass matter sources

Agricultural food and feed crop residues Aquatic plants like alage Wood and wood residues

All of the following contribute to creating heat islands:

Asphalt parking lots Dark roofs

Biophilia vs Biomimicry

Biophilia - designing using nature. Improving health and well being using nature in design Biomimicry - to look at nature's processes to solve problems

What is the name of the report that defined the 3 pillars of sustainability as we use them today?

Brundtland Report

Origin of sustainable movement

Brundtland report in 1987 or WCED Our Common Future

LEED certification rating

Certified - 40-49 Silver - 50-59 Gold - 60-79 Platinum - +80

Federal act that regulates vocs

Clean Air act (EPA)

Which underfloor air distribution system provides the opportunity for individual occupant control of the air flow

Displacement ventilation system (Underfloor air distribution is a type of "Displacement Ventilation" where we pump air in at the breathing zone. When delivered at though a floor, you can have movable personalized air grilles in the floor that occupants can open or close manually to fit their needs. )

All of the following are strategies for saving water and reducing indoor potable water use:

Dual Flush Toilets Aerators on faucets using capture rainwater to flush toilets

Which answer below is a certificate program created to provide energy efficiency?

ENERGY STAR

EPD vs HPD

EPD - Environment Product Declaration - manufacture declares environmental impact of their product and its Life Cycle HPD- Health Product Declaration - manufacture declares health impact, standardized

Perkins

Earth as modified by human action: man and nature

Thermal mass

Every mass retains heat and radiates it. So can heat with concrete that takes up heat during the day and radiates it at night.

"Climate Change" and "Weather Changes" are the same thing

False

What is the phases of Life Cycle Analysis as defined by ISO?

Goal Definition and Scoping Inventory Analysis Impact Assessment Interpretation (happens throughout)

The highest R-values are assigned to the materials that provide the ___________

Greatest amount of insulation and the greatest resistance to heat flow

R value

Insulation of wall, roofs and floors. has to do with capacity of a material to resist heat flow. Lower the R value, lower insulation.

Kyoto Protocol

International treaty that stated CO2 is culprit of climate change caused by humans. Nations must come together.

Why is night time light pollution a problem?

It can affect our safety as it takes time for human eyes to adjust from dark to light surroundings It limits our view of the night sky It can adversely affect sleep and migration patterns of nocturnal animals

Living Bldg Challenge vs LEED

LBC - creates more energy than it takes to zero energy voluntary certi program categories are petals higher stakes than LEED no optional credits, must do all of requirements

What does the LEED acronym stand for?

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

What are LEED's core credit category?

Location Transportation Sustainable Sites Water efficiency Energy and Atmosphere Materials and Resources Indoor Environment Quality Innovation in Design Integrative Design Regional Priority

All of the following are qualities of an energy efficient window assembly

Low -E Glass Low U-Value Low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

What is sustainability?

Meeting needs of present without compromising ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Which global environmental policy outlawed the manufacturing of CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) often used in refrigerants caused a hole in the ozone layer?

Montreal Protocol

Good insulated window

Multiple panes of glass. Low e coating Non-metal frames and spacers

MOntreal Protocol

Nations came together to ban CFC from atmosphere and reduce ozone layer hole.

Which of the following is not considered biomass matter?

Natural gas

Why would exponential growth of the human population cause stress on the environment?

People use finite natural resources to create food and energy. As the population grows, the use of these resources (like coal) increases, thus harming the planet

The following are all ways to define the 3 pillars of sustainability

People, Planet, Profit /Social, Environmental, Economy

solar hot water vs solar pv panels

Photovoltaic panels are solar cells built out of silicon that reacts to sun creating a positive charge that generates electricity. Solar hot water is a tube filled with gel that heats up from solar energy and heats up water to use in home.

All of the following are passive design strategy to take advantage of solar gain in the winter AND block the sun the summer:

Planting deciduous trees near windows on the south side of a building Long roof overhangs on the south side of a building Elongating a building on the east/ west axis to increase the surface area of the north/ south exposure

what is point source pollution?

Pollution that derives from one source. Ie: noise pollution, light pollution, thermal pollution, sewage pipe, chimney.

What is non-point source pollution?

Pollution that derives from various sources. Combined effect of pollution that derives from various sources. Ie: Runoff water from parking lots/runways, etc

Porous and open grid pavement

Porous asphalt lets rain seep in and reach ground open grid uses grid pattern with cement and vegetation that allows water to reach ground

Which one single sustainable strategy in building design can have a ripple effect on all of the other needs of a building?

Reduced building footprint and the square footage (Yes! The size of a building affects the amount of materials needed, maintenance, embodied energy, how much energy is needed to heat, cool, and light the place, site disturbance, and more. The smaller the building, the better the environmental impact.)

Muir

Sierra club founder and led creation of national parks

Rachel Carson

Silent Spring, 1962 led to EPA, national ban on ddt, pesticides awareness. Start of env. movement in US

Sun's path and strategies

Sun is on south side of bldg - high in summer and low in winter To help use sun passively elongate bldg on east west axis Sleeping quarters on south side and living quarters on north side Decidious trees on south side. Block summer sun.

Brownfield remediation

To rehabilitate a site with potential hazardous content in it for resume.

Solid waste generation by country

US China Brazil Japan Germany

What is Geothermal Heat Exchange?

Using the earth's underground temperature to heat or cool water or air (Remember the earth's surface is a consistent 50-60 degrees all over the planet when you go between 5-10 feet below the surface. Geothermal heat exchange uses coils to pre heat or cool. )

Which of the following is an example of biomimicry?

Velcro technology made by studying the way lizards stick to surfaces

What does VOC stand for?

Volatile Organic Compound

What did the Kyoto Protocol do?

Was a global environmental policy acknowledging that CO2 and green house gasses causes global warming

Rocks, Wind, and Dirt are ------- parts of the environment are

abiotic

Thoreau

about beauty and nature

LEED Professionals are ---- and buildings are ----- Who certifies and gives accreditation for LEED? Why?

accredited/certified GBCI - Green Building Council Inc So that is not biased.

Sustainable reasons to live in urban environment

already built infrastructure

current sources of world energy`

coal/gas/hydro/nuclear/oil

Energy Information Administration studies

collects, analyses, disseminates independent and impartial energy info to promote sound policymaking

Strategies to reduce water for irrigation

drilling capture rainwater water sensors xeriscaping (native plants, drought resistant plants)

Ways to reduce stromwater runoff

fencing vegetative buffer rainwater capture detention ponds removal of tss basically work to reduce quantity of runoff and quality by filtration

stack effect

form of passive ventilation where hot air rises and pushes cold air in toward bottom. like termite house. displacement ventilations (raised floor)/ heat recovering ventilation (cross ventilation)/cilled beams on ceiling

Measuring Environ. Footprint

how much biologically productive area is required to produce the resources required by the human population and to absorb humanity's carbon dioxide emissions.

U Value

insulation of window. Rate of heat loss. Lower U factor, greater insulation