Sustainable Design Practices Flashcards

In Envision, what is the minimum threshold a project must meet before receiving credit points for a given credit?

Answer: Improved

Improved is the baseline achievement level in Envision; projects must demonstrate improvement beyond standard practice to earn any credit points.

A transit agency designs a new rail corridor to connect underserved neighborhoods to employment centers. Which Envision Quality of Life credit does this MOST directly address?

Answer: QL2.2 Improve Mobility for All Users

QL2.2 specifically rewards infrastructure that improves mobility and access for all users, including underserved populations.

Which design strategy addresses both stormwater quality and quantity while also providing community green space?

Answer: Bioswales and constructed wetlands

Bioswales and constructed wetlands treat and attenuate stormwater while creating ecological habitat and publicly accessible green space.

What is the primary distinction between 'mitigation' and 'restoration' in Envision's Natural World category?

Answer: Mitigation reduces ongoing harm; restoration actively improves degraded conditions beyond pre-project baseline

Mitigation reduces project-related impacts, while restoration goes further by improving ecological conditions above the pre-project baseline to achieve higher Envision levels.

A project specifies locally sourced aggregate within 500 miles of the project site. Which sustainability benefit does this MOST directly address?

Answer: Reduced transportation-related emissions and support for regional economy

Local sourcing reduces the transportation distance and associated fuel combustion emissions, while also supporting regional suppliers and economies.

Which of the following BEST describes 'adaptive management' in sustainable infrastructure design?

Answer: A structured process of monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting management actions based on observed outcomes

Adaptive management is a systematic approach that uses monitoring data to evaluate whether actions are achieving goals and adjusts strategies accordingly.

Under Envision, which credit category most directly addresses a project's contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions during operations?

Answer: Resource Allocation

Resource Allocation includes credits for reducing operational energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions from infrastructure operations.