Energy & Atmosphere Flashcards by Beverly Parker

Why does the Energy and Atmosphere category contain the most points available?

Energy _____ is very important.
_____ energy use and the _____ of fossil fuels are linked to _____ _____ and _____ pollution.

Energy conservation is very important.

Increase energy use and the burning of fossil fuels are linked to global warming and air pollution.

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The Energy & Atmosphere category gives credit for supporting the use of more _____ _____ energy sources and using _____ energy.

Environmentally friendly, less

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The whole building approach to building design not only _____ energy over time, but also _____ the size of the equipment needed for heating and cooling.

Saves, reduces

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It is easier to save energy by reducing the _____ and the _____ needed than to buy expensive _____-_____ equipment.

Demand, loads, high-efficiency

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“The Energy & Atmosphere category seeks to reduce the energy _____ of _____ and homes, use _____ energy sources, and reduce _____ _____ _____ (GHE.)

Use, building, renewable, green house gas emissions.

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_____ light bulbs use less electricity and generate less _____ than _____ bulbs.

Fluorescent, heat, incandescent

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Define SITE ENERGY

How is site energy determined?

The amount of thermal and electric energy a site consumes as determined by utility bills.

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EPA’s Target Finder helps a team set _____, _____ energy _____ and rate a building design’s estimated _____ _____.

TargetFinder is also used to determine EPA’s _____ _____ rating for buildings.

Aggressive, realistic, targets, energy use

ENERGY STAR

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Define CBECS

It collects information on the stock of US _____ buildings, their _____-related building _____, and their energy _____ and _____.

Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Commercial, energy, characteristics, consumption, expenditures

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Define “green” dollars.

The projected long-term energy costs savings.

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Reducing energy use includes the goal of reducing the _____ needed while obtaining the same or nearly the same results from the _____ _____.

Electricity, building’s systems

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List the 8 methods for reducing energy demand:

1 - \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ Portfolio Manager
2 - Energy \_\_\_\_\_
3 - Building \_\_\_\_\_
4 - Site \_\_\_\_\_
5 - \_\_\_\_\_ Sizing
6 - Reducing \_\_\_\_\_ Depletion
7 - Energy Demand \_\_\_\_\_
8 - \_\_\_\_\_ Use

1 - Energy Star Portfolio Manager - to track & assess energy and water consumption
2 - Energy Audit - (Home Energy Saver) - determines how energy is used and makes suggestions for improvements to reduce energy use and cost
3 - Building Orientation - considers orientation to the sun, prevailing winds, lighting and cooling costs
4 - Site Location - shade, wind screen
5 - Right Sizing - LEED for Homes - points are adjusted across all categories depending on the sf of the home.
6 - Reducing Ozone Depletion - avoid use of CFC, HCFC, Halon which destroy the ozone layer
7 - Energy Demand Response - reduce electricity use or shift usage to another time period during the day
8 - Water Use - it takes energy to heat water, pump water, and treat water

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“‘Good’ ozone occurs _____ in the stratosphere approximately 10 to 30 _____ above the earth’s surface …. and _____ life on earth from the sun’s harmful _____ rays….The _____ ozone the Earth has, the less _____ we get from the _____ rays…. Increased _____ radiation can _____ crop yields, … disrupt the _____ food chain, ….. and lead to the development of _____ and _____ cancer.”

Naturally
Miles
Protects
UV
Less
Protections 
UV
UV
Reduce
Marine
Cataracts
Skin

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Define CFC

CFCs were widely used as _____. Since the late _____, use of CFCs has been heavily regulated because of their destructive effects on the _____ layer.

In the US, _____% of buildings are _____ buildings: of those, _____% are older buildings that have old, inefficient, _____ chillers that use _____.

Chlorofluorocarbons

Refrigerants
1970's
Ozone
99%
Existing
50% 
Leaky
CFCs

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Define HCFC

HCFCs were commonly used as _____ before 1970.

hydrochlorofluorocarbons

Refrigerants

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Define HALON

Chemical used in fire suppression systems that also negatively affects the ozone layer.

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Define ODP

Define GWP

Ozone Depletion Potential

Global Warming Potential

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Describe the Montreal Protocol

The phase out for developed countries began in _____. Most _____ use and production was phased out by the US by December 31, _____….others were phased out in _____, and less active _____ will be phased out in _____.

An agreement signed in 1987 which committed nations to reduce the use of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances

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Name five natural refrigerants which are benign to the earth’s atmosphere:

1 - CO2 - carbon dioxide
2 - H2O - water
3 - NH3 - ammonia
4 - HC - hydrocarbons such as propane, butane, ethane, isobutane, and isopentane 
5 - air

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_____ refrigerants are not as _____ as refrigerants like _____, so it requires more _____ to achieve the same amount of _____.

Natural
Effective
HCFCs
Energy
Cooling

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The LEED Rating System lists fundamental _____ management as a prerequisite which requires _____ use of _____.

Refrigerant, zero, CFCs

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The LEED Rating system credits include Enhanced Refrigerant Management. This credit awards:

1 - natural _____ (no refrigerant use)
2 - install an HVAC system that uses _____ that minimize or eliminate the _____ of compounds that contribute to Ozone _____ and global warming (low ODP and ___)
3 - fire _____ systems and fire _____ that are _____ free

1 - ventilation
2 - refrigerants, emissions, depletion, GWP
3 - suppression, extinguishers, halon

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For existing buildings, LEED projects need to _____ or _____ CFC-based refrigeration systems.

Replace, retrofit

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What is the intent of demand response programs?

To motivate end users to make changes in electric use, by lowering consumption when prices spike or when grid reliability may be jeopardized.

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Name three operational changes that can reduce energy demand. 1 - cycling _____ equipment 2 - _____ air-conditioning _____ 3 - turning off or _____ a portion of the facility's _____

1 - HVAC 2 - Increasing, setpoints 3 - dimming, lighting

Describe the difference between conventional water heaters and Tankless Water Heaters.

Tankless water heaters (on-demand) are products that do not constantly heat and store the hot water like conventional water heaters.

Define ENERGY EFFICIENCY: The use of _____ that requires less energy to _____ the same _____.

The use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same function

Identify the seven methods of Energy Efficiency: ``` 1 - Building _____ 2 - Heating & _____ 3 - _____ of Scale 4 - _____ Design 5 - Choosing Energy Star _____ 6 - Building _____ System 7 - _____-_____ Energy ```

``` 1 - Building Envelope 2 - Heating & Cooling 3 - Efficiencies of Scale 4 - Lighting Design 5 - Choosing Energy Star Appliances 6 - Building Automation System 7 - Net-zero Energy ```

The building _____ controls the _____ of energy between the _____ and _____ of the building.

Envelope, flow, interior, exterior

In 2005 the US Department of Energy estimated that _____% of the energy used to _____ and _____ the average building was lost to _____ _____ in the building envelope. Since buildings account for 40% of annual energy _____ in the US, that comes out to _____% of total US energy usage being _____ right out of buildings.

40%, heat, cool, air leaks, consumption, 16%, leaked

Building envelope problems can lead to: ``` 1 - _____ heating and cooling _____ 2 - _____ or uneven _____ 3 - poor _____ air quality 4 - building _____ 5 - _____, noise, _____ ```

``` 1 - high heating and cooling bills 2 - draft, or uneven temperatures 3 - poor indoor air quality 4 - building deterioration 5 - insects, noise, odors ```

In terms of thermal mass: The _____ the concrete, brick, or stone is on the _____ of the building, the _____ electricity will be needed by the _____ system to keep the building _____ inside.

``` Thicker Exterior Less Mechanical Cool ```

In the US, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for: 1 - _____% of the energy used in commercial buildings 2 - _____% of the energy used in residential buildings

1 - 30% | 2 - 50%

# Define ASHRAE ASHRAE publishes standards and guidelines relating to energy _____ and ____ systems .... every _____ years.

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. Consumption HVAC 3

In LEED, ASHRAE 90.1 can be used to calculate the _____ building _____ performance.

Baseline | Energy

If air _____ have _____ resistance to air passing through them, the system will use _____ energy to more the air while at the same time also providing better _____ _____ for the building _____.

``` Filters Lower Less Air Quality Occupants ```

Describe the concept of Efficiencies of Scale

At a certain size - cost or energy savings can be found.

_____ is often the largest contributor to a building's _____ _____

Lighting | Energy use

Compared to incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps: ``` 1 - use _____ power to generate the same amount of _____ 2 - generally last _____ 3 - are _____ (size/shape) 4 - more complicated to _____ _____ 5 - more _____ ```

``` 1 - use less power to generate the same amount of light 2 - generally last longer 3 - are bulkier 4 - more complicated to dispose of 5 - more expensive ```

All _____ controls decrease the power _____ of lighting, while also _____ the building's _____ load.

Lighting Demand Reducing Thermal

Identify four types of lighting controls.

1 - photosensors - automatically adjust the light output of the fixtures based on the level of illumination detected 2 - timers 3 - occupancy sensors 4 - centralized, facility-wide control systems

Name the 7 items that may carry the ENERGY STAR label.

``` 1 - appliances, 2 - home HVAC systems 3 - home electronics 4 - lighting 5 - personal computers 6 - home office equipment 7 - new homes ```

What agencies established the energy efficiency criteria for the ENERGY STAR label?

US Department of Energy | US Environmental Protection Agency

The average refrigerator needs _____% _____ over the minimum standard to earn the ENERGY STAR label. Dishwashers need _____% _____.

20% savings | 41% savings

Leakage rate describes how _____ lose their _____ charge over a _____ month period as a _____ of the _____ _____ charge.

``` Appliances Refrigerant 12 Percentage Appliances' Full ```

Define BAS

Building automation system

Net-zero energy projects use no more energy from the _____ _____ than can be _____ from on-site _____ energy systems.

Electrical grid Produced Renewable

# Define RENEWABLE ENERGY Renewable energy for LEED projects can come from _____ or _____-_____ sources.

Energy that is naturally replenished and generated from natural resources - such as sunlight, wind, water, biofuel, and geothermal heat On Off-site

Identify and describe the two types of solar power:

1 - Active solar - photovoltaic panels or solar thermal collectors 2 - Passive solar - building orientation, select materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties

What are three benefits of active solar panels? 1 - no _____ _____ to wear out 2 - clean _____-_____ energy 3 - no _____

1 - no moving parts to wear out 2 - clean non-polluting energy 3 - no noise / quiet

Solar thermal systems are composed of solar thermal _____ and a _____ system to move the _____ from the _____ to its point of _____. The system may use _____ for _____ the _____ and have a _____ or tank for heat storage and subsequent use.

``` Collectors Fluid Heat Collector Usage Electricity Pumping Fluid Reservoir ```

_____ solar design uses the structure's windows, _____, and _____ to collect, store, and _____ the sun's _____ in the winter and _____ a building's energy demand for _____ in the summer.

``` Passive Walls Floors Distribute Heat Reduce Cooling ```

_____ solar and _____ strategies are encouraged by LEED but not allowed as a percentage of _____ _____ used.

Passive Geothermal Renewable energy

Define GEOTHERMAL PUMP

A heating and/or cooling system that uses the earth's ability to store heat in shallow ground or water thermal masses

Compared to a conventional heating or cooling system, geoexchange systems use _____-_____ % less electricity. The system _____ are returned in _____ savings in _____-_____ years.

25-50% Costs Energy 5-10

Off-site _____ energy, often called "_____ power" or "_____ power," comes from sources such as _____ farms, _____ power, _____, and _____ third-party sources. Green power is considered better for the environment because of the reduced _____ _____ during _____ or _____ that result in less _____.

``` Renewable Green Clean Wind Solar Hydroelectric Geothermal Carbon emissions Generation Collection ```

Some electric providers offer indirect _____ of renewable energy. Customers can elect to pay a small _____ to the utility company so that the _____ the utility company _____ comes from a _____ _____.

``` Purchasing Premium Power Purchases Green source ```

# Define RECs RECs represent the _____ attributes of _____ produced from _____ energy sources sold separately from _____ electricity.

Renewable Energy Certificates Environmental Electricity Renewable Commodity

Define COMMODITY ELECTRICITY

Electricity that is sold without regard to how it is produces and is sold at the same price no matter what its origin.

One REC = _____MWh

Green Certificates are also known as 1 - Green _____ 2 - _____ Renewable Certificates (TRCs)

1 - tags | 2 - tradable

REC does not mean you purchase that hour of _____. REC is purchasing the _____ from the _____ energy that has been created. RECs have no _____ constraints because they are sold _____ from _____. _____-___ _____ is the nation's leading _____ program for _____ energy. LEED recognizes renewable energy it it's been _____ by the Center for Resource _____ or meets _____-___ requirements.

``` Power Benefit Renewable Geographic Separately Electricity Green-e Energy Certification Renewable Certified Solution Green-e ```

Green-e certifies only "new" _____ energy from facilities put online since _____ and does not certify _____ that were _____ by government.

Renewable 1997 Renewables Mandated

Carbon offsets help allow a building owner to _____ _____ to organizations that _____ carbon _____. Carbon offsets are _____ and sold in _____ _____ of carbon dioxide equivalents (_____),

``` Contribute money Decrease Emissions Quantified Metric tons (CO2e) ```

What are three problems with wind energy? 1 - wind is not always _____, so wind systems need a _____ ______ _____ 2 - wind energy must be _____ from _____ _____ to where it is needed 3 - "not in _____ _____" response to the large _____

1 - constant, backup power supply 2 - transported, windy areas 3 - my backyard, turbines

Describe Hydro Energy and list 2 advantages and 1 disadvantage: Hydro Energy comes from water _____ _____ from lakes or streams

Running downwards Advantage 1 - very clean Advantage 2 - usually oats less than processing fossil fuels Disadvantage 1 - dams must be built which disrupts ecosystems

Bio-fuel based electrical systems create energy from renewable _____ sources such as _____chips or _____ waste (also called _____) Wave and Tidal Power Systems create power from the motion of _____ _____.

Biological Wood chips, agricultural waste, biomass Ocean waves

Commissioning is the process of _____ that the building's _____ related systems are installed, _____ and performing according to the project and owner's _____. Retro commissioning is a systematic process for _____, analyzing, and _____ the performance of building systems by improving their _____ and _____ to ensure their continued _____ over time.

Verifying, energy Calibrated, requirements Investigating, optimizing Operation, maintenance Performance

It is estimated that as much as _____% of the energy used in an average _____ building is wasted due to poorly commissioned systems. Buildings can underperform for several reasons: 1 - the building was not properly _____ 2 - the _____ did not account for all sources of building _____ 3 - the building is not properly _____ 4 - poor employee _____ 5 - the _____ of the building has _____ over time

20%, commercial ``` 1 - configured 2 - design, efficiency 3 - maintained 4 - training 5 - use, changed ```

Noncommissioned buildings are generally _____ to _____% less energy efficient because systems were not _____ _____ and/or _____ were incorrectly installed or not working properly.

5 to 15% | Fine tuned, parts

Describe Biomass Heat Generation

Thermochemical gasification - wood, water and air are heated in a low-air environment until the wood undergoes gaseous decomposition. The resulting gaseous products are scrubbed and burned.