Sustainable Building Design and Energy Efficiency Flashcards
6 cards from real Building Engineering practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Sustainable Building Design and Energy Efficiency flashcards as text
What does the R-value of insulation measure?
Answer: Resistance to heat flow — higher R-value means better insulating performance
R-value quantifies a material's thermal resistance; doubling the thickness of insulation approximately doubles the R-value and halves heat flow through the assembly.
What is greywater and how is it used in sustainable building design?
Answer: Lightly contaminated wastewater from sinks and showers reused for toilet flushing or irrigation
Greywater from lavatories, showers, and laundry contains minimal contaminants and can be treated and reused for toilet flushing or landscape irrigation, significantly reducing potable water demand.
What is net-zero energy building (NZEB) design?
Answer: A building that generates as much renewable energy annually as it consumes from the grid
NZEBs balance annual energy production from on-site renewables (typically solar PV) against total energy consumption, achieving a net annual energy balance of zero.
What is the purpose of a green roof (vegetated roof) on a building?
Answer: To reduce stormwater runoff, improve insulation, and mitigate urban heat island effect
Green roofs slow and reduce stormwater runoff, provide insulation, reduce cooling loads through evapotranspiration, extend membrane life, and reduce urban heat island temperatures.
What does fenestration refer to in building envelope design?
Answer: The placement, size, and type of windows, doors, and other glazed openings
Fenestration encompasses all glazed openings in the building envelope and their performance characteristics including solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), U-factor, visible transmittance, and air leakage.
What is the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of a window?
Answer: The fraction of incident solar radiation that enters the building through the glazing
SHGC ranges from 0 to 1; lower SHGC blocks more solar heat gain and is preferred in cooling-dominated climates, while higher SHGC aids passive heating in cold climates.