BArch Bachelor of Architecture Environmental Design and Sustainability 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which passive solar design strategy uses thermal mass to absorb heat during the day and release it at night?
- Direct gain
- Indirect gain (Trombe wall) (Correct answer)
- Isolated gain (sunspace)
- Nighttime ventilation purge
Correct answer: Indirect gain (Trombe wall)
The indirect gain Trombe wall places a massive thermal storage wall behind south-facing glazing; it absorbs solar energy by day and slowly radiates it inward at night.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a 'cool roof' coating in warm climates?
- Increase thermal mass
- Reflect solar radiation to reduce heat gain (Correct answer)
- Improve acoustic performance
- Reduce wind uplift forces
Correct answer: Reflect solar radiation to reduce heat gain
Cool roof coatings have high solar reflectance and thermal emittance, reducing roof surface temperatures and cutting cooling energy loads.
Question 3: In the US, which rating system is most widely used to certify sustainable building design?
- BREEAM
- LEED (Correct answer)
- Living Building Challenge
- WELL Building Standard
Correct answer: LEED
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the US Green Building Council, is the most widely adopted green building certification system in the US.
Question 4: Which orientation of a building's long axis is generally preferred for passive solar performance in the northern hemisphere?
- North–South
- East–West (Correct answer)
- Northwest–Southeast
- Northeast–Southwest
Correct answer: East–West
Orienting the long axis east–west maximizes south-facing façade exposure to winter sun while minimizing east and west exposures prone to overheating.
Question 5: What does the term 'embodied carbon' refer to in sustainable architecture?
- COâ‚‚ emitted during the building's operational life
- GHG emissions from material extraction, manufacturing, and construction (Correct answer)
- Carbon sequestered by on-site vegetation
- Carbon offsets purchased by the owner
Correct answer: GHG emissions from material extraction, manufacturing, and construction
Embodied carbon encompasses the greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing, transporting, and installing building materials across the supply chain.
Question 6: What is daylighting in architectural design?
- Emergency exit lighting powered by batteries
- The controlled admission of natural light into a building to reduce electric lighting needs (Correct answer)
- LED lighting calibrated to the circadian rhythm
- Floodlighting of a building exterior at night
Correct answer: The controlled admission of natural light into a building to reduce electric lighting needs
Daylighting strategically uses windows, skylights, and light shelves to distribute natural light deep into interior spaces, cutting electric lighting energy consumption.
BArch Bachelor of Architecture Environmental Design and Sustainability 1
Which passive solar design strategy uses thermal mass to absorb heat during the day and release it at night?