MArch Master of Architecture Environmental Systems & Sustainability 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the US, which rating system is most widely used to certify the sustainability and energy performance of new commercial and institutional buildings?
- BREEAM
- LEED (Correct answer)
- WELL Building Standard
- Passivhaus
Correct answer: LEED
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the US Green Building Council, is the predominant green building certification system in the United States.
Question 2: Passive solar design strategies orient buildings to maximize solar heat gain in winter while minimizing it in summer primarily through:
- Installing photovoltaic panels on the roof
- South-facing glazing with appropriate overhangs sized to the building's latitude (Correct answer)
- Placing mechanical equipment on the sun-facing facade
- Using dark-colored exterior cladding on all facades
Correct answer: South-facing glazing with appropriate overhangs sized to the building's latitude
South-facing glazing captures low winter sun, while properly sized overhangs block the higher summer sun, reducing both heating and cooling loads passively.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a 'thermal mass' element such as a concrete slab or masonry wall in passive building design?
- To provide structural support for the roof
- To absorb, store, and slowly release heat, moderating interior temperature swings (Correct answer)
- To reduce acoustic transmission between spaces
- To provide vapor barrier protection in wet climates
Correct answer: To absorb, store, and slowly release heat, moderating interior temperature swings
High-density thermal mass materials absorb heat during warm periods and release it slowly during cool periods, reducing peak heating and cooling loads.
Question 4: In HVAC design, what does 'VAV' stand for, and what is its primary advantage in commercial buildings?
- Variable Air Volume; it adjusts airflow to each zone based on demand, saving energy (Correct answer)
- Ventilated Air Valve; it controls fresh air intake to the central unit
- Vacuum Assisted Ventilation; it uses negative pressure to move air
- Variable Altitude Ventilation; it adjusts for building height pressure differentials
Correct answer: Variable Air Volume; it adjusts airflow to each zone based on demand, saving energy
Variable Air Volume systems modulate the volume of conditioned air delivered to each zone, using less energy than constant-volume systems by supplying only what is needed.
Question 5: The 'stack effect' in naturally ventilated buildings refers to which phenomenon?
- Heat buildup in stacked mechanical equipment rooms
- The buoyancy-driven movement of warm air rising and escaping through high openings, drawing fresh air in at low openings (Correct answer)
- Acoustic stacking of floors amplifying noise transfer
- Structural load stacking from upper floors to lower columns
Correct answer: The buoyancy-driven movement of warm air rising and escaping through high openings, drawing fresh air in at low openings
The stack effect exploits the density difference between warm interior air and cooler exterior air to create natural ventilation without mechanical assistance.
Question 6: In daylighting design, a 'light shelf' is a horizontal reflective surface placed in a window assembly primarily to:
- Block all direct sunlight from entering the interior
- Redirect deep penetration of daylight into a room while shading the area below it from glare (Correct answer)
- Support exterior shading louvers structurally
- Reduce condensation on cold glass surfaces
Correct answer: Redirect deep penetration of daylight into a room while shading the area below it from glare
A light shelf reflects daylight upward onto the ceiling, distributing it deeper into the room while the shelf itself shades the immediately adjacent work area from direct glare.
MArch Master of Architecture Environmental Systems & Sustainability 1
In the US, which rating system is most widely used to certify the sustainability and energy performance of new commercial and institutional buildings?