BUILDING SYSTEMS AND GREEN BUILDING
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
Juan owns a large commercial property in Montreal and has just installed an
HVAC system that generates heat from a central boiler. Juan does not
understand how the system works and asks you to explain the process to him.
Place the following stages of the boiler-powered HVAC system in order of their
occurrence.
A. An expansion tank regulates the level of pressure in the heating loop.
B. The heated fluid flows into radiators located throughout the building.
C. A natural gas burner ignites air in the combustion chamber.
D. Heated water vapour travels through the heat exchanger into a glycol heating
loop.
(1) C, D, A, B
(2) D, A, C, B
(3) C, D, B, A
(4) D, C, B, A - ANSWER (1) C, D, A, B
The boiler will heat the building in the following steps: a natural gas burner
ignites air in the combustion chamber; heated water vapour travels through the
heat exchanger into a glycol heating loop; an expansion tank regulates the level
of pressure in the heating loop; and the heated fluid flows into radiators located
throughout the building.
Which of the following is FALSE when considering the design of an electrical
system?
(1) Ensuring the electrical system can sustain the energy requirements of
mechanical systems being used in the building
(2) Evaluating the connected loads to ensure a sufficient level of electricity is
supplied during peak seasonal loads
(3) Coordinating the fuses and circuit breakers so that the flow of electricity is
interrupted when a predetermined level of electrical current is breached
(4) Evaluating the connected loads for unforeseen or additional requirements -
ANSWER (2) Evaluating the connected loads to ensure a sufficient level of
electricity is supplied during peak seasonal loads
, The electrician does not evaluate connected loads for the purpose of identifying
peak seasonal loads. This load does not account for the daily or seasonal
variation in loads. It is the building's demand load that determines peak demand.
Option (4) is true since connected load is the sum of all loads connected to each
panel board or switch board and is evaluated to determine spare capacity.
Options (1) and (3) are also true.
Why might investors feel that green buildings are risky to develop?
(1) There may be a lack of integrated systems in the original building design.
(2) Green buildings can require a period of time to calibrate building systems to
optimize performance; this means that any cost savings may be delayed for
several years.
(3) When markets are declining or are in transition, forecasted increases in rent
or declines in vacancy associated with green buildings may not be realistic.
(4) All of the above are risks related to green building development -
ANSWER (4) All of the above are risks related to green building development
(3): inflated and over-optimistic cost-benefit projections. When markets are
declining or are in transition, the forecast increases in rent or declines in
vacancy may not be realistic.
(2): new buildings require a period of time to calibrate building systems (e.g.,
HVAC) to optimize performance. This means that any cost savings may be
delayed for several years.
(1): lack of integrated design in the original building design. The energy-
efficient HVAC system may be under or oversized for the building in relation to
the cumulative impact of solar exposure, daylighting, operable windows, and
energy-efficient LED lighting (reduced heat emission).
Which building type is MOST likely to quickly recoup the energy related
benefits of green building construction in the shortest period of time?
(1) Warehouse
(2) Residential apartment building
(3) Shopping mall
(4) Hospital - ANSWER (4) Hospital
Institutional properties (particularly hospitals) consume large amounts of
energy. Green building design will likely offer these property types the largest
energy savings in the shortest period of time
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
Juan owns a large commercial property in Montreal and has just installed an
HVAC system that generates heat from a central boiler. Juan does not
understand how the system works and asks you to explain the process to him.
Place the following stages of the boiler-powered HVAC system in order of their
occurrence.
A. An expansion tank regulates the level of pressure in the heating loop.
B. The heated fluid flows into radiators located throughout the building.
C. A natural gas burner ignites air in the combustion chamber.
D. Heated water vapour travels through the heat exchanger into a glycol heating
loop.
(1) C, D, A, B
(2) D, A, C, B
(3) C, D, B, A
(4) D, C, B, A - ANSWER (1) C, D, A, B
The boiler will heat the building in the following steps: a natural gas burner
ignites air in the combustion chamber; heated water vapour travels through the
heat exchanger into a glycol heating loop; an expansion tank regulates the level
of pressure in the heating loop; and the heated fluid flows into radiators located
throughout the building.
Which of the following is FALSE when considering the design of an electrical
system?
(1) Ensuring the electrical system can sustain the energy requirements of
mechanical systems being used in the building
(2) Evaluating the connected loads to ensure a sufficient level of electricity is
supplied during peak seasonal loads
(3) Coordinating the fuses and circuit breakers so that the flow of electricity is
interrupted when a predetermined level of electrical current is breached
(4) Evaluating the connected loads for unforeseen or additional requirements -
ANSWER (2) Evaluating the connected loads to ensure a sufficient level of
electricity is supplied during peak seasonal loads
, The electrician does not evaluate connected loads for the purpose of identifying
peak seasonal loads. This load does not account for the daily or seasonal
variation in loads. It is the building's demand load that determines peak demand.
Option (4) is true since connected load is the sum of all loads connected to each
panel board or switch board and is evaluated to determine spare capacity.
Options (1) and (3) are also true.
Why might investors feel that green buildings are risky to develop?
(1) There may be a lack of integrated systems in the original building design.
(2) Green buildings can require a period of time to calibrate building systems to
optimize performance; this means that any cost savings may be delayed for
several years.
(3) When markets are declining or are in transition, forecasted increases in rent
or declines in vacancy associated with green buildings may not be realistic.
(4) All of the above are risks related to green building development -
ANSWER (4) All of the above are risks related to green building development
(3): inflated and over-optimistic cost-benefit projections. When markets are
declining or are in transition, the forecast increases in rent or declines in
vacancy may not be realistic.
(2): new buildings require a period of time to calibrate building systems (e.g.,
HVAC) to optimize performance. This means that any cost savings may be
delayed for several years.
(1): lack of integrated design in the original building design. The energy-
efficient HVAC system may be under or oversized for the building in relation to
the cumulative impact of solar exposure, daylighting, operable windows, and
energy-efficient LED lighting (reduced heat emission).
Which building type is MOST likely to quickly recoup the energy related
benefits of green building construction in the shortest period of time?
(1) Warehouse
(2) Residential apartment building
(3) Shopping mall
(4) Hospital - ANSWER (4) Hospital
Institutional properties (particularly hospitals) consume large amounts of
energy. Green building design will likely offer these property types the largest
energy savings in the shortest period of time
