Sustainable design Midterm
Residential buildings consume approximately how much of the energy produced in the US?
21%
Advanced framing can save as much as ___% of the wood required to frame a house
25%
A typical 2,000ft home generates how much landfill waste
4 tons
Erosion control measures should contain how much sediment on the site
50%
What is the typical recycled content of fiberglass insulation?
50%
What is the typical recycled content of cellulose insulation?
75%
The average American spends how much time indoors
90%
A contractor must possess which credential in order to certify a home as ENERGY STAR complaint?
HERS Rater
Which is generally not a problem associated with well-sealed and insulated homes?
High humidity in warm months
Which of the following is not a feature of advanced framing?
Higher cost
Which item below does not reduce the amount of concrete used in a foundation?
ICFs
When should crawl spaces be vented?
In all dry climates
When should crawl spaces not be conditioned?
In flood-prone areas
If the blower door test of an existing house resulted in a reading of 0.30 ACHnatural, what would be a recommended course of action?
Indoor air quality testing
Which of the following is the most cost-effective method to reduce solar gain through an existing windows?
Installation of solar screens
Which of the following is not a benefit of windows, doors, and skylights.
Insulation
Which of the following building materials has the least embodied energy
Kiln-dried, treated timber
Which of the following is a national green building program?
LEED for homes
What NFRC ratings are best for south-facing windows in a cold climate?
Low U-factor, High SHGC
What is ENERGY STAR?
Federal program for appliances and homes
What is the most critical component of roof design
Water management
Which of the following roofs has the highest initial solar reflectance according to the cool roof rating council (CRRC)
White polyvinyl Chloride
What foundation type is best suited to a flood-prone site?
Pier
Which foundation is the best choice when there are large trees close to the house?
Pier
What foundation type has no radon risk?
Piers
What is the best method of protecting topsoil for future re-use?
Pile topsoil and cover with seed and straw
Which foundation type does not include integrated insulation?
Poured-in-place concrete
What building materials may contain CCA?
Pressure-treated wood
Which is not a benefit of prefabricated foundations?
Provides improved earthquake resistance
Which of the following is not a characteristic of timber framing?
Provides wide-open flexible spaces
According to the US department of energy, how much insulation is recommended in a ceiling in climate zone 3?
R-30
Which of the following is not part of the NFRC rating system?
R-value
What is the purpose of a low-E coating
Reduce infrared light passing through glass
Which is the most effective method to ventilate an unconditioned attic?
Ridge vents with gable end vents
WHich of the following techniques is not considered advanced framing?
Right-sized headers
Which wall sheathing is nonstructural
Rigid foam
Which system does not provide for a conditioned attic?
SIPS
Which of the following is a renewable energy source?
Solar photovoltaics
What solar reflectance is most appropriate in a cold climate
Solar reflectance is most appropriate in a cold climate
In the northern hemisphere, the majority of a home's glazing should face which direction?
South
Which is the best face to maximize windows in a cold climate?
South
Which of the following is not a component of building envelope
Stairwell wall in uninsulated basement
Which assembly has the most thermal bridging?
Steel stud wall with OSB sheathing
Which wall construction method does not reduce thermal bridging?
Steel-stud framing
What solar reflectance into a two-story wall?
Step
What type of flashing must be installed where a roof eave terminates into a two-story wall?
Step
Which of the following structural system is most susceptible to termites?
Stick framing
Wood framing is commonly treated with borate to prevent which of the following
Termites
Which is not true of radiant barriers?
They should be in direct contact with insulation
What is the purpose of the blower door test?
To calculate envelope leakage
True or false: stick-framing projects treated with a mold inhibitor dont require the same amount of moisture management as traditional framing.
True
What is the most important rating for fenestration in hot climate?
U-factor
An entrance with no steps, wide hallways, and spacious rooms are all hallmarks of what kind of design?
Universal
Which of the following is a feature of all energy efficient mortgages?
Utility savings added to borrowers income
Typically, how much construction waste is recyclable
two thirds
Which of the following is not structurally integrated insulation
Air Keefe
Which of the following do not help eliminate ice dams?
Air sealing at ceiling and knee walls
Which of the following situations would suggest not using an unconditioned attic?
Air source heat pump in attic
Which of the following techniques helps to eliminate moisture movement between the ground and concrete foundation walls?
Capillary break on top of footing
Smaller homes that meet the occupants needs will result in:
Cheaper mortgages
What is a simple payback?
Cost of upgrade divided by energy savings
Which of the following is the purpose of warm edge glass spacers?
Decrease heat loss
Which of the following is appropriate for air sealing around windows and doors?
Durable, flexible caulk
Which of the following is required for a home to be certified green?
Energy efficient
Which insulation has an R-value of 5 per inch?
Extruded polystyrene (XPS)
Which of the following is not an engineered wood product?
FSC certified wood stud
Which of the following is preferable for home construction
New subdivision
Which of the following products is not an air barrier
OSB Sheathing
Which of the following situations would suggest using a conditioned attic
Open combustion furnace in attic
In a cold climate, low-E coating should be applied to which glass surface?
Outside of interior plane
During construction, which of the following will help minimize erosion?
Phase soil disturbance to only occur as needed.
