BPI Test 207 correct solutions rated A+.
Home performance - ANSWER is the systematic approach to improving the comfort, health, safety,
energy efficiency, and durability of a home.
The Big 3: - ANSWER Heat, Air and Moisture
Difference in temperature and humidity between areas inside the house, and between the inside and
the outside of the house, are exerting some sort of subtle influence on the conditions in the home.
Home Performance also includes: - ANSWER Occupant health and safety
Indoor air quality and occupant comfort
Durability of materials
Building Science - ANSWER taken from physics chemistry and thermodynamics
Whole-building home performance contractors - ANSWER those professionals whose job is to improve
home performance - need to understand building science.
House-as-a-system: - ANSWER holistic view: the whole-house approach and it's another way to define
building science
Four general categories of building science: - ANSWER Building
Mechanicals
Environment
Occupants
Building Envelope: - ANSWER Foundation
Walls
Roof
Windows
,BPI Test 207 correct solutions rated A+.
Doors
Mechanicals: - ANSWER Heating and cooling and ventilation
Electrical Systems Lighting and appliances
Plumbing Systems
Environment: - ANSWER in this context, refers to managing the indoor environment as the exterior
environment is changing (keeping the interior temperature and relative humidity within acceptable
levels, and ensuring indoor air quality with an adequate amount of fresh air and little to no pollutant
concentrations
Importance of Occupants at a component of buildings - ANSWER Home performance primarily deals
with existing, occupied homes. Occupants are the beginning and the end of the system: they may do
things in a house that affect the other components, and they are certainly on the receiving end when
things like comfort and indoor air quality are affected
Interacting relationship - ANSWER an action taken on one component causes reactions or changes in
other components, or worsens certain pre-exiting conditions (and increases their likelihood of producing
negative effects
Ice dams - ANSWER occurs when warm air melts snow on the roof directly above, but does not melt
snow on the overhangs. Water from the melted snow flows down into the gutters, where it freezes. This
prevents any further melting snow from draining properly. Ice dams can damage the roof and
everything beneath it.
Mechanical ventilation (bathroom fan) - ANSWER could cause air pressure differences between the
inside and outside of the home. If air leakage is present, this could cause the house to leak air at a faster
rate, which, in turn, would create the need for the thermostat to be adjusted more often
Cathedral ceiling - ANSWER Has the same pitch as a roof
vaulted ceiling - ANSWER does not have the same pitch as a the roof; can consist of one or two straight
slopes, or it can be arched. in the case of straight slopes, one wall of the room is taller than the opposite
wall, and the ceiling slopes downward toward the shorter wall.
, BPI Test 207 correct solutions rated A+.
Drawbacks to noon-standard types of ceilings - ANSWER hard to clean, pain, and change light bulbs
cost more to heat and cool
expensive to install
Rafter - ANSWER a sloped framing member that supports the roof
Joist - ANSWER horizontal framing member that supports a ceiling or floor
Stud - ANSWER a vertical framing member that supports an interior or exterior wall
Bay - ANSWER the space between and the size of the wood influence the cavity or bay (indicates the
amount of insulation)
Thermodynamics Definition - ANSWER an are of science that looks at the relationship between heat and
other kinds of energy
1st Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER energy moves from place to place; energy changes form one
form to another; energy cannot be created or destroyed
Energy moves around and changes form.
2nd Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER energy flows naturally from high concentrations to low
concentrations
HEAT moves from warmer to cooler; AIR moves from higher pressure to lower pressure; MOISTURE
moves from wetter to drier
Potential vs. Kinetic Energy - ANSWER Potential energy is stored energy. Think of firewood, or a battery.