MArch Master of Architecture Environmental Systems & Sustainability 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Passivhaus (Passive House) standard achieves extremely low energy consumption primarily through which combination of strategies?
- Large solar panel arrays and geothermal heat pumps
- Superinsulation, airtight construction, heat recovery ventilation, and minimal thermal bridges (Correct answer)
- Green roofs and recycled material specifications
- Triple glazing alone without changes to the building envelope
Correct answer: Superinsulation, airtight construction, heat recovery ventilation, and minimal thermal bridges
Passivhaus dramatically reduces energy use through a very high-performance building envelope combined with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery to maintain air quality.
Question 2: In building energy modeling, what does 'EUI' (Energy Use Intensity) measure?
- The peak electrical demand of all mechanical equipment
- Annual energy use per square foot of building area (kBtu/sf/yr) (Correct answer)
- The carbon intensity of the electrical grid supplying a building
- The ratio of glazed to opaque wall area
Correct answer: Annual energy use per square foot of building area (kBtu/sf/yr)
EUI normalizes a building's total annual energy consumption by its floor area, allowing meaningful comparison of energy performance across buildings of different sizes.
Question 3: A 'green roof' (vegetated roof) provides which primary environmental benefits in urban settings?
- Increased structural load capacity and UV resistance
- Stormwater retention, urban heat island reduction, and improved building insulation (Correct answer)
- Enhanced WiFi signal transmission across the roof
- Fire resistance rating improvement for the roof assembly
Correct answer: Stormwater retention, urban heat island reduction, and improved building insulation
Green roofs absorb rainfall to reduce runoff, reflect or evapotranspire solar energy to reduce urban heat islands, and add insulating value to the roof assembly.
Question 4: ASHRAE Standard 90.1 is a critical reference for US architects because it establishes minimum requirements for:
- Structural load calculations in seismic zones
- Energy efficiency in commercial buildings, including envelope, lighting, and HVAC (Correct answer)
- Accessibility and ADA compliance
- Indoor air quality and ventilation rates
Correct answer: Energy efficiency in commercial buildings, including envelope, lighting, and HVAC
ASHRAE 90.1 is the primary US energy code baseline for commercial buildings, setting minimum performance levels for building envelope, lighting power density, and mechanical systems.
Question 5: In sustainable site design, what is the primary purpose of a 'bioswale'?
- A planted pathway for pedestrian access through the site
- A vegetated channel that slows, filters, and infiltrates stormwater runoff (Correct answer)
- A landscape feature providing shade for outdoor seating areas
- A type of green wall system attached to a building facade
Correct answer: A vegetated channel that slows, filters, and infiltrates stormwater runoff
Bioswales are landscaped channels that manage stormwater runoff by slowing flow, filtering pollutants through soil and plant uptake, and promoting groundwater infiltration.
Question 6: What does the term 'embodied carbon' refer to in the context of sustainable building design?
- Carbon dioxide released by occupants breathing inside a building
- Greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction, manufacture, transport, and construction of building materials (Correct answer)
- The carbon stored in wood and plant-based materials used in construction
- Annual operational carbon from a building's energy consumption
Correct answer: Greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction, manufacture, transport, and construction of building materials
Embodied carbon encompasses the full lifecycle carbon emissions associated with building materials — from raw material extraction through manufacturing, transport, construction, and end-of-life.
MArch Master of Architecture Environmental Systems & Sustainability 2
The Passivhaus (Passive House) standard achieves extremely low energy consumption primarily through which combination of strategies?