CEP Sustainability & Resource Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which framework uses the concept of 'planetary boundaries' to define a safe operating space for humanity?
- Brundtland Report
- Stockholm Resilience Centre model (Correct answer)
- UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
- IPCC AR6 framework
Correct answer: Stockholm Resilience Centre model
The Stockholm Resilience Centre developed the planetary boundaries framework identifying nine Earth-system processes with safe limits.
Question 2: A city wants to reduce urban heat island effect while managing stormwater. Which green infrastructure approach best addresses both goals simultaneously?
- Installing cool roofs only
- Constructing bioswales with native vegetation (Correct answer)
- Expanding impervious parking structures
- Planting monoculture street trees
Correct answer: Constructing bioswales with native vegetation
Bioswales with native vegetation filter stormwater runoff while the vegetation provides evapotranspiration cooling that reduces urban heat island intensity.
Question 3: Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, what is the primary planning tool used to protect drinking water sources from contamination?
- Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
- Source Water Assessment Program
- Wellhead Protection Program (Correct answer)
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Correct answer: Wellhead Protection Program
The Wellhead Protection Program designates and protects recharge areas around public water supply wells to prevent contamination.
Question 4: Which solid waste management strategy ranks highest in the EPA's preferred waste management hierarchy?
- Recycling
- Source reduction and reuse (Correct answer)
- Composting
- Energy recovery
Correct answer: Source reduction and reuse
The EPA's waste hierarchy places source reduction (preventing waste generation) and reuse at the top as the most preferred strategy.
Question 5: A regional plan aims to protect agricultural land from urban sprawl. Which land use tool permanently restricts development on farmland?
- Agricultural zoning overlay
- Transferable Development Rights (TDR)
- Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) (Correct answer)
- Urban growth boundary
Correct answer: Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)
PDR programs permanently retire development rights by purchasing agricultural conservation easements, legally restricting land to farming in perpetuity.
Question 6: What does the term 'embodied carbon' refer to in the context of sustainable building?
- Carbon emissions from building occupant energy use
- GHG emissions from material extraction, manufacturing, and construction (Correct answer)
- Carbon sequestered by building landscaping
- Carbon credits purchased to offset building operations
Correct answer: GHG emissions from material extraction, manufacturing, and construction
Embodied carbon encompasses all greenhouse gas emissions associated with building materials and construction processes throughout their lifecycle, excluding operational energy use.
Question 7: Which water conservation concept describes the practice of treating and reusing wastewater on-site for non-potable purposes like irrigation?
- Xeriscaping
- Greywater recycling (Correct answer)
- Aquifer storage and recovery
- Rainwater harvesting
Correct answer: Greywater recycling
Greywater recycling captures lightly used water from sinks and showers for on-site reuse in toilet flushing and irrigation, reducing potable water demand.
CEP Sustainability & Resource Management 2
Which framework uses the concept of 'planetary boundaries' to define a safe operating space for humanity?