Energy and Atmosphere Flashcards
What is a britisch thermal unit (Btu) and what does it describe?
the amt of heat required to raise the temp of 1 pound of liquid water 1°F. This standard measure of energy is used to describe the energy content of fuels and compare energy use.
What is a building envelope and how can it affect the energy efficiency of a project?
the interface between the interior and outdoor environment. Reducing transfer of heat or air is important for energy efficient measures. Insulation, air sealing, and windows can play important roles in minimizing heat transfer.
Define building loads and identify the three largest building loads in a commercial building.
Building loads are the amount of energy and the devices and systems that use that energy in a building. The HVAC, lighting and water heating systems are the three largest building loads in terms of energy use.
What is a carbon footprint?
The amount of greenhouse gases and specifically carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by a company or during the manufacture and transport of a product during a given period.
What are carbon offsets?
a purchasable form of trade that funds projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as forest restoration, power plant and factory updates, or increases to the energy efficiency of power plants and transportation.
What important functions does a chiller perform?
A chiller is a building system that removes heat from a liquid through a vapor-compression of absorption refrigeration cycle. This liquid is then circulated through a heat exchanger to cool air or equipment as required.
What are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and why are they harmful?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are harmful refrigerants that are banned in the U.S. and many other countries by the Montreal Protocol. CFCs are gaseous compounds containing carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes hydrogen that are used as refrigerants, cleaning solvents, and aerosol propellants and in the manufacture of plastic foams. CFCs are considered to be a major cause of stratospheric ozone depletion.
Explain the meaning of commissioning (Cx) as it pertains to A LEED Project.
Commissioning (Cx) is the verification after construction of a LEED project that the structure and its systems and subsystems meet project requirements as intended and designed. The Cx process includes verifying and documenting that the building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner’s project requirements (OPR).
Who is the commissioning authority? (CxA)
The commissioning authority is a third party contracted by the building owner who reports directly to the owner and who oversees the incorporation of the design and energy goals throughout the lifetime of a project. The CxA may be a qualified employee of the owner, an independent consultant, an employee of the design or construction firm who is not part of the project team, or a disinterested subcontractor.
Explain how a demand response (DR) program works.
A demand response program (DR) is a program offered by utilities that allows large energy users to reduce energy loads during peak energy usage times in exchange for reduced rates. Strategies for DR programs include tiered pricing and incentive programs that reward consumers who change their energy usage when the utility announces a DR event. DR programs alleviate the need to build more energy infrastructure in order to meet the needs of every consumer when demand is high and supply is low.
Describe energy efficiency in simple terms.
Energy efficiency is using less energy to complete the same amount of work.
What is the Energy Star Portfolio Manager Program and how is it used?
Energy Star Portfolio Manager is a free, EPA-provided building bench-marking system that is most widely used in the U.S. The energy and water data for a building is entered into a web-based tool that displays where the building type falls in whole-building energy use compared to other buildings of teh same type. Greenhouse gas emissions are also measured.
What is energy use intensity (EUI)?
A metric that expresses a building’s energy use as a function of its size.
What are fossil fuels and how does their use contribute to global warming?
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable energy resources that produce energy from the burning of ancient, organic remains such as peat, coal, crude oil, and natural gas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted when forssil fuels are burned to create energy, CO2 is the chief contributor to the greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Explain renewable energy and list five sources of renewable energy.
Renewable energy, also called green power, is energy produced by resources that are not depleted through their use. Sources of renewable energy include
-solar power,
-wind power,
-bioenergy,
-geothermal energy, and - hydropower (certain forms). Renewable energy can be purchased through a utility or generated on-site.
