NR 314 Midterm Exam Questions with
correct Answers 2025/2026 100% Verified.
Life Cycle Thinking - ANS-- A holistic view over a product system
- Always question: contribution of an environmental action or event, consequences, and impact
Ecosphere - ANS-earth as a provider (mass/natural resources, energy) and as a sink (wastes
and pollutants)
Technosphere - ANS-The built, manufactured, industrialized, and domesticated aspects of the
world.
carrying capacity - ANS-the rates at which the earths two services (provision, sink) can be
supplied are limited.
Sustainability - ANS-meeting needs or present without compromising our ability to meet future
needs.
Life Cycle Assessment - ANS-a method to assess the environmental impacts of a product,
process, or service; provides a healthy degree of skepticism of environmental argument and
claims.
LCA 1960s - ANS-Concerns over limited resources
•1963: Harold Smith presented in World Energy Conference on energy requirement for
producing chemical products using a LCA-oriented method
•1969: Harry Teasley(Coca Cola) compared beverage packaging
•The US referred similar studies as REPA
•In Europe, similar ideas were developed (namely Ecobalance).
LCA 1970-80 - ANS-Attempt to develop methodological protocol
•Shift focus from postconsumer waste to total solid waste
•US EPA published a LCA study "REPA of Nine Beverage Container Alternatives"
•Experience computation difficulty, lack of standardization
LCA 1990-Present - ANS-1990 -1993: SETAC, officially named this technique as LCA
•1996: International Journal of Life Cycle Analysis
•1997: first edition ISO 14040 released
•2006: US EPA published "Life Cycle Assessment: Principles and Practice"
, Strengths of LCA - ANS-•Is a comprehensive assessment
•Highlights potential environmental tradeoffs
•Provides structure to an investigation
•Challenges conventional wisdom
•Advances the knowledge base
•Fosters communication and discourse
Paper vs Plastic Tradeoffs - ANS-Paper = water use, solid waste generation, energy use, air
pollution
Plastic = ecosystem health
rebound effect - ANS-people use more of other resources as they limit the use of another
resource
Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment - ANS-LCSA = LCA + LCC + SLCA
IPAT equation - ANS-Impact = Population (P) x Necessity for service (A) x Improved
Eco-efficiency (T)
ISO 1990s (Immature) - ANS-Focus on framework
State fundamental principles of LCA
Left methodological choices open (ambiguities)
ISO mid-2000s (Internat'l LC Data System) - ANS-ISO-based
Integrate data and methodology
Aim to improve consistency (reproducible results)
Improve comparability of results published by different practitioners
Publish PEF and OEF in 2012
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) - ANS-est. 1947
iso = equal
US member body = ANSI
ISO 9001 - ANS-Quality Management System
ISO 14001 - ANS-Environmental Management System.
correct Answers 2025/2026 100% Verified.
Life Cycle Thinking - ANS-- A holistic view over a product system
- Always question: contribution of an environmental action or event, consequences, and impact
Ecosphere - ANS-earth as a provider (mass/natural resources, energy) and as a sink (wastes
and pollutants)
Technosphere - ANS-The built, manufactured, industrialized, and domesticated aspects of the
world.
carrying capacity - ANS-the rates at which the earths two services (provision, sink) can be
supplied are limited.
Sustainability - ANS-meeting needs or present without compromising our ability to meet future
needs.
Life Cycle Assessment - ANS-a method to assess the environmental impacts of a product,
process, or service; provides a healthy degree of skepticism of environmental argument and
claims.
LCA 1960s - ANS-Concerns over limited resources
•1963: Harold Smith presented in World Energy Conference on energy requirement for
producing chemical products using a LCA-oriented method
•1969: Harry Teasley(Coca Cola) compared beverage packaging
•The US referred similar studies as REPA
•In Europe, similar ideas were developed (namely Ecobalance).
LCA 1970-80 - ANS-Attempt to develop methodological protocol
•Shift focus from postconsumer waste to total solid waste
•US EPA published a LCA study "REPA of Nine Beverage Container Alternatives"
•Experience computation difficulty, lack of standardization
LCA 1990-Present - ANS-1990 -1993: SETAC, officially named this technique as LCA
•1996: International Journal of Life Cycle Analysis
•1997: first edition ISO 14040 released
•2006: US EPA published "Life Cycle Assessment: Principles and Practice"
, Strengths of LCA - ANS-•Is a comprehensive assessment
•Highlights potential environmental tradeoffs
•Provides structure to an investigation
•Challenges conventional wisdom
•Advances the knowledge base
•Fosters communication and discourse
Paper vs Plastic Tradeoffs - ANS-Paper = water use, solid waste generation, energy use, air
pollution
Plastic = ecosystem health
rebound effect - ANS-people use more of other resources as they limit the use of another
resource
Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment - ANS-LCSA = LCA + LCC + SLCA
IPAT equation - ANS-Impact = Population (P) x Necessity for service (A) x Improved
Eco-efficiency (T)
ISO 1990s (Immature) - ANS-Focus on framework
State fundamental principles of LCA
Left methodological choices open (ambiguities)
ISO mid-2000s (Internat'l LC Data System) - ANS-ISO-based
Integrate data and methodology
Aim to improve consistency (reproducible results)
Improve comparability of results published by different practitioners
Publish PEF and OEF in 2012
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) - ANS-est. 1947
iso = equal
US member body = ANSI
ISO 9001 - ANS-Quality Management System
ISO 14001 - ANS-Environmental Management System.
