2. Site and Environment Flashcards

1
Q

6 - What are the 4 fundamentals of life cycle assessment (LCA)?

A
  • Selection of a GREEN / MULTIDISCIPLINARY team
  • Establishment of SUSTAINABLE GOALS early in proj.
  • INVOLVEMENT of AHJ & community @ early stages
  • EDUCATION to promote sustainable design & continuous improvement of buildings.
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2
Q

28 - What are the negative effects of standard stormwater management design? 3

A

Impervious surfaces quickly diverting water that falls on-site to nearby bodies of water:
• depleting aquifers and lowering water tables across canada (better to allow water to percolate into soil, via pervious in watershed it falls on)
• discharge point can flood, become eroded or contaminated (impacting stream side habitat)

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3
Q

22 - How can we mitigate the heat island effect? (4)

A
  • green roof
  • light coloured and highly reflective roof
  • light coloured and highly reflective hardscape
  • provide ample shade with vegetation
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4
Q

12 - Who produces the Green Building Challenge (GBC) What does it measure? (5 measures)

A
Produced by an international collaborative
• energy consumption
• embodied energy
• emissions
• thermal comfort
• air quality
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5
Q

13 - Who was the BREEAM Green Leaf rating system developed for and what does it measure?

A

Building owners + managers

• tenant satisfaction (therm comfort, security, layout)

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6
Q

20 - How can we best mitigate site disturbance through site selection?

A

Locate on previously damaged areas, ideally in urban developed areas where it makes sense. 2nd to that, minimize footprint as much as possible.

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7
Q

7 - What are the 6 principals stages for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

A
  • initial design
  • prefabrication
  • construction
  • operation + maintenance
  • demo (deconstruction)
  • disposal
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8
Q

2 - What approx. % of worldwide energy is used on HVAC systems?

A

40%

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9
Q

9 - When does measurement & verification of the mechanical units occur (2 stages), and what tools are used during each stage?

A
1 - During design
• simulations
• prescriptive
2 - During construction & operations
• commissioning
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10
Q

26 - Where should coniferous and deciduous trees be planted in relation to site orientation for a sustainable design?

A

Evergreens: N, NE, NW this will protect from cold winds and provide shade
Deciduous: S, SE, SW this will provide shade during summer months and light/heat gain during winter

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11
Q

29 - What are 3 types of ultra low flow toilets?

A
  • GRAVITY FLUSH - relies solely on weight of water to clear toilet
  • PRESSURE ASSISTED OR FLUSH VALVE
  • VACCUUM-ASSISTED
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12
Q

25 - How is structural control over destabilized soil achieved?

A
  • Earth dikes
  • silt fences
  • sediment traps
  • basins
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13
Q

23 - Where should the Architect indicate that precautions must be taken to mitigate disruption to vegetation, run-off of soil and contaminants during construction?

A

This should be outlined in div. 1 of the specification.

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14
Q

15 - What 4 main factors should be considered during site selection?

A
  • process for site selection
  • opportunities for urban development
  • opportunities for brownfield redevelopment
  • transportation
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15
Q

24 - How is soil stabilization commonly achieved?

A

Temporary and permanent seeding and mulching

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16
Q

5 - What are the 2 main objectives in green building design?

A
  • Modify conventional design processes

* Include methods to measure and verify environmental performance

17
Q

17 - What 3 considerations should be given to selection of an economically viable site?

A
  • short + long term profitability
  • industrial ecology
  • proximity of the supply of key goods + services
18
Q

4 - What is the IPCC?

A

International Panel on Climate Change

19
Q

16 - What are 4 reasons it is beneficial to build within existing urban areas?

A
  • increased efficiency in INFRASTRUCTURE
  • protection of existing ECOSYSTEMS & greenfield sites
  • strengthening of existing commercial, social, and cultural COMMUNITIES.
  • reduction of urban/suburban SPRAWL
20
Q

10 - Who produced the MNECB and why?

A

National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
MODEL National Energy Code for Buildings
These codes establish min. standards that can be adopted as regulations by the AHJ

21
Q

27 - Why should offsite water dependancy be reduced and how?

A
  • will reduce capital costs of infrastructure and associated maintenance
  • harvest rain / grey water
22
Q

19 - List 6 major NEGATIVE environmental impacts of buildings, inc. construction:

A
  • site disturbance
  • erosion + sediment deposits
  • water pollution
  • loss of ecosystems
  • creation of heat islands
  • light pollution
23
Q

14 - Who produces the LEED Rating System and what does it measure?

A

CAGCB or USGBC

• environmental performance criteria over the building’s life cycle

24
Q

21 - How can civil minimize the negative impact of site design? (6)

A
  • absorb as much water on-site as possible
  • avoid curbs + culverts
  • avoid asphalt (use pervious material - gravel)
  • contour parking lots around trees and existing natural grade - no need to be flat
  • save every tree possible
  • for every tree removed plant 2
25
Q

18 - 3 recommendations and architect can give to the owner to promote low-impact transportation options:

A
  • transit subsidies rather than parking passes
  • shared company vehicles
  • include changing / shower facilities for cyclists
26
Q

3 - How does Canada rank among other countries for energy consumption per capita? What is the average carbon footprint per capita for canadians?

A

• Canada is the highest energy consumer per capita
• 7 hectares/person
(compared to world average of 1.9 hectares/person)

27
Q

11 - Who produced ASHRAE and what does it focus on? (3)

A

US standard
produced by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

  • building envelope
  • building systems
  • equipment
28
Q

30 - What can changes to legislation and policy can the AHJ make to improve water efficiency in the built environment?

A
  • standards for efficient fixtures
  • imposing efficient water use amendments to building codes
  • promoting and studying wastewater technologies
  • adopting and enforcing provincial regional, and municipal water conservation policies / by-laws / legislation
29
Q

1 - What % of the world’s raw materials are used on buildings?

A

40%

30
Q

8 - How should building systems be viewed by the team in a successful Integrated Design Approach (IDA)?

A

All building should be viewed as INTERDEPENDENT