CBP CBP Sustainable Building & Energy Efficiency 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ventilation strategy introduces outdoor air into a building without mechanical equipment by relying on wind pressure and stack effect?
- Balanced mechanical ventilation
- Energy recovery ventilation
- Natural ventilation (Correct answer)
- Demand-controlled ventilation
Correct answer: Natural ventilation
Natural ventilation uses wind pressure differentials and thermal buoyancy (stack effect) to move fresh outdoor air through the building without fans or mechanical systems.
Question 2: A building's Energy Use Intensity (EUI) is expressed as:
- Kilowatt-hours per occupant per year
- BTUs per square foot per year (Correct answer)
- Therms per linear foot of exterior wall
- Watts per ton of cooling capacity
Correct answer: BTUs per square foot per year
EUI is expressed in kBtu (thousand BTUs) per square foot per year and is the standard metric for comparing energy performance across buildings.
Question 3: Which water conservation strategy involves collecting rainwater from rooftops for non-potable uses such as irrigation and toilet flushing?
- Greywater recycling
- Stormwater retention
- Rainwater harvesting (Correct answer)
- Blackwater reclamation
Correct answer: Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting captures precipitation from rooftops, stores it in cisterns, and treats it for reuse in non-potable applications, reducing municipal water demand.
Question 4: In sustainable construction, what is the primary benefit of using locally sourced materials?
- Locally sourced materials always have higher recycled content
- Reduced transportation distances lower embodied carbon and support the local economy (Correct answer)
- Local materials are exempt from building code requirements
- They eliminate the need for a material safety data sheet
Correct answer: Reduced transportation distances lower embodied carbon and support the local economy
Using locally sourced materials reduces the transportation energy and associated carbon emissions, while also supporting regional economies and businesses.
Question 5: An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) differs from a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) in that an ERV also transfers:
- Electrical energy between circuits
- Moisture (humidity) in addition to heat (Correct answer)
- Carbon dioxide from exhaust to supply air
- Particulates through a HEPA filter
Correct answer: Moisture (humidity) in addition to heat
An ERV transfers both heat and moisture between incoming and outgoing airstreams, making it better suited for humid climates, while an HRV transfers heat only.
Question 6: Which on-site renewable energy system is most commonly integrated into commercial building rooftops in the United States?
- Small wind turbines
- Geothermal heat pumps
- Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels (Correct answer)
- Micro-hydropower generators
Correct answer: Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels
Rooftop photovoltaic solar panel systems are the most commonly deployed on-site renewable energy technology for commercial buildings in the US.
CBP CBP Sustainable Building & Energy Efficiency 2
Which ventilation strategy introduces outdoor air into a building without mechanical equipment by relying on wind pressure and stack effect?