FMP FMP Sustainability and Environmental Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which certification system is most widely used in the US to recognize high-performance, sustainable building design and operations?
- BREEAM
- WELL Building Standard
- LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) (Correct answer)
- Green Globes
Correct answer: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
LEED, developed by the US Green Building Council, is the most recognized green building certification system in the United States.
Question 2: What does the term 'carbon footprint' measure in a facility context?
- Total floor area occupied by carbon-based equipment
- Total greenhouse gas emissions expressed in CO2 equivalent (Correct answer)
- Amount of carbon-based fuel purchased annually
- Number of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles in the fleet
Correct answer: Total greenhouse gas emissions expressed in CO2 equivalent
A facility's carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions it generates, converted to a CO2 equivalent for standardized comparison.
Question 3: Which federal agency in the US regulates hazardous waste disposal under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)?
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Department of Labor (DOL)
Correct answer: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA administers RCRA, which governs the management and disposal of solid and hazardous waste from cradle to grave.
Question 4: A facility manager wants to reduce potable water consumption. Which strategy has the greatest conservation impact in commercial buildings?
- Installing low-flow faucet aerators in restrooms
- Replacing cooling tower water with reclaimed water (Correct answer)
- Using drought-tolerant landscaping (xeriscaping)
- Installing motion-sensor lighting to reduce heat load
Correct answer: Replacing cooling tower water with reclaimed water
Cooling towers are among the largest water consumers in commercial buildings, so switching to reclaimed water yields the greatest volumetric savings.
Question 5: What is the primary goal of an energy audit in a facility?
- Verify utility billing accuracy
- Identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption and cost (Correct answer)
- Comply with OSHA safety inspections
- Determine property value for insurance purposes
Correct answer: Identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption and cost
An energy audit systematically analyzes energy use to identify inefficiencies and recommend cost-effective conservation measures.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the 'reduce, reuse, recycle' waste hierarchy in order of priority?
- Recycle first, then reuse, then reduce
- Reduce first, then reuse, then recycle (Correct answer)
- Reuse first, then reduce, then recycle
- All three are equal in priority
Correct answer: Reduce first, then reuse, then recycle
Reducing waste generation is the highest priority because it prevents waste creation entirely, followed by reuse, then recycling as a last resort.
FMP FMP Sustainability and Environmental Management 1
Which certification system is most widely used in the US to recognize high-performance, sustainable building design and operations?