COSC 354 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
7 Pillars of Sustainable Construction - Answer -- Sustainable Design
- Durability
- Energy Efficiency
- Waste Reduction
- Indoor Air Quality
- Water Conservation
- Sustainable Building Materials
Sustainable Design - Answer -- 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 - Answer -- Selecting building materials that can stand the test of time.
- less frequent maintenance, less frequent replacements, which decreases the net-
impact.
Energy Efficiency - Answer -- Design strategies and techniques to minimize energy use
during the planning, build, and ongoing upkeep of any building or project.
Waste Reduction - Answer -- 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 - Answer -- Improving and Promoting indoor air-quality which in-turn
promotes healthy and comfortable spaces.
- The #1 compliant in a building is "comfort".
Water Conservation - Answer -- 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 - Answer -Using materials that have been created
usingrenewable or recycledmaterials, produced withminimal waste output andthose that
are designed forlong-term use andreusability.
Integrated Design Process - Answer -holistic understanding from all parties (owner,
architect, engineers, contractors) of the buildings design, construction, and operations.
Helps optimize sustainability, energy efficiency, and overall performance.
Whole-systems thinking
Expensive
Why is sustainable building not done on every project? - Answer -Higher Costs
- Eco Friendly Materials
- Technologies
- Higher initial labor costs in design
- Specialized knowledge and skills during construction
Life Cycle Analysis - Answer -The method to quantify the environmental impacts
associated with materials and buildings.
Embodied Energy - Answer -Energy used in construction and material production
Operational Energy - Answer -Energy Used in the building's lifespan
How is the Life Cycle Analysis Quantified? - Answer -Through the Cradle-to-Grave
analysis
Cradle-to-Grave - Answer -Environmental impact from creation to usage
Cradle-to-Gate - Answer -Environmental impact from creation to until leaves factory
Commissioning Process - Answer -systematic process of ensuring that a building
performs in accordance with the design intent, contract documents, and the owner's
operational needs.
This is the process of confirming that the designed energy requirements, and
operational efficiency is being met.
Design-Bid-Build - Answer -- Most Common
- contractor does not start work until the design is complete, and a bid is selected
- Three distinct phases that do not overlap
7 Pillars of Sustainable Construction - Answer -- Sustainable Design
- Durability
- Energy Efficiency
- Waste Reduction
- Indoor Air Quality
- Water Conservation
- Sustainable Building Materials
Sustainable Design - Answer -- 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 - Answer -- Selecting building materials that can stand the test of time.
- less frequent maintenance, less frequent replacements, which decreases the net-
impact.
Energy Efficiency - Answer -- Design strategies and techniques to minimize energy use
during the planning, build, and ongoing upkeep of any building or project.
Waste Reduction - Answer -- 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 - Answer -- Improving and Promoting indoor air-quality which in-turn
promotes healthy and comfortable spaces.
- The #1 compliant in a building is "comfort".
Water Conservation - Answer -- 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 - Answer -Using materials that have been created
usingrenewable or recycledmaterials, produced withminimal waste output andthose that
are designed forlong-term use andreusability.
Integrated Design Process - Answer -holistic understanding from all parties (owner,
architect, engineers, contractors) of the buildings design, construction, and operations.
Helps optimize sustainability, energy efficiency, and overall performance.
Whole-systems thinking
Expensive
Why is sustainable building not done on every project? - Answer -Higher Costs
- Eco Friendly Materials
- Technologies
- Higher initial labor costs in design
- Specialized knowledge and skills during construction
Life Cycle Analysis - Answer -The method to quantify the environmental impacts
associated with materials and buildings.
Embodied Energy - Answer -Energy used in construction and material production
Operational Energy - Answer -Energy Used in the building's lifespan
How is the Life Cycle Analysis Quantified? - Answer -Through the Cradle-to-Grave
analysis
Cradle-to-Grave - Answer -Environmental impact from creation to usage
Cradle-to-Gate - Answer -Environmental impact from creation to until leaves factory
Commissioning Process - Answer -systematic process of ensuring that a building
performs in accordance with the design intent, contract documents, and the owner's
operational needs.
This is the process of confirming that the designed energy requirements, and
operational efficiency is being met.
Design-Bid-Build - Answer -- Most Common
- contractor does not start work until the design is complete, and a bid is selected
- Three distinct phases that do not overlap
