ARE 5.0 PROJECT PLANNING &
DESIGN EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
balance point temperature - ....ANSWER ...-the outdoor temperature at which a
building makes a transition from a heating need to a cooling need
daylight autonomy - ....ANSWER ...-the percentage of an area that meets a min
daylight illuminance level for a specified fraction of the operating hours per year. LEED
credit
daylight factor - ....ANSWER ...-the ratio expressed as a percentage, of the indoor
illuminance at a point on a horizontal surface to the unobstructed exterior horizontal
illuminance.
effective aperture - ....ANSWER ...-the product of visible transmittance and the
window-to-wall ratio
equation of time - ....ANSWER ...-factor used to account for the difference between
solar time and clock time. based on sun position
glazing factor - ....ANSWER ...-LEED based number calculated by taking into
account window area, floor area, a window geometry factor, light transmission and
window height factor.
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 1
,ground light - ....ANSWER ...-Visible light from the sun and sky, reflected by
exterior surfaces below the plane of the horizon
net metering - ....ANSWER ...-the requirement that a utility pay and charge equal
rates regardless of which way electricity flows as part of the utility grid.allows PV's and
wind energy to be sold back
radiation spectrum - ....ANSWER ...-the entire range of electromagnetic radiation
extending from 0Hz to 1023 Hz. includes visible light as well as infrared radiation, radio
waves, gamma rays, etc
radiative cooling - ....ANSWER ...-passive or active design strategy that uses
thermal mass to collect and store heat during the day for release at night. best in climates
where there is significant difference between daytime and night time temperatures such
as the southwest and temperate climates
shading coefficient - ....ANSWER ...-the ratio of the solar heat gain through a
glazing product to the solar heat gain through an unshaded 1/8" thick, clear, double
strength glass under the same set of conditions.
solar constant - ....ANSWER ...-the amount of solar energy that falls in a unit time
on a unit area that is 93,000,000 miles from he sun and oriented on a plane perpendicular
to the sun's rays. the mean value is 433 Btu/hr-ft^2
solar heat gain coefficient - ....ANSWER ...-the ratio of the solar heat gain through
a fenestration to the total solar radiation incident on the glazing. includes directly
transmitted solar heat and absorbed solar radiation. value is between 0 and 1.
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 2
,solar savings fraction - ....ANSWER ...-the fraction of the total energy used by a
system that is provided by solar technology.
solar time - ....ANSWER ...-time as defined by the sun and its position relative to
the earth
visible light transmittance - ....ANSWER ...-the fraction of visible light that passes
through a glazing material
window -to-wall ratio - ....ANSWER ...-ratio of the net glazing area in a room or
space to the gross exterior wall area
stack effect - ....ANSWER ...-difference in pressure between the top and bottom of
a building due to temperature differential
transparent insulation - ....ANSWER ...-consists of a relatively thick layer of poly
carbonate honeycomb material, acrylic foam, or fiberglass sandwiched between layers of
glazing
closed-loop system - ....ANSWER ...-antifreeze or some other transfer medium is
heated in the collector and circulated to a heat exchanger, where the domestic water is
heated by the transfer medium
open-loop sysem - ....ANSWER ...-water is heated directly in the solar collector
flat plate collector - ....ANSWER ...-consist of network of pipes located on an
absorptive black surface with low emissivity, placed below a covering of glass or plastic
focusing collector - ....ANSWER ...-parabolic reflectors that focus the incoming
radiation to a single pipe that carries the heat-transfer medium.
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 3
, thermal storage wall, trombe wall - ....ANSWER ...-high-mass wall placed directly
behind a south-facing glass wall
shadow mask - ....ANSWER ...-plot of the shading effects of surrounding
structures and vegetation on a building using solar heating or daylighting
coproduct - ....ANSWER ...-a marketable by-product from a process.. traditionally
considered to be waste that can be re purposed as raw materials in a different
manufacturing process
demand control ventilation - ....ANSWER ...-a system designed to adjust the
amount of ventilation air provided to a space based on the extend of occupancy.
normally uses carbon dioxide sensors but also uses occupancy or air quality sensors
detention - ....ANSWER ...-temporary storage of storm runoff in a detention facility
to control peak discharge rates and to provide gravity settling of pollutants. gradual
release of stored water
drainage easement - ....ANSWER ...-the legal right granted by a landowner to a
grantee allowing the use of private land for stormwater management
fee in lieu - ....ANSWER ...-payment of money by a developer in place of meeting
all or part of stormwater performance standards
hydrologic soil group - ....ANSWER ...-a classification of soils based on their
potential for runoff when thoroughly wet. group A - contains soils high in gravel and
sand that have high permeability and low runoff potential - group D which contains
clayey soils that have low permeability and high runoff potential
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 4
DESIGN EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
balance point temperature - ....ANSWER ...-the outdoor temperature at which a
building makes a transition from a heating need to a cooling need
daylight autonomy - ....ANSWER ...-the percentage of an area that meets a min
daylight illuminance level for a specified fraction of the operating hours per year. LEED
credit
daylight factor - ....ANSWER ...-the ratio expressed as a percentage, of the indoor
illuminance at a point on a horizontal surface to the unobstructed exterior horizontal
illuminance.
effective aperture - ....ANSWER ...-the product of visible transmittance and the
window-to-wall ratio
equation of time - ....ANSWER ...-factor used to account for the difference between
solar time and clock time. based on sun position
glazing factor - ....ANSWER ...-LEED based number calculated by taking into
account window area, floor area, a window geometry factor, light transmission and
window height factor.
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 1
,ground light - ....ANSWER ...-Visible light from the sun and sky, reflected by
exterior surfaces below the plane of the horizon
net metering - ....ANSWER ...-the requirement that a utility pay and charge equal
rates regardless of which way electricity flows as part of the utility grid.allows PV's and
wind energy to be sold back
radiation spectrum - ....ANSWER ...-the entire range of electromagnetic radiation
extending from 0Hz to 1023 Hz. includes visible light as well as infrared radiation, radio
waves, gamma rays, etc
radiative cooling - ....ANSWER ...-passive or active design strategy that uses
thermal mass to collect and store heat during the day for release at night. best in climates
where there is significant difference between daytime and night time temperatures such
as the southwest and temperate climates
shading coefficient - ....ANSWER ...-the ratio of the solar heat gain through a
glazing product to the solar heat gain through an unshaded 1/8" thick, clear, double
strength glass under the same set of conditions.
solar constant - ....ANSWER ...-the amount of solar energy that falls in a unit time
on a unit area that is 93,000,000 miles from he sun and oriented on a plane perpendicular
to the sun's rays. the mean value is 433 Btu/hr-ft^2
solar heat gain coefficient - ....ANSWER ...-the ratio of the solar heat gain through
a fenestration to the total solar radiation incident on the glazing. includes directly
transmitted solar heat and absorbed solar radiation. value is between 0 and 1.
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 2
,solar savings fraction - ....ANSWER ...-the fraction of the total energy used by a
system that is provided by solar technology.
solar time - ....ANSWER ...-time as defined by the sun and its position relative to
the earth
visible light transmittance - ....ANSWER ...-the fraction of visible light that passes
through a glazing material
window -to-wall ratio - ....ANSWER ...-ratio of the net glazing area in a room or
space to the gross exterior wall area
stack effect - ....ANSWER ...-difference in pressure between the top and bottom of
a building due to temperature differential
transparent insulation - ....ANSWER ...-consists of a relatively thick layer of poly
carbonate honeycomb material, acrylic foam, or fiberglass sandwiched between layers of
glazing
closed-loop system - ....ANSWER ...-antifreeze or some other transfer medium is
heated in the collector and circulated to a heat exchanger, where the domestic water is
heated by the transfer medium
open-loop sysem - ....ANSWER ...-water is heated directly in the solar collector
flat plate collector - ....ANSWER ...-consist of network of pipes located on an
absorptive black surface with low emissivity, placed below a covering of glass or plastic
focusing collector - ....ANSWER ...-parabolic reflectors that focus the incoming
radiation to a single pipe that carries the heat-transfer medium.
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 3
, thermal storage wall, trombe wall - ....ANSWER ...-high-mass wall placed directly
behind a south-facing glass wall
shadow mask - ....ANSWER ...-plot of the shading effects of surrounding
structures and vegetation on a building using solar heating or daylighting
coproduct - ....ANSWER ...-a marketable by-product from a process.. traditionally
considered to be waste that can be re purposed as raw materials in a different
manufacturing process
demand control ventilation - ....ANSWER ...-a system designed to adjust the
amount of ventilation air provided to a space based on the extend of occupancy.
normally uses carbon dioxide sensors but also uses occupancy or air quality sensors
detention - ....ANSWER ...-temporary storage of storm runoff in a detention facility
to control peak discharge rates and to provide gravity settling of pollutants. gradual
release of stored water
drainage easement - ....ANSWER ...-the legal right granted by a landowner to a
grantee allowing the use of private land for stormwater management
fee in lieu - ....ANSWER ...-payment of money by a developer in place of meeting
all or part of stormwater performance standards
hydrologic soil group - ....ANSWER ...-a classification of soils based on their
potential for runoff when thoroughly wet. group A - contains soils high in gravel and
sand that have high permeability and low runoff potential - group D which contains
clayey soils that have low permeability and high runoff potential
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 4
