Sustainable Design and Environmental Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real ARE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Sustainable Design and Environmental Systems flashcards as text
Which LEED certification level requires a minimum of 80 points out of 110 possible?
Answer: Platinum
LEED Platinum requires 80 or more points, making it the highest certification level in the LEED rating system.
Which passive solar design strategy involves using heavy materials such as concrete or masonry to absorb, store, and slowly release heat?
Answer: Thermal mass
Thermal mass materials absorb heat during the day and release it at night, moderating interior temperature swings and reducing heating loads.
For optimal passive solar heating in the Northern Hemisphere, a building's primary glazing should be oriented toward which direction?
Answer: South
South-facing glazing maximizes winter sun exposure in the Northern Hemisphere while allowing horizontal overhangs to provide summer shading.
ASHRAE 90.1 is primarily referenced in building design for which purpose?
Answer: Minimum energy efficiency requirements for commercial buildings
ASHRAE 90.1 establishes minimum energy efficiency requirements for commercial buildings and is widely adopted by energy codes such as IECC.
Which program administered by the EPA uses Energy Use Intensity (EUI) as a key metric to benchmark commercial building energy performance?
Answer: ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR uses EUI—measured in kBtu per square foot per year—to compare a building's energy consumption against similar building types nationally.
What is the primary stormwater management benefit of a vegetated green roof?
Answer: Reducing peak stormwater runoff
Green roofs retain rainwater in their growing medium and vegetation, releasing it slowly and significantly reducing peak stormwater runoff volumes.
Which daylighting device is a horizontal reflective surface positioned at or above eye level that redirects sunlight deeper into an interior space?
Answer: Light shelf
A light shelf reflects sunlight onto the ceiling, distributing natural light deeper into the floor plate while reducing glare near the perimeter.