CSI Sustainable Design & Green Building Specifications 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which LEED rating system category awards points for using materials with recycled content?
- Energy & Atmosphere
- Materials & Resources (Correct answer)
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Sustainable Sites
Correct answer: Materials & Resources
The Materials & Resources (MR) category in LEED awards credits for using materials with recycled content, reducing demand for virgin resources.
Question 2: Under MasterFormat, sustainable design requirements are typically specified in which section?
- Division 01 - General Requirements (Correct answer)
- Division 02 - Existing Conditions
- Division 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection
- Division 09 - Finishes
Correct answer: Division 01 - General Requirements
Division 01 General Requirements is where project-wide sustainability procedures, LEED documentation requirements, and green building goals are specified.
Question 3: What does the term 'EPD' stand for in sustainable building specifications?
- Environmental Performance Declaration
- Energy Performance Document
- Environmental Product Declaration (Correct answer)
- Elemental Product Database
Correct answer: Environmental Product Declaration
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized, third-party verified document reporting the environmental impact of a product over its lifecycle.
Question 4: Which standard governs the calculation of embodied carbon in building materials for specification purposes?
- ISO 14044 (Correct answer)
- ASTM E1060
- ASHRAE 90.1
- ANSI A208.1
Correct answer: ISO 14044
ISO 14044 provides requirements and guidelines for life cycle assessment (LCA), which is the methodology used to calculate embodied carbon in building materials.
Question 5: When specifying volatile organic compound (VOC) limits for interior paints, which specification section is most appropriate?
- Section 07 90 00 - Joint Protection
- Section 09 90 00 - Paints and Coatings (Correct answer)
- Section 01 81 13 - Sustainable Design Requirements
- Section 08 80 00 - Glazing
Correct answer: Section 09 90 00 - Paints and Coatings
VOC limits for interior paints are specified in Section 09 90 00 Paints and Coatings, where the product performance and composition requirements are stated.
Question 6: A 'cradle-to-gate' analysis in a life cycle assessment covers which phases?
- Raw material extraction through end-of-life disposal
- Raw material extraction through manufacturing (Correct answer)
- Manufacturing through construction
- Construction through building operation
Correct answer: Raw material extraction through manufacturing
Cradle-to-gate analysis covers raw material extraction, transport, and manufacturing up to the factory gate, before the product is shipped to the construction site.
Question 7: Which certification body administers the WELL Building Standard focused on occupant health?
- U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) (Correct answer)
- Green Building Initiative (GBI)
- Building Research Establishment (BRE)
Correct answer: International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) administers the WELL Building Standard, which focuses on human health and wellness in the built environment.
CSI Sustainable Design & Green Building Specifications 1
Which LEED rating system category awards points for using materials with recycled content?