Question 1

Building orientation considerations for a high-performance building include all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

To minimize southern glazing is not one of the building orientation considerations for a high-performance building; instead, one should consider maximizing southern glazing. Doing so takes advantage of optimum day light, resulting in energy use reduction. Minimizing east-west glazing with east-west axis orientation and maximizing passive solar heat gain are all strategies for considerations in building orientation.

Question 2

According to the US Department of Energy, buildings consume approximately __­___% of the energy and _____% of the electricity produced annually by the United States.

Accepted Answer

Buildings consume approximately 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity produced annually by the United States, according to the Department of Energy. Of that, 33% of the energy is consumed by lighting. Intentionally using energy only where it is needed and ensuring that efficient systems are used to meet these needs are the most effective way to reduce the environmental impact of building energy use.

Question 3

Which of the following components contributes the largest percentage of energy use to a building's operating expenses?

Accepted Answer

Lighting contributes the highest percentage in the energy use of buildings' operating expenses. Therefore, designing lighting to meet the needs and preferences of building occupants without excess should be a main consideration of project teams to minimize the energy the space requires. Enabling occupants to turn off their lights when not in use can produce significant lighting energy savings.

Question 4

Conventional incandescent lamps use approximately how many times the energy to create the same light output as standard compact fluorescent lamps?

Accepted Answer

Conventional incandescent lamps use approximately four times the energy to create the same light output as standard compact fluorescent lamps. The wasted energy is converted into heat and in many buildings, creates an additional burden on the air-conditioning system.

Question 5

In many buildings, the wasted energy from lamps creates an additional burden on which system?

Accepted Answer

Air conditioning systems are burdened with the wasted energy from lamps. Incandescent lamps are gradually being replaced in many applications by newer technologies that give more visible light and less heat for the same amount of electrical energy input. Florescent and LED light bulbs, commonly used for overhead light fixtures, are available for task lighting and other cases where incandescents were previously used. Optimizing the availability of natural light will also substantially reduce dependence on artificial lighting.

Question 6

The prerequisites for the Energy and Atmosphere category in LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations include all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Measurement and verification is not one of the prerequisites for the Energy and Atmosphere category in LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations. In this category, there are a total of 35 points available and of that, fundamental commissioning of building energy systems, minimum energy performance, and fundamental refrigerant management are prerequisites.

Question 7

Of the 35 total points available in the Energy and Atmosphere category in the LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovation, how many points can be attained for Green Power?

Accepted Answer

2 points are available for the Green Power credit under the Energy and Atmosphere category for the LEED Rating System. Green Power is electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low impact small hydroelectric sources. It is used to avoid the environmental impact of conventional energy generation, as well as its greenhouse gas reduction benefits.

Question 8

What is Green-e certified electricity?

Accepted Answer

Green-e certified electricity is electricity produced by renewable energy source (i.e. sun, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low impact small hydroelectric sources) that customers can buy to avoid environmental impact and its greenhouse gas reduction benefits. Green-e certified electricity is a subset of renewable energy and represents renewable resources. Green-e is the name of the company that provides independent energy source certification and verification and is recognized as credible by the USGBC.

Question 9

The enormous amount of energy that is used within buildings causes emissions that contribute to all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Fumes do not negatively affect the environmental impact due to energy production. Fumes are usually the result of volatile organic chemicals. Between 1990 and 2006, annual greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. energy use increased by 16% and buildings consuming approximately 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity. These high proportions of building energy use provide a huge opportunity to reduce environmental impacts on a large scale.

Question 10

Which of the following is a necessary component of most air-conditioning systems found to be harmful to the environment and human health?

Accepted Answer

Refrigerants are a necessary component in the refrigeration cycle employed by most air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Many refrigerants, however, are harmful to the environment and human health, and many deplete ozone and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. LEED encourages the selection of refrigerants that minimize the impact on the environment, particularly ozone depletion. Furthermore, a well-designed HVAC system can minimize the amount of cooling and thus, the amount of refrigerant needed by a building.

Question 11

When addressing water use for laundry equipment, which of the following categories must also be addressed besides the Water Efficiency category?

Accepted Answer

When addressing water use for laundry equipment, the energy and atmosphere category must be addressed in conjunction with the Water Efficiency category. Water use directly affects energy use because it typically takes gas or electricity to heat the water and to move the water to and from the building. In particular, heating water requires a substantial amount of energy that must be accounted for in efficient designs.

Question 12

When addressing increased ventilation strategies to increase the overall quality of indoor air, which of the following categories must also be addressed besides the Indoor Environmental Quality category?

Accepted Answer

When addressing increased ventilation strategies to increase the overall quality of indoor air, the energy and atmosphere category must be addressed in conjunction with the Indoor Environmental Quality category. Increased ventilation strategies, while important for increasing the overall quality of indoor air, typically require a corresponding increase in HVAC energy use unless carefully designed.

Question 13

When addressing interior color schemes for a project, which of the following categories must also be addressed besides the Materials and Resources category?

Accepted Answer

When addressing interior color schemes for a project, the energy and atmosphere category must be addressed in conjunction with the materials and resources category. Interior color schemes can significantly influence energy use. Light-color surfaces reflect more light than dark surfaces and can reduce the total amount of lighting power necessary to maintain the intended lighting levels.

Question 14

Which of the following is not a method that can net significant lighting energy savings?

Accepted Answer

Specifying line voltage lamps for incandescent fixtures is not a method that can net significant lighting energy savings. Lighting to meet the needs and preferences of building occupants is the main consideration to ensure the use of lighting in the space requires minimal energy. Allowing for individual lighting control and dimming capacity prevents the waste of excess lighting from when only a small area or level of light is required.

Question 15

The design team is working on strategies to reduce the overall energy demand for the project. Strategies to reduce energy demand are all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Minimizing glazing is not one of the strategies to reduce the overall energy demand for the project. In order to take advantage of the free energy provided by day lighting, substantial areas of glazing must be used to allow the light into the building.

Question 16

Free energy can be utilized in buildings in all of the following methods except:

Accepted Answer

An external thermal storage system is not one of the methods for utilizing free energy in buildings. However, using the building mass as a thermal storage system is. Many building sites have the potential to satisfy the majority of human needs through passive systems. Day lighting prevents the need for artificial lighting during sunlit hours. Natural ventilation, such as operable windows, allows fresh air circulation while minimizing the required capacity of the HVAC system. Well-insulated walls designed to reflect light in the summer and absorb it in the winter will help minimize heating and cooling energy needs.

Question 17

Strategies for passive design include all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Installing controls to allow individuals occupants to operate the lighting is not one of the passive design strategies. The idea of passive design goes back to using the natural attributes of the site. Lighting control is a design that goes hand-in-hand with daylighting, as it allows occupants to only use as much artificial light as they need, but it is not itself a passive system. Buildings that provide access to natural daylight can achieve significant lighting energy savings simply by using the sun instead of artificial lighting.

Question 18

Energy efficiency strategies to be considered for a project to reduce energy demands includes all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Minimizing glazing on the envelope system is not one of the considerations for energy efficiency in buildings to reduce energy demand. Taking advantage of natural sources such as day light to obtain free energy is one of the fundamental principals to reduce the energy demand.

Question 19

Wind turbines, as a renewable energy source, generate ________ current to the inverter to convert the power into alternating current.

Accepted Answer

Wind turbines generate direct current to the inverter to convert the power into alternating current. All households must be provided with alternating currents for use, which require the power generated from wind turbines to be converted.

Question 20

Project sites in ________ altitudes can generate significant electricity using photovoltaic panels and reduce their energy use for hot water by using solar hot-water heaters.

Accepted Answer

Project sites in low altitudes can generate significant electricity using photovoltaic panels and reduce their energy use for hot water by using solar hot-water heaters. In general, sites at lower altitudes have access to more direct sunlight, making it easier to generate electricity via photovoltaic panels.

Quiz 1: Energy

Building orientation considerations for a high-performance building include all of the following except:

According to the US Department of Energy, buildings consume approximately _% of the energy and _____% of the electricity produced annually by the United States.

Which of the following components contributes the largest percentage of energy use to a building's operating expenses?

Conventional incandescent lamps use approximately how many times the energy to create the same light output as standard compact fluorescent lamps?

In many buildings, the wasted energy from lamps creates an additional burden on which system?

The prerequisites for the Energy and Atmosphere category in LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations include all of the following except:

Of the 35 total points available in the Energy and Atmosphere category in the LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovation, how many points can be attained for Green Power?

What is Green-e certified electricity?

The enormous amount of energy that is used within buildings causes emissions that contribute to all of the following except:

Which of the following is a necessary component of most air-conditioning systems found to be harmful to the environment and human health?

When addressing water use for laundry equipment, which of the following categories must also be addressed besides the Water Efficiency category?

When addressing increased ventilation strategies to increase the overall quality of indoor air, which of the following categories must also be addressed besides the Indoor Environmental Quality category?

When addressing interior color schemes for a project, which of the following categories must also be addressed besides the Materials and Resources category?

Which of the following is not a method that can net significant lighting energy savings?

The design team is working on strategies to reduce the overall energy demand for the project. Strategies to reduce energy demand are all of the following except:

Free energy can be utilized in buildings in all of the following methods except:

Strategies for passive design include all of the following except:

Energy efficiency strategies to be considered for a project to reduce energy demands includes all of the following except:

Wind turbines, as a renewable energy source, generate ________ current to the inverter to convert the power into alternating current.

Project sites in ________ altitudes can generate significant electricity using photovoltaic panels and reduce their energy use for hot water by using solar hot-water heaters.

Quiz 1: Energy

Building orientation considerations for a high-performance building include all of the following except:

According to the US Department of Energy, buildings consume approximately __­___% of the energy and _____% of the electricity produced annually by the United States.

Which of the following components contributes the largest percentage of energy use to a building's operating expenses?

Conventional incandescent lamps use approximately how many times the energy to create the same light output as standard compact fluorescent lamps?

In many buildings, the wasted energy from lamps creates an additional burden on which system?

The prerequisites for the Energy and Atmosphere category in LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations include all of the following except:

Of the 35 total points available in the Energy and Atmosphere category in the LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovation, how many points can be attained for Green Power?

What is Green-e certified electricity?

The enormous amount of energy that is used within buildings causes emissions that contribute to all of the following except:

Which of the following is a necessary component of most air-conditioning systems found to be harmful to the environment and human health?

When addressing water use for laundry equipment, which of the following categories must also be addressed besides the Water Efficiency category?

When addressing increased ventilation strategies to increase the overall quality of indoor air, which of the following categories must also be addressed besides the Indoor Environmental Quality category?

When addressing interior color schemes for a project, which of the following categories must also be addressed besides the Materials and Resources category?

Which of the following is not a method that can net significant lighting energy savings?

The design team is working on strategies to reduce the overall energy demand for the project. Strategies to reduce energy demand are all of the following except:

Free energy can be utilized in buildings in all of the following methods except:

Strategies for passive design include all of the following except:

Energy efficiency strategies to be considered for a project to reduce energy demands includes all of the following except:

Wind turbines, as a renewable energy source, generate ________ current to the inverter to convert the power into alternating current.

Project sites in ________ altitudes can generate significant electricity using photovoltaic panels and reduce their energy use for hot water by using solar hot-water heaters.

According to the US Department of Energy, buildings consume approximately _% of the energy and _____% of the electricity produced annually by the United States.