Exam 3: Green Construction

__________ building is the process of designing and building a home that minimizes its impact on the environment both during construction and over its useful life.

List three renewable energy sources that can be used in green-built houses to reduce reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels.

Green homes require more water for owner use and irrigation than ordinary homes.

When rainwater runs off to a storm drain system, rather than soaking into the ground, it helps recharge the groundwater aquifer.

Explain why green building is desirable for homeowners and their communities.

Green homes are designed and built to manage water at the roof, siding and foundation so the house will last a very long time.

The objective when selecting a lot, planning, and doing site work for a green-built house is to __________.

List five questions that builders should ask when working to determine whether a building material or product is green.

Few professionals in the green home building field feel that green building practices will become standard building practices in the near future.

Naturally occurring gases like radon and water vapor are present in the earth beneath a house; they migrate through the foundation and accumulate inside the house.

Green building projects often employ the "building team" approach to designing, planning and constructing the home. List six key trade contractors who are likely to participate as part of the green building team.

Fiberglass batt insulation that is overstuffed into a wall cavity and has air spaces along the top and bottom may only perform at half the expected insulating value due to the defects.

About __________ of all energy consumed in the US is used in homes for heating, cooling, lighting, hot water, appliances and electrical devices.

The EPA estimates that 20,000 people die each year due to radon-caused __________.

A __________ is a set of standards for green building practices that are followed by the building team and verified by an independent third party.

The pollution inside a home comes from the earth beneath the house, the materials used to build the house, byproducts of operating the house, and the things people bring into the house. With such sources of pollutants in mind, list six specific substances that can contribute to poor air quality inside a home.

The__________includes a list of all the materials and products used to build the house as well as manufacturer printed literature; this resource aids homeowners in operating and maintaining the home so that its green features perform effectively. The __________ compiles this resource for every green home.

Water leaks into homes do more to reduce building performance than any other construction problem.

The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the quality of the air inside a home can be ___________________.

Explain the special considerations builders must take into account as they seek to employ green building practices.