CCS CCS Sustainability & Green Building 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ASHRAE standard is most commonly referenced in construction specifications to set minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings?
- ASHRAE 55
- ASHRAE 62.1
- ASHRAE 90.1 (Correct answer)
- ASHRAE 189.1
Correct answer: ASHRAE 90.1
ASHRAE 90.1 — Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings — is the primary energy efficiency baseline referenced in most building codes and green certification programs.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) in a construction project?
- To document the LEED certification strategy
- To outline measures preventing construction runoff from polluting nearby water bodies (Correct answer)
- To specify the type of permeable paving used
- To calculate the site's heat island contribution
Correct answer: To outline measures preventing construction runoff from polluting nearby water bodies
A SWPPP is a site-specific plan required by the EPA's Construction General Permit that details erosion and sediment controls to prevent stormwater pollution during construction.
Question 3: Which green building rating system specifically addresses existing buildings and their operations?
- LEED BD+C
- LEED O+M (Correct answer)
- BREEAM New Construction
- Living Building Challenge
Correct answer: LEED O+M
LEED O+M (Operations and Maintenance) is the LEED rating system designed for existing buildings, focusing on sustainable ongoing operations rather than new construction.
Question 4: What does a Health Product Declaration (HPD) communicate to a construction specifier?
- The product's LEED point value
- The occupational safety rating of the product
- The full disclosure of ingredients and associated health hazards in a building product (Correct answer)
- The indoor air quality test results of an installed product
Correct answer: The full disclosure of ingredients and associated health hazards in a building product
An HPD provides a standardized disclosure of a product's ingredients and any known health hazards, helping specifiers make informed material selection decisions.
Question 5: In sustainability specifications, 'biophilic design' refers to incorporating which element into built environments?
- Photovoltaic solar panels
- Connections to nature and natural patterns (Correct answer)
- Bio-based insulation materials only
- Biological wastewater treatment systems
Correct answer: Connections to nature and natural patterns
Biophilic design integrates natural elements, patterns, and connections to nature into buildings to support human health and well-being.
Question 6: Which specification section would most likely contain requirements for rapidly renewable materials under a LEED project?
- Division 01 — General Requirements
- Division 06 — Wood, Plastics, and Composites
- Division 09 — Finishes
- Either Division 06 or 09 depending on the material (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Either Division 06 or 09 depending on the material
Rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo flooring (Division 09) or bamboo cabinetry (Division 06) appear in the technical sections corresponding to their product type.
CCS CCS Sustainability & Green Building 2
Which ASHRAE standard is most commonly referenced in construction specifications to set minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings?