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
A hospital engineering team is evaluating thermal energy storage (TES). What is the primary operational benefit in a healthcare context?
Answer: Shifts chiller operation to off-peak hours to reduce demand charges
TES systems store chilled water or ice during low-cost off-peak hours, then discharge during peak demand periods, reducing peak demand charges and utility costs.
The Facility Condition Index (FCI) is most useful for sustainability planning because it helps prioritize:
Answer: Capital renewal investments in aging infrastructure to improve efficiency
FCI quantifies deferred maintenance needs relative to asset replacement value, helping facilities prioritize which aging, inefficient systems should be replaced for operational and energy benefits.
In the context of healthcare sustainability, what does 'Scope 3 emissions' typically include for a hospital?
Answer: Employee commuting, supply chain, and patient transportation
Scope 3 covers all indirect emissions not included in Scope 2, such as staff commuting, supply chain manufacturing, and waste disposal associated with the hospital's activities.
Which healthcare-specific factor most complicates achieving significant lighting energy savings compared to typical commercial buildings?
Answer: 24/7 operations and clinical task lighting requirements that limit occupancy-based shutoffs
Hospitals operate continuously with clinical areas requiring specific illuminance levels at all times, making aggressive daylight-only or full-shutoff strategies impractical compared to office buildings.
A healthcare facility achieves an ENERGY STAR score of 75. What does this indicate?
Answer: The facility performs better than 75% of similar hospitals nationwide
An ENERGY STAR score of 75 means the facility's energy performance is better than 75% of comparable hospital facilities in the EPA Portfolio Manager database.
What is the key sustainability benefit of installing sub-metering throughout a healthcare campus?
Answer: Granular consumption data identifies high-use areas and supports targeted efficiency improvements
Sub-metering provides department- or system-level energy data that allows facilities managers to pinpoint waste, benchmark performance, and measure the impact of efficiency projects.
When designing a high-performance healthcare building envelope, what is the primary reason to specify low-emissivity (low-e) glazing?
Answer: To reduce radiant heat transfer through windows, lowering both heating and cooling loads
Low-e coatings reflect long-wave infrared radiation, reducing unwanted solar heat gain in summer and retaining interior heat in winter, thereby decreasing HVAC energy demand.