CBP Sustainable Building & Energy Efficiency Flashcards

Which of the following rating systems is the most widely used green building certification program in the United States?

Answer: LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the US Green Building Council, is the most widely recognized and used green building rating system in the US.

A building's 'thermal envelope' refers to:

Answer: The building components that separate conditioned from unconditioned space

The thermal envelope includes all walls, roofs, floors, windows, and doors that separate the conditioned interior from the unconditioned exterior, controlling heat transfer.

What does the R-value of insulation measure?

Answer: The resistance to heat flow through the material

R-value measures thermal resistance — the higher the R-value, the greater the material's ability to resist heat transfer.

Which passive solar design strategy involves using building overhangs to block summer sun while allowing winter sun to enter?

Answer: Solar shading

Solar shading uses fixed or adjustable overhangs, fins, or louvers sized to block high summer sun angles while admitting lower winter sun angles into the building.

In green building, 'embodied carbon' refers to:

Answer: Greenhouse gas emissions from material extraction, manufacturing, and transport

Embodied carbon encompasses all greenhouse gas emissions associated with a building material's life cycle — from raw material extraction through manufacturing, transportation, and installation.

Which of the following best describes a 'cool roof' strategy?

Answer: Installing a roof with high solar reflectance to reduce heat absorption

A cool roof uses highly reflective materials or coatings to reflect solar radiation, reducing roof surface temperatures and lowering cooling energy loads.