Sustainable Design and Green Architecture Flashcards
6 cards from real Architecture and Design 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 Design and Green Architecture flashcards as text
What is 'passive solar design' in architecture?
Answer: Designing building orientation, glazing, and thermal mass to collect, store, and distribute solar energy without mechanical systems
Passive solar design uses architectural elements — south-facing glazing, thermal mass, overhangs, and natural ventilation — to heat and cool buildings without mechanical systems.
A 'green roof' (vegetated roof) provides all of the following benefits EXCEPT:
Answer: Elimination of roof maintenance requirements
Green roofs require regular maintenance including irrigation, weeding, and inspection — they do not eliminate maintenance but provide significant environmental and performance benefits.
What does 'net-zero energy building' mean?
Answer: A building that generates as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis
A net-zero energy building produces as much energy from on-site renewable sources (typically solar) as it consumes over the course of a year.
The 'solar heat gain coefficient' (SHGC) of a window measures:
Answer: The fraction of incident solar radiation that enters the building as heat through the window
SHGC ranges from 0 to 1; lower values mean less solar heat enters, which is preferable for cooling-dominated climates while higher values benefit heating-dominated climates.
Which LEED credit category rewards strategies that minimize site disturbance and protect natural features?
Answer: Sustainable Sites
The Sustainable Sites category in LEED rewards protection of undeveloped land, restoration of habitats, reduction of heat island effect, and stormwater management.
What is 'daylighting' in architectural design?
Answer: The deliberate use of natural light to illuminate building interiors, reducing reliance on electric lighting
Daylighting uses windows, skylights, light shelves, and building orientation to bring natural light deep into building interiors, saving energy and improving occupant well-being.