Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Flashcards
7 cards from real ASHE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Sustainability & Energy Efficiency flashcards as text
Which type of lighting control strategy offers the greatest energy savings in low-occupancy healthcare corridors?
Answer: Occupancy sensors with bi-level switching
Occupancy sensors with bi-level switching reduce light levels to a minimum when no occupants are detected while maintaining required egress illumination levels.
A healthcare facility's cooling tower uses drift eliminators. What environmental benefit do drift eliminators primarily provide?
Answer: Prevent water droplets containing Legionella from being discharged to the atmosphere
Drift eliminators trap entrained water droplets before they exit the cooling tower, reducing both water loss and the risk of Legionella aerosolization.
In healthcare, 'plug load management' refers to controlling energy used by:
Answer: Electrical equipment plugged into standard receptacles
Plug loads from computers, monitors, medical devices, and appliances can account for 25–40% of a hospital's electricity use and are managed through smart strips and power management policies.
Which water-side economizer strategy can save significant chiller energy in cooler climates?
Answer: Waterside economizer (free cooling) using the cooling tower in winter
Waterside economizers use the cooling tower to directly cool chilled water when outdoor temperatures allow, bypassing or unloading the chiller entirely.
A hospital's steam system has significant condensate return losses. What is the most direct sustainability impact of poor condensate return?
Answer: Wasted energy, treated water, and chemicals since condensate must be replaced with cold makeup water
Condensate returned to the boiler is hot, treated, and demineralized water; losing it wastes the energy it contains and requires chemically treating cold replacement water.
ENERGY STAR certification for hospitals requires benchmarking energy performance using which tool?
Answer: EPA Portfolio Manager
EPA Portfolio Manager is the online benchmarking tool used to calculate the ENERGY STAR score and apply for certification for eligible building types including hospitals.
What is the sustainability advantage of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems in smaller healthcare outpatient facilities?
Answer: Ability to simultaneously heat and cool different zones with heat recovery
Heat recovery VRF systems transfer heat from zones that need cooling to zones that need heating simultaneously, reducing total energy consumption significantly.