Green Building Basics

Question 1

Define SUSTAINABILITY

Answer 1

The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 2

What is the practice of Green building?

The practice of _____ structures and using _____ that are environmentally _____ and _____ efficient throughout a building’s _____ _____.

Answer 2

The practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient throughout a building’s life cycle.

Question 3

There are 6 measured impacts from commercial construction in the US:

\_\_\_ % of electricity consumption
\_\_\_% of energy use
\_\_\_% of all carbon dioxide emissions
\_\_\_% of raw materials use
\_\_\_% of waste output (136 million tons/yr)
\_\_\_% of potable water consumption

Answer 3

72\_\_\_ % of electricity consumption
39\_\_\_% of energy use
38\_\_\_% of all carbon dioxide emissions
40\_\_\_% of raw materials use
30\_\_\_% of waste output (136 million tons/yr)
14\_\_\_% of potable water consumption

Question 4

What is regenerative design?

Answer 4

Projects that do not end, but rather renew resources for future use.

Question 5

The built environment accounts for what fraction of all greenhouse gas emissions?

Answer 5

2/3

Question 6

How do green buildings reduce the overall negative impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment?

1 - efficiently using _____, water, _____ and materials
2 - protecting occupant _____ and improving employee _____
3 - reducing _____ and _____ from each green building
4 - continuously looking for ways to improve _____

Answer 6

1 - efficiently using energy, water, land and materials
2 - protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
3 - reducing waste and pollution from each green building
4 - continuously looking for ways to improve performance

Question 7

How are sustainable buildings significantly better than standard buildings?

1 - use less _____
2 - save _____ over time
3 - provide better occupant _____ and _____
4 - better for the _____

Answer 7

1 - use less energy
2 - save money over time
3 - provide better occupant health and comfort
4 - are better for the environment

Question 8

Define “whole building design.”

Answer 8

Design that considers all of the building’s systems together as they operate interdependently.

Question 9

Employing integrative project teams can achieve savings of ___ to ___ % in the cost of construction

Answer 9

2 to 10%

Question 10

What is the most critical phase of the integrative process?

Answer 10

The pre-design phase

Question 11

What new steps are included in the pre-design phase?

1 - \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ approach
2 - clear \_\_\_\_\_ of the project's \_\_\_\_\_
3 - define the \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ of the building
4 - set \_\_\_\_\_/\_\_\_\_\_
5 - select project \_\_\_\_\_
6 - \_\_\_\_\_ green technologies and \_\_\_\_\_
7 - define green building \_\_\_\_\_ items

Answer 11

1 - Life Cycle Approach
2 - Clear Statement of the Project’s Vision
3 - Define the Green Goals of the Building
4 - Set Priorities/Milestones
5 - Select Project Team
6 - Research Green Technologies and Strategies
7 - Assign Small Task Groups
8 - Define Green Building Budget Items

Question 12

Define “Life Cycle Approach”

Answer 12

An approach that considers the life of the project and eventual reuse of the project; or its demolition (and hopefully recycling) – in addition to the delivery of the completed project.

Question 13

When defining green building budget items, the project teams should also address…. (3 categories of costs)

Answer 13

1 - Life-cycle cost analysis (consider the life cycle cost of each green technology and strategy)
2 - Design and cost advice from experienced green building professionals
3 - Contingencies for research of unconventional techniques or materials

Question 14

Fill in the blanks:

Zoning helps ______ property value, but it has ______ the use of the automobile.

Answer 14

Protect

Increased

Question 15

What aspects of construction can Zoning affect?

1 - minimum _____ requirements
2 - building _____
3 - _____ _____ ratio
4 - _____ _____ (land without built structures and with pervious surfaces)
5 - _____ (how much _____ square footage can exist in the property _____)
6 - _____ restriction, such as _____ save areas

Answer 15

1 - minimum parking requirements
2 - building height
3 - floor area ratio - the relationship between the total building floor areas and the allowable land area the building can cover
4 - open space
5 - density - how much built square footage can exist in the property boundary
6 - landscaping restriction, such as tree save areas

Question 16

Define ICC

Answer 16

International Code Council

Question 17

Define IgCC

Answer 17

International Green Construction Code

Question 18

What is the purpose of the IgCC?

Answer 18

To establish baseline regulations for new and existing buildings.

Question 19

Define and explain LCC

Answer 19

Life Cycle Cost
- the sum of all recurring and one-time (non-recurring) costs over the full life span or a specified period of a good, service, structure, or system.

Question 20

What are some aspects of “Ongoing Operations & Maintenance?”

1 - \_\_\_\_\_ maintenance
2 - \_\_\_\_\_ systems
3 - performance \_\_\_\_\_
4 - A\_\_\_\_\_
5 - O\_\_\_\_\_

Answer 20

1 - preventative maintenance
2 - auditing systems
3 - performance measuring
4 - analysis
5 - optimization

Question 21

What is the “Triple Bottom Line?”

Answer 21

Economics
Environment
Social Responsibility

Question 22

What are the 3 P’s?

Answer 22

Profit
Planet
People

Question 23

What are the 3 E’s?

Answer 23

Economics
Ecology
Social Equity

Question 24

Define “Systems Thinking.”

Answer 24

View each part of the project in relationship to other parts of the project.

Question 25

Define “Emergent Properties.”

Answer 25

Characteristics of a system that only happen when the system is working and are not a result of the smaller subsystems.

Question 26

Define “Closed System.”

Answer 26

A set of actions/materials with a closed loop.
–considered the most sustainable because there is no “waste” or final end product. The system continues on and on independently.

Question 27

Define “Open System.”

Answer 27

A system that constantly takes in items from outside the system, uses them and then releases them as waste.
– this system has no feedback loop, and are less sustainable because they require new inputs and create waste

Question 28

Define “Leverage Point.”

Answer 28

A point in a system where a small change can lead to large changes in results….
This means small actions can be free or a small cost might mean large savings or improvements on a project.