OBJ 1.2

Question 1

Natural ventilation

Answer 1

The process of moving air through an indoor space without the use of a mechanical system. Natural ventilation typically uses pressure differences between spaces to drive air between areas.

Question 2

Rainwater harvesting

Answer 2

The process of collecting, diverting, and storing rainwater for later use. Commonly referred to as “gray water,” harvested water can be utilized for irrigation, water closets, and urinals. Unless it is properly treated, it is not suitable for use as potable water.

Question 3

Photovoltaic (PV) panels

Answer 3

Convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity, which can subsequently be “inverted” to AC electricity to meet an AC load. PV panels can be mounted on the ground or may be attached to building roofs or walls. If they are static, their ideal orientation depends on the sun’s altitude angle. PV panels may also utilize solar trackers to better orient themselves in relation to the sun.

Question 4

Recycled content (post-consumer vs. pre-consumer)

Answer 4

Post-consumer: Waste material generated by end users that can no longer be used for its intended purpose.
Pre-consumer: Material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. Use of products that utilize post-consumer and pre-consumer waste in their production reduces the amount of waste produced.

Question 5

Stormwater runoff management

Answer 5

Stormwater runoff from a project site can overwhelm the surrounding ecosystem, so managing it is an important principle of sustainable design. Some ways to reduce runoff include using landscape areas to complement hardscape, rainwater harvesting, using permeable and semipermeable pavers, and retaining water on-site to release gradually over a longer period of time.

Question 6

Direct gain

Answer 6

In passive solar heating, south windows that allow heat from the winter sun to directly absorb into the thermal mass inside the building.

Question 7

Insolation

Answer 7

Solar radiation.

Question 8

Geothermal systems

Answer 8

Energy-efficient heating method that collects heat from under the Earth’s surface using a heat pump system and delivers it into a building to supplement the heating demand and reduce the carbon footprint.

Question 9

Aquifer thermal energy storage

Answer 9

Energy-efficient method to heat and cool a building through the storage and recovery of thermal energy from groundwater in an aquifer. Cold groundwater is collected in winter months and stored for use in the warm months, and vice versa. The cold water that is used and subsequently warmed can also be stored as warm water for cool months.

Question 10

Building commissioning

Answer 10

Process used on new construction that verifies that systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire suppression, lighting, etc.) are all functioning according to the design and the owner’s requirements. This encourages energy efficiency and lower maintenance and operating costs.

Question 11

Structural insulated panels

Answer 11

High-performance wall system that consists of an insulating foam core between two structural facings (such as OSB ). They are strong, energy efficient, and built in a controlled factory environment that maintains consistency and quality.

Question 12

Sick building syndrome

Answer 12

A series of symptoms connected with the phenomenon of building occupants feeling sick when they are in a building, and then recovering when they leave the building.

Question 13

Smart growth

Answer 13

An approach that protects open space and farmland by emphasizing development with houses, jobs, and services near each other.

Question 14

Xeriscaping

Answer 14

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 15

Passive design

Answer 15

A design strategy that uses natural climatic conditions to heat, cool, and light a building.

Question 16

Reclaimed water

Answer 16

Wastewater that has been treated and purified for nonpotable uses.

Question 17

Commissioning

Answer 17

Verification after construction that a structure and its systems and subsystems meet project requirements as intended and designed.

Question 18

Environmental product declaration

Answer 18

A standardized, internationally recognized comprehensive tool for providing information on a product’s environmental impact based on an ISO-compliant life cycle assessment (LCA) and verification by a third party. It includes the life cycle of the product, energy use and efficiency during manufacture, transportation methods, and end-of-service-life recycling.

Question 19

Aeroponics

Answer 19

Process of growing plants in suspension in an air or mist environment without the use of soil.

Question 20

Rapidly renewable materials

Answer 20

Fiber- or animal-based material that can be grown, harvested, or manufactured in ten years or less.

Question 21

Gray water

Answer 21

Wastewater from kitchens, laundry, and bath fixtures, but not toilets.

Question 22

Blackwater

Answer 22

Wastewater from toilets.

Question 23

Closed-loop (geothermal)

Answer 23

Closed-loop is a term used to describe a geothermal heat pump system with a continuous loop of plastic pipe as the heat exchanger. It is a “closed” system where water or antifreeze recirculates through the pipes. The loops can be either vertical (drilled) pipes or horizontal (trenched) pipes, depending on site conditions. Closed loops can also be installed in ponds and lakes.

Question 24

Open-loop (geothermal)

Answer 24

Open-loop describes a geothermal heat pump system that uses a well or surface water for source fluid and discharges to the surface or groundwater. It is also known as a pump-and-dump or once-through.

Question 25

Subterranean ground temperature

Answer 25

The temperature of the ground below the surface of the Earth is nearly constant year-round. This near-constant subterranean temperature is what allows geothermal heat pumps to work anywhere in the world.

Question 26

Emissivity

Answer 26

The property of a material to emit energy as thermal radiation. Black surfaces have higher emissivities than white or shiny surfaces.

Question 27

Selective surfaces

Answer 27

A surface that has high absorptivity in one wavelength (solar) and low emissivity in another (infrared). This material stores incoming radiation without reradiating it.

Question 28

Green Seal

Answer 28

A nonprofit environmental standards development and certification organization.

Question 29

Embodied energy

Answer 29

All the energy it takes to make a product, including raw material extraction, transportation, and manufacturing. Because it is difficult to measure, it is often estimated.

Question 30

Blowing agents

Answer 30

Used to manufacture foam insulation products, blowing agents have traditionally been greenhouse gases, but improvements have been and continue to be made.

Question 31

BREEAM

Answer 31

Building research establishment environmental assessment method; a method for assessing, rating, and certifying the sustainability of buildings. It is used internationally.

Question 32

Energy Star

Answer 32

The trusted government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, helping consumers save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices.

Question 33

WaterSense

Answer 33

An EPA program that helps consumers select water-efficient products.

Question 34

Sustainability

Answer 34

Defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Question 35

Night sky radiation

Answer 35

The opposite of insolation, night sky radiation is when heat from the Earth’s surface radiates back into space at night. This is reduced on a cloudy night because the clouds act as an insulator.

Question 36

Peak loads

Answer 36

The highest demand within a certain time frame. Often occurs when both climatic conditions and high occupancy factors are present. Peak loads may be daily, seasonal, or annual.

Question 37

Sky cover

Answer 37

Percentage of the sky that is cloud covered. Measured in 0–10 tenths. Clear skies are 0–2 tenths covered. Partly cloudy skies are 2–8 tenths covered. Overcast skies are 8–10 tenths covered.

Question 38

Movable insulation

Answer 38

Operable insulation panels that are put over glazing at nighttime to reduce heat loss.