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Cosc 354 : Exam 1 Questions and Answers
7 Pillars of Sustainable Construction
Ans: - Sustainable Design
- Durability
- Energy Efficiency
- Waste Reduction
- Indoor Air Quality
- Water Conservation
- Sustainable Building Materials
Sustainable Design
Ans: - Also known as "Green Design"
- The holistic approach from the design team to provide the intention of
minimizing or circumventing negative environmental impacts
- Step 1 of the process
Durability
Ans: - Selecting building materials that can stand the test of time.
- less frequent maintenance, less frequent replacements, which
decreases the net-impact.
Energy Efficiency
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Ans: - Design strategies and techniques to minimize energy use during
the planning, build, and ongoing upkeep of any building or project.
Waste Reduction
Ans: - Processes and strategies that minimize waste during the
construction of a project
- Promotes the need for recycling and using recycled materials.
- Pushes for the reuse of existing buildings (renovations) rather than new
builds.
- Note: 32% of construction materials in landfills were because of
demolition of buildings.
Indoor Air Quality
Ans: - Improving and Promoting indoor air-quality which in-turn
promotes healthy and comfortable spaces.
- The #1 compliant in a building is "comfort".
Water Conservation
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Ans: - Minimizing the use of water during the material production but
also during the use of the building.
- Low-flow water fixtures (toilets and urinals)
- Rainwater Harvesting
- Efficient Irrigation - or no irrigation (plants that don't need much water
for survivability)
- Monitoring water use through technology
Sustainable Building Materials
Ans: Using materials that have been created usingrenewable or
recycledmaterials, produced withminimal waste output andthose that are
designed forlong-term use andreusability.
Life Cycle Analysis
Ans: The method to quantify the environmental impacts associated with
materials and buildings.
How is the Life Cycle Analysis Quantified?
Ans: Through the Cradle-to-Grave analysis
Cradle-to-Grave
Ans: Environmental impact from creation to usage
Cradle-to-Gate
Ans: Environmental impact from creation to until leaves factory
Design-Bid-Build
© 2025 All rights reserved
Cosc 354 : Exam 1 Questions and Answers
7 Pillars of Sustainable Construction
Ans: - Sustainable Design
- Durability
- Energy Efficiency
- Waste Reduction
- Indoor Air Quality
- Water Conservation
- Sustainable Building Materials
Sustainable Design
Ans: - Also known as "Green Design"
- The holistic approach from the design team to provide the intention of
minimizing or circumventing negative environmental impacts
- Step 1 of the process
Durability
Ans: - Selecting building materials that can stand the test of time.
- less frequent maintenance, less frequent replacements, which
decreases the net-impact.
Energy Efficiency
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Ans: - Design strategies and techniques to minimize energy use during
the planning, build, and ongoing upkeep of any building or project.
Waste Reduction
Ans: - Processes and strategies that minimize waste during the
construction of a project
- Promotes the need for recycling and using recycled materials.
- Pushes for the reuse of existing buildings (renovations) rather than new
builds.
- Note: 32% of construction materials in landfills were because of
demolition of buildings.
Indoor Air Quality
Ans: - Improving and Promoting indoor air-quality which in-turn
promotes healthy and comfortable spaces.
- The #1 compliant in a building is "comfort".
Water Conservation
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Ans: - Minimizing the use of water during the material production but
also during the use of the building.
- Low-flow water fixtures (toilets and urinals)
- Rainwater Harvesting
- Efficient Irrigation - or no irrigation (plants that don't need much water
for survivability)
- Monitoring water use through technology
Sustainable Building Materials
Ans: Using materials that have been created usingrenewable or
recycledmaterials, produced withminimal waste output andthose that are
designed forlong-term use andreusability.
Life Cycle Analysis
Ans: The method to quantify the environmental impacts associated with
materials and buildings.
How is the Life Cycle Analysis Quantified?
Ans: Through the Cradle-to-Grave analysis
Cradle-to-Grave
Ans: Environmental impact from creation to usage
Cradle-to-Gate
Ans: Environmental impact from creation to until leaves factory
Design-Bid-Build
© 2025 All rights reserved
