CCM CCM Sustainability and Environmental Management Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is embodied carbon in the context of construction sustainability?
- Carbon emissions produced by building occupants during operations
- Greenhouse gas emissions from material manufacturing, transport, and construction activities (Correct answer)
- Carbon permanently stored inside concrete structural elements
- Emissions generated solely by HVAC systems during building operation
Correct answer: Greenhouse gas emissions from material manufacturing, transport, and construction activities
Embodied carbon refers to greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing, transporting, and installing construction materials throughout the building lifecycle.
Question 2: What does a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan address on construction sites?
- Fire suppression system design in buildings
- Prevention of oil discharges that could reach navigable waters (Correct answer)
- Chemical spills exclusively in laboratory environments
- Safe transport of hazardous materials to and from the site
Correct answer: Prevention of oil discharges that could reach navigable waters
An SPCC plan is required by the EPA to prevent oil spills from reaching navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, applicable to sites with oil above threshold quantities.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of erosion and sediment control measures on a construction site?
- To improve soil compaction for foundation stability
- To prevent disturbed soil and debris from entering nearby waterways (Correct answer)
- To stabilize building foundations during excavation
- To control pedestrian and worker traffic patterns on-site
Correct answer: To prevent disturbed soil and debris from entering nearby waterways
Erosion and sediment controls protect water quality by preventing disturbed soil and construction debris from washing into nearby waterways.
Question 4: Which energy efficiency standard is most commonly referenced for commercial building envelope design in the US?
- ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.1 (Correct answer)
- OSHA Standard 1926
- IBC Chapter 16
- ACI 318
Correct answer: ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.1
ANSI/ASHRAE 90.1 sets minimum energy efficiency requirements for building envelopes and mechanical systems in commercial buildings and is widely adopted in US building codes.
Question 5: What defines a net zero energy building?
- A building with absolutely no electricity usage
- A building that produces as much energy from renewable sources as it consumes annually (Correct answer)
- A building powered entirely by nuclear energy
- A building with zero utility costs due to subsidies
Correct answer: A building that produces as much energy from renewable sources as it consumes annually
A net zero energy building balances its annual energy consumption with an equivalent amount of renewable energy produced on-site or off-site.
Question 6: Which Section of the Clean Water Act requires a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers before dredging or filling wetlands?
- Section 401
- Section 404 (Correct answer)
- Section 402
- Section 301
Correct answer: Section 404
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers for any discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands.
CCM CCM Sustainability and Environmental Management Questions and Answers 2
What is embodied carbon in the context of construction sustainability?