Chapter 6: Sustainable Sites

Question 1

Albedo

Answer 1

A metric to define the reflectivity of an object from the darkest black to white using a scale from 0 to 1

Question 2

Aquifer

Answer 2

A body of saturated rock through which water can easily move

Question 3

Biodiversity

Answer 3

The variety of all life on earth including plants, animals, insects, micro-organisms, and humans

Question 4

Bioswale

Answer 4

A constructed rainwater control feature containing an engineered basin, soil, stone, and vegetation designed to reduce rainwater runoff and increase groundwater recharge.

Question 5

Building Footprint

Answer 5

The area of ground that the building occupies as defined by its perimeter.

Question 6

Dry Pond

Answer 6

An excavated area designed to hold rainwater during a rain event, but is dry when there is no precipitation.

Question 7

Ecosystem

Answer 7

A complex set of interconnected relationships between the living organisms of a specific place that form a system, including plants, trees, animals, fish, birds, micro-organisms, water, soil, and humans.

Question 8

Floor-Area Raito (FAR)

Answer 8

The density of nonresidential land use, exclusive of structured parking, measured as the total nonresidential building floor area divided by the total buildable land area available for nonresidential structures.

Question 9

Green Infrastructure (GI)

Answer 9

The patchwork of natural areas that provide habitat, flood protection, clean air, and clean water at the scale of a city or county, or rainwater management systems that mimic nature by soaking up and storing water at the scale of a neighborhood or site.

Question 10

Heat Island Effect

Answer 10

The absorption of solar heat by hardscapes such as roofs, roads, parking lots, and sidewalks, and includes other sources such as automobiles, HVAC equipment, and street and building lighting.

Question 11

Impervious

Answer 11

The characteristic of a material preventing the penetration of liquids and/or gases.

Question 12

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Answer 12

A sustainable approach of controlling pest infestation and damage in an economical way while minimizing hazards to people, property, and the environment.

Question 13

Light Trespass

Answer 13

The spillage of light across a project boundary onto neighboring sites.

Question 14

Low Impact Development (LID)

Answer 14

A land management strategy that emulates natural systems to manage rainwater as close to its source as possible.

Question 15

Native and Adapted Species

Answer 15

Plants that are either native to the region or have adapted to the region and require little to no irrigation.

Question 16

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Answer 16

Water pollution caused by pollutants, such as gasoline, oil, salt, and fertilizers, which are washed into the nearest water bodies by rainwater runoff.

Question 17

Pervious

Answer 17

The characteristic of a material allowing the penetration of liquids and/or gases

Question 18

Rain Garden

Answer 18

A depressed area of ground containing soil, stone, and vegetation that is designed to catch and slow rainwater.

Question 19

Rainwater Harvesting

Answer 19

Precipitation captured with a cistern or other catchment device from outside the building for use in irrigation, flush fixtures, or building processes, but not for potable uses.

Question 20

Rainwater Runoff

Answer 20

Water from precipitation that runs off of impervious hardscapes in the built environment such as sidewalks, roofs, and parking lots, into the nearest water bodies and sewer systems.

Question 21

Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)

Answer 21

A metric from 0 to 100 that measures how well a material reflects solar heat, with higher numbers signifying better reflectance.

Question 22

Watershed

Answer 22

The area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes to the same place.

Question 23

Xeriscaping

Answer 23

Landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate potable water use in irrigation through the planting of native and adapted species of vegetation and the use of other water-conserving techniques.

Question 24

What is the intent of the Sustainable Sites Category?

Answer 24

To reduce the environmental impact of developing a building site and maintaining it for the life of the building.

Question 25

What are the 2 intents of the Site Design and Management Credits?

Answer 25

1) To guide the construction and management of the project throughout its lifetime to limit environmental destruction inherent to building
2) To make use of existing site features to enhance overall sustainability and occupant experience

Question 26

7 Site Design and Management Strategies?

Answer 26

1) Prevent Construction Pollution
2) Protect and Restore Habitat
3) Reduce Size of the Building Footprint
4) Increase Site Density
5) Maximize Open Space
6) Plant Native and Adopted Species
7) Develop a Sustainable Site Management Plan

Question 27

What is the intent of the Rainwater Management Credit?

Answer 27

To reduce rainwater runoff and improve water quality by duplicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the site based on historical conditions and undeveloped ecosystems in the region.

Question 28

4 Rainwater Management Strategies?

Answer 28

1) Reduce Impervious Hardscapes
2) Implement Rainwater Management
3) Use Passive Rainwater Management
4) Use Active Rainwater Management

Question 29

What is Passive Rainwater Management?

Answer 29

A system that redirects rainwater to planted areas where it is allowed to saturate the soil.

Question 30

What is Active Rainwater Management?

Answer 30

A system that captures, stores, and later transports rainwater by another means to a desired application area.

Question 31

4 Sustainable Sites Credit Categories

Answer 31

1) Site Design and Management
2) Rainwater Management
3) Heat Island
4) Light Pollution

Question 32

What is the intent of the Heat Island Credit?

Answer 32

To reduce heat islands and minimize their effects on regional climates, human health, and wildlife habitats.

Question 33

2 Heat Island Strategies

Answer 33

1) Reduce Exposed Hardscapes

2) Use High-Reflectance Materials

Question 34

3 Main Forms of Light Pollution

Answer 34

1) Uplight
2) Glare
3) Light Trespass

Question 35

What is the intent of the Light Pollution Credit?

Answer 35

To avoid poor lighting design that creates light pollution and other environmental problems.

Question 36

2 Light Pollution Strategies

Answer 36

1) Install motion sensors and timers

2) Eliminate unnecessary lighting

Question 37

What is the BUG Rating Method

Answer 37

Stands for Backlight, Uplight, Glare and it classifies lights according to their potential to generate light pollution.