Sustainable Design Flashcards
6 - What are the 4 fundamentals of life cycle assessment (LCA)?
- Selection of a GREEN / MULTIDISCIPLINARY team
- Establishment of SUSTAINABLE GOALS early in proj.
- INVOLVEMENT of AHJ & community @ early stages
- EDUCATION to promote sustainable design & continuous improvement of buildings.
28 - What are the negative effects of standard stormwater management design? 3
Impervious surfaces quickly diverting water that falls on-site to nearby bodies of water:
• depleting aquifers and lowering water tables across canada (better to allow water to percolate into soil, via pervious in watershed it falls on)
• discharge point can flood, become eroded or contaminated (impacting stream side habitat)
22 - How can we mitigate the heat island effect? (4)
- green roof
- light coloured and highly reflective roof
- light coloured and highly reflective hardscape
- provide ample shade with vegetation
12 - Who produces the Green Building Challenge (GBC) What does it measure? (5 measures)
Produced by an international collaborative • energy consumption • embodied energy • emissions • thermal comfort • air quality
13 - Who was the BREEAM Green Leaf rating system developed for and what does it measure?
Building owners + managers
• tenant satisfaction (therm comfort, security, layout)
20 - How can we best mitigate site disturbance through site selection?
Locate on previously damaged areas, ideally in urban developed areas where it makes sense. 2nd to that, minimize footprint as much as possible.
7 - What are the 6 principals stages for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?
- initial design
- prefabrication
- construction
- operation + maintenance
- demo (deconstruction)
- disposal
2 - What approx. % of worldwide energy is used on HVAC systems?
40%
9 - When does measurement & verification occur (2 stages), and what tools are used during each stage?
1 - During design • simulations • prescriptive 2 - During construction & operations • commissioning
26 - Where should coniferous and deciduous trees be planted in relation to site orientation for a sustainable design?
Evergreens: N, NE, NW this will protect from cold winds and provide shade
Deciduous: S, SE, SW this will provide shade during summer months and light/heat gain during winter
29 - What are 3 types of ultra low flow toilets?
- GRAVITY FLUSH - relies solely on weight of water to clear toilet
- PRESSURE ASSISTED OR FLUSH VALVE
- VACCUUM-ASSISTED
25 - How is structural control over destabilized soil achieved?
- Earth dikes
- silt fences
- sediment traps
- basins
23 - Where should the Architect indicate that precautions must be taken to mitigate disruption to vegetation, run-off of soil and contaminants during construction?
This should be outlined in div. 1 of the specification.
15 - What 4 main factors should be considered during site selection?
- process for site selection
- opportunities for urban development
- opportunities for brownfield redevelopment
- transportation
24 - How is soil stabilization commonly achieved?
Temporary and permanent seeding and mulching
5 - What are the 2 main objectives in green building design?
- Modify conventional design processes
* Include methods to measure and verify environmental performance
17 - What 3 considerations should be given to selection of an economically viable site?
- short + long term profitability
- industrial ecology
- proximity of the supply of key goods + services
4 - What is the IPCC?
International Panel on Climate Change
16 - What are 4 reasons it is beneficial to build within existing urban areas?
- increased efficiency in INFRASTRUCTURE
- protection of existing ECOSYSTEMS & greenfield sites
- strengthening of existing commercial, social, and cultural COMMUNITIES.
- reduction of urban/suburban SPRAWL
10 - Who produced the MNECB and why?
National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
MODEL National Energy Code for Buildings
These codes establish min. standards that can be adopted as regulations by the AHJ
27 - Why should offsite water dependancy be reduced and how?
- will reduce capital costs of infrastructure and associated maintenance
- harvest rain / grey water
19 - List 6 major NEGATIVE environmental impacts of buildings, inc. construction:
- site disturbance
- erosion + sediment deposits
- water pollution
- loss of ecosystems
- creation of heat islands
- light pollution
14 - Who produces the LEED Rating System and what does it measure?
CAGCB or USGBC
• environmental performance criteria over the building’s life cycle
21 - How can civil minimize the negative impact of site design? (6)
- absorb as much water on-site as possible
- avoid curbs + culverts
- avoid asphalt (use pervious material - gravel)
- contour parking lots around trees and existing natural grade - no need to be flat
- save every tree possible
- for every tree removed plant 2
18 - 3 recommendations and architect can give to the owner to promote low-impact transportation options:
- transit subsidies rather than parking passes
- shared company vehicles
- include changing / shower facilities for cyclists
3 - How does Canada rank among other countries for energy consumption per capita? What is the average carbon footprint per capita for canadians?
• Canada is the highest energy consumer per capita
• 7 hectares/person
(compared to world average of 1.9 hectares/person)
11 - Who produced ASHRAE and what does it focus on? (3)
US standard
produced by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
- building envelope
- building systems
- equipment
30 - What can changes to legislation and policy can the AHJ make to improve water efficiency in the built environment?
- standards for efficient fixtures
- imposing efficient water use amendments to building codes
- promoting and studying wastewater technologies
- adopting and enforcing provincial regional, and municipal water conservation policies / by-laws / legislation
1 - What % of the world’s raw materials are used on buildings?
40%
8 - How should building systems be viewed by the team in a successful Integrated Design Approach (IDA)?
All building should be viewed as INTERDEPENDENT
