Sustainable Practices & Conservation Flashcards
7 cards from real CSC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Sustainable Practices & Conservation flashcards as text
A manufacturing facility wants to reduce water consumption by 30%. Which water conservation strategy offers the highest potential impact in industrial settings?
Answer: Implementing closed-loop cooling water systems
Closed-loop cooling water systems recirculate water rather than discharging it, dramatically reducing industrial water withdrawal.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'regenerative agriculture' in sustainability practice?
Answer: Agricultural practices that restore soil health and increase biodiversity over time
Regenerative agriculture goes beyond sustainability by actively restoring soil health, sequestering carbon, and enhancing ecosystem services.
A company is evaluating its Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. Which category typically represents the largest share for a consumer goods company?
Answer: Purchased goods and services
For consumer goods companies, purchased goods and services (upstream Scope 3) typically represent the largest portion of the value chain emissions.
The EPA's WaterSense program labels products that are at least how much more water-efficient than average?
Answer: 20%
WaterSense-labeled products must be at least 20% more water-efficient than conventional products while maintaining performance.
Which conservation principle does the 'mitigation hierarchy' prioritize first when addressing environmental impacts?
Answer: Avoiding impacts altogether
The mitigation hierarchy follows: Avoid → Minimize → Restore → Offset, making avoidance the highest priority.
A sustainability consultant recommends 'demand-side management' for a utility client. This approach focuses on:
Answer: Reducing customer energy consumption through efficiency and behavioral changes
Demand-side management (DSM) involves utilities implementing programs that reduce or shift customer energy demand rather than expanding supply.
Which metric best measures the ecological efficiency of a building material in terms of carbon?
Answer: Embodied carbon per unit of structural performance
Embodied carbon per unit of structural performance normalizes carbon impact against the functional value provided by the material.