CSC Sustainable Design & Green Building Practices 2

Question 1

Which passive solar design strategy uses thermal mass to absorb heat during the day and release it at night?

Accepted Answer

Indirect gain (Trombe wall)

Answer

Indirect gain systems, such as Trombe walls, place thermal mass between the glazing and the living space to absorb, store, and slowly release solar heat.

Question 2

What does the term 'embodied carbon' refer to in green building?

Accepted Answer

Lifecycle GHG emissions from material extraction through construction

Answer

Embodied carbon encompasses all greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout a building's lifecycle, excluding operational energy use.

Question 3

A building with a window-to-wall ratio (WWR) of 40% is being redesigned to reduce cooling loads. Which intervention has the greatest impact?

Accepted Answer

Adding external shading devices on south and west facades

Answer

External shading devices block solar heat gain before it enters the glazing, making them significantly more effective at reducing cooling loads than internal or glass-only measures.

Question 4

Under LEED v4, which credit category addresses the reduction of light pollution from a building?

Accepted Answer

Sustainable Sites (SS)

Answer

LEED v4's Sustainable Sites category includes the 'Light Pollution Reduction' credit, which limits exterior lighting that spills into the night sky or onto neighboring properties.

Question 5

Which green building rating system uses the concept of 'petals' to organize its performance categories?

Accepted Answer

Living Building Challenge

Answer

The Living Building Challenge organizes its stringent requirements into seven 'Petals'—Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty.

(CSC) Certified Sustainability Consultant Practice Test

(CSC) Certified Sustainability Consultant Practice Test

CSC Sustainable Design & Green Building Practices 2