CLARB CLARB Environmental Systems and Sustainability Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary goal of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification as applied to landscape architectural projects?
- To maximize the number of plant species on a site
- To recognize sustainable site and building design that measurably reduces environmental impact (Correct answer)
- To ensure all materials are locally sourced within 50 miles
- To mandate the use of renewable energy systems on all projects
Correct answer: To recognize sustainable site and building design that measurably reduces environmental impact
LEED certification recognizes projects that achieve measurable sustainability goals across categories including water efficiency, site ecology, materials, and reduced environmental impact.
Question 2: What does the 'urban heat island effect' describe in built environments?
- The cooling effect provided by urban tree canopy cover
- The elevated air and surface temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas (Correct answer)
- The reflection of sunlight from glass building facades into adjacent spaces
- The localized warming of urban water bodies from thermal discharge
Correct answer: The elevated air and surface temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas
The urban heat island effect occurs when built surfaces absorb and re-emit solar radiation, raising urban temperatures significantly above those of surrounding natural or rural areas.
Question 3: Which green infrastructure practice filters stormwater through engineered soil and plants while also allowing infiltration into the ground?
- Dry detention basin
- Bioretention cell (rain garden) (Correct answer)
- Wet retention pond
- Concrete stormwater channel
Correct answer: Bioretention cell (rain garden)
Bioretention cells (rain gardens) are shallow landscaped depressions that capture, filter, and infiltrate stormwater through engineered soil media and plant roots.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a vegetated (green) roof in sustainable landscape design?
- To provide rooftop agricultural production as the sole benefit
- To reduce stormwater runoff, improve building insulation, and mitigate the urban heat island effect (Correct answer)
- To replace all ground-level landscaping on dense urban sites
- To eliminate the need for building mechanical HVAC systems
Correct answer: To reduce stormwater runoff, improve building insulation, and mitigate the urban heat island effect
Green roofs reduce stormwater runoff volume and peak flow, improve building energy efficiency through added insulation, and help cool the urban environment by mitigating the heat island effect.
Question 5: In sustainable site design, what does 'impervious cover' refer to?
- Dense tree canopy that prevents sunlight from reaching the ground surface
- Hard, sealed surfaces like pavement and rooftops that prevent rainwater from infiltrating the soil (Correct answer)
- Subsurface impermeable geologic layers that restrict deep root growth
- Thick mulch layers applied to reduce surface evaporation
Correct answer: Hard, sealed surfaces like pavement and rooftops that prevent rainwater from infiltrating the soil
Impervious cover includes any sealed hard surface—pavement, rooftops, compacted gravel—that prevents rainwater infiltration, increasing runoff and reducing groundwater recharge.
Question 6: What sustainable design strategy involves specifying high-albedo (light-colored or reflective) paving materials in urban landscape projects?
- Dark surface heat absorption treatment
- Cool pavement strategy to reflect solar radiation and reduce surface heat gain (Correct answer)
- Permeable pavement strategy focused solely on infiltration
- Rubberized surface treatment for pedestrian safety
Correct answer: Cool pavement strategy to reflect solar radiation and reduce surface heat gain
Cool pavement strategies specify light-colored or high-reflectance paving materials that reflect more solar radiation, reducing surface temperatures and mitigating the urban heat island effect.
CLARB CLARB Environmental Systems and Sustainability Questions and Answers 1
What is the primary goal of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification as applied to landscape architectural projects?