Question 1

Residential buildings consume approximately ____% of the energy produced in the United States for heating, cooling, cooking, water heating, and operating electrical devices.
A) 5
B) 12
C) 17
D) 22

Accepted Answer

Residential buildings consume approximately 22% of the energy produced in the United States, covering various needs such as heating, cooling, cooking, water heating, and operating electrical devices.

Question 2

____, while not emitting pollutants, is produced in plants that are costly to build and operate, and the issue of waste disposal is not yet resolved.
A) Nuclear power
B) Hydroelectricity
C) Coal-fired power
D) Renewable energy

Accepted Answer

Nuclear power plants are expensive to build and operate, and the disposal of nuclear waste remains a significant unresolved issue.

Question 3

Embodied energy is typically calculated in terms of ____ of energy.
A) Btus
B) megajoules
C) kilojoules
D) kilowatts

Accepted Answer

Embodied energy is typically measured in megajoules, which is a standard unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI).

Question 4

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimate that construction of the average home uses tons of materials and produces ____ lbs of construction waste.
A) 2,000
B) 5,000
C) 8,000
D) 10,000

Accepted Answer

The construction of the average home produces approximately 8,000 lbs of construction waste, according to estimates by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Question 5

The ____ island effect is due primarily to the increased use of materials that absorb heat during the day and release it after sunset, raising the air temperatures on warm days and increasing energy demands because of greater air conditioning usage.
A) dark
B) tropical
C) heat
D) equatorial

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "heat island effect," which refers to urban areas becoming significantly warmer than their rural surroundings, primarily due to human activities and the materials used in urban development that absorb and retain heat.

Question 6

The United Nations Development Program estimates that the average American uses ____ gallons of water per day.
A) 39
B) 102
C) 152
D) 179

Accepted Answer

The United Nations Development Program estimates that the average American uses approximately 152 gallons of water per day.

Question 7

Sustainable development practices, such as traditional neighborhood development, also known as ____, work to combine residential, retail, and office uses in close proximity to reduce driving miles and encourage walking.
A) urban development
B) new neighborhoods
C) compact urbanism
D) new urbanism

Accepted Answer

New Urbanism is the development approach that combines different types of uses—residential, retail, and office—in close proximity to encourage walking and reduce the need for driving, aligning with sustainable development practices.

Question 8

One of the first organized green home programs to appear was in ____ where the city-owned electric utility recognized the need to reduce electricity demand to avoid the construction of another power plant.
A) Gainesville, Florida
B) Austin, Texas
C) San Diego, California
D) Saint Louis, Missouri

Accepted Answer

Austin, Texas, was one of the first cities to implement an organized green home program through its city-owned electric utility, Austin Energy. This initiative was part of an effort to reduce electricity demand and avoid the need for constructing additional power plants.

Question 9

Choosing a sustainable new home can be daunting. ____ is the most critical first step.
A) Cost
B) Airtight construction
C) A properly sized and installed heating and cooling system
D) Energy efficiency

Accepted Answer

Energy efficiency is the most critical first step in choosing a sustainable new home because it directly impacts the home's overall environmental footprint and long-term sustainability. Efficient energy use reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves resources, and results in lower utility bills, making it a foundational aspect of sustainability.

Question 10

The Leadership in ____ program is a national green certification program that launched a rating system that takes into account the eight principles of green building within the context of all types of commercial construction.
A) Energy and Environmental Design
B) Green Building
C) Green Design
D) Energy Efficiency and Green Design

Accepted Answer

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is a widely recognized green certification program that evaluates the sustainability and environmental impact of buildings based on various green building principles.

Question 11

Some states, particularly ____, have rigorous energy codes and emissions limits for building materials that are designed to improve indoor environmental quality.
A) California
B) Florida
C) Colorado
D) Oregon

Accepted Answer

California has rigorous energy codes and emissions limits for building materials that are designed to improve indoor environmental quality.

Question 12

Certifications are most easily separated into three categories: the buildings themselves; the people who ____ those buildings; and the products used in the process.
A) design and build
B) live in
C) build
D) evaluate, build, and remodel

Accepted Answer

The answer of Certifications are most easily separated into three...

Question 13

Some programs have a single level of certification, although others have multiple levels. The National Green Building Standard ____.
A) does not have different levels
B) levels are Silver, Gold, and Platinum
C) levels are Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald
D) levels are Silver, Gold, and Diamond

Accepted Answer

The National Green Building Standard has multiple levels of certification, which are Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald.

Question 14

All green building programs certify ____.
A) new single-family homes
B) existing homes that are completely gutted from the interior or the exterior
C) multifamily buildings
D) renovations and additions

Accepted Answer

Most green building programs focus on certifying new single-family homes as they are designed and built to meet specific environmental standards.

Question 15

The amount of whole-house and ____ leakage is a major factor in determining the efficiency of a house.
A) window
B) vent
C) duct
D) fan

Accepted Answer

The amount of whole-house and duct leakage is a major factor in determining the efficiency of a house because leaks in the duct system can lead to significant energy losses, reducing the overall efficiency of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Question 16

Individuals known as ____ raters inspect, test, and certify homes as meeting ENERGY STAR standards.
A) SHES
B) HIS
C) HERS
D) ESS

Accepted Answer

HERS raters, which stands for Home Energy Rating System raters, are professionals who inspect, test, and certify homes for ENERGY STAR standards.

Question 17

ENERGY STAR homes can be certified through two different routes: the Performance Path or the ____ Path.
A) Prescriptive
B) Descriptive
C) Preventive
D) Assimilation

Accepted Answer

The Performance Path and the Prescriptive Path are the two routes through which ENERGY STAR homes can be certified. The Prescriptive Path involves following a set of predefined specifications.

Question 18

In addition to green building and energy efficiency programs, some builders opt to provide ____ and comfort guarantees for their homes.
A) utility
B) construction
C) heating
D) quality

Accepted Answer

The answer of In addition to green building and energy...

Question 19

Developed by the U.S. EPA specifically for existing homes, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is best described as a house ____ program.
A) remodel
B) check-up
C) tune-up
D) renovation

Accepted Answer

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is a "tune-up" program designed to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes through assessments and upgrades.

Question 20

____ accredited training programs are more comprehensive than required for most contractors to build a green home, but do provide an excellent understanding of how a house works and would benefit any interested industry professional.
A) HPI
B) GENNET
C) RESNET
D) BPwES

Accepted Answer

RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) accredited training programs offer comprehensive education on home energy efficiency and performance, which goes beyond the basic requirements for green home construction. This knowledge is valuable for understanding the overall functionality of a house from an energy perspective.

Quiz 1: Green Building: An Overview

Residential buildings consume approximately ____% of the energy produced in the United States for heating, cooling, cooking, water heating, and operating electrical devices.

____, while not emitting pollutants, is produced in plants that are costly to build and operate, and the issue of waste disposal is not yet resolved.

Embodied energy is typically calculated in terms of ____ of energy.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimate that construction of the average home uses tons of materials and produces ____ lbs of construction waste.

The ____ island effect is due primarily to the increased use of materials that absorb heat during the day and release it after sunset, raising the air temperatures on warm days and increasing energy demands because of greater air conditioning usage.

The United Nations Development Program estimates that the average American uses ____ gallons of water per day.

Sustainable development practices, such as traditional neighborhood development, also known as ____, work to combine residential, retail, and office uses in close proximity to reduce driving miles and encourage walking.

One of the first organized green home programs to appear was in ____ where the city-owned electric utility recognized the need to reduce electricity demand to avoid the construction of another power plant.

Choosing a sustainable new home can be daunting. ____ is the most critical first step.

The Leadership in ____ program is a national green certification program that launched a rating system that takes into account the eight principles of green building within the context of all types of commercial construction.

Some states, particularly ____, have rigorous energy codes and emissions limits for building materials that are designed to improve indoor environmental quality.

Certifications are most easily separated into three categories: the buildings themselves; the people who ____ those buildings; and the products used in the process.

Some programs have a single level of certification, although others have multiple levels. The National Green Building Standard ____.

All green building programs certify ____.

The amount of whole-house and ____ leakage is a major factor in determining the efficiency of a house.

Individuals known as ____ raters inspect, test, and certify homes as meeting ENERGY STAR standards.

ENERGY STAR homes can be certified through two different routes: the Performance Path or the ____ Path.

In addition to green building and energy efficiency programs, some builders opt to provide ____ and comfort guarantees for their homes.

Developed by the U.S. EPA specifically for existing homes, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is best described as a house ____ program.

____ accredited training programs are more comprehensive than required for most contractors to build a green home, but do provide an excellent understanding of how a house works and would benefit any interested industry professional.