SFP Managing Sustainable Facilities 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A facility generates 200 tons of waste annually and diverts 140 tons from landfill. What is the waste diversion rate?
- 60%
- 70% (Correct answer)
- 75%
- 80%
Correct answer: 70%
Waste diversion rate = 140 ÷ 200 × 100 = 70%.
Question 2: Which standard provides the framework for facility energy management systems (EnMS) and is aligned with ISO 14001?
- ISO 50001 (Correct answer)
- ASHRAE 90.1
- ENERGY STAR Guidelines
- ISO 9001
Correct answer: ISO 50001
ISO 50001 establishes requirements for an Energy Management System (EnMS) and shares the Plan-Do-Check-Act structure with ISO 14001.
Question 3: A building's chiller plant efficiency is measured in kW/ton. A lower kW/ton value indicates:
- Higher energy consumption per unit of cooling
- Better chiller efficiency (Correct answer)
- Greater refrigerant charge
- Higher condenser water temperature
Correct answer: Better chiller efficiency
kW/ton measures electrical input per ton of cooling output; a lower ratio means less electricity used per unit of cooling, indicating better efficiency.
Question 4: Which type of green roof provides the greatest stormwater retention capacity but also the greatest structural load?
- Extensive green roof (shallow growing medium)
- Semi-intensive green roof
- Intensive green roof (deep growing medium) (Correct answer)
- Blue roof (water retention layer only)
Correct answer: Intensive green roof (deep growing medium)
Intensive green roofs have deep soil profiles (>6 inches) that hold significantly more stormwater but impose greater structural loads on the building.
Question 5: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which element of sustainable design must NOT compromise accessibility requirements?
- Green roofs
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Accessible parking and pathways (Correct answer)
- Daylighting strategies
Correct answer: Accessible parking and pathways
ADA-mandated accessible routes, parking spaces, and pathways must be maintained regardless of sustainability modifications to the site.
Question 6: A facility manager is evaluating Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). One REC represents:
- 1 megawatt-hour of electricity generated from renewable sources (Correct answer)
- 1 metric ton of CO2 offset
- 1 kilowatt of installed solar capacity
- 1 year of carbon-neutral operations
Correct answer: 1 megawatt-hour of electricity generated from renewable sources
One REC represents the environmental attributes of 1 MWh of electricity generated from a renewable energy source.
Question 7: Which strategy addresses 'sick building syndrome' most directly in an existing facility?
- Installing low-flow water fixtures
- Increasing outdoor air ventilation rates and improving filtration (Correct answer)
- Adding solar panels to reduce energy use
- Replacing all carpet with hard flooring
Correct answer: Increasing outdoor air ventilation rates and improving filtration
Sick building syndrome is primarily caused by poor IAQ; increasing ventilation and improving air filtration directly addresses contaminant dilution and removal.
SFP Managing Sustainable Facilities 4
A facility generates 200 tons of waste annually and diverts 140 tons from landfill.
What is the waste diversion rate?