Midterm Vocab

Question 1

smart grid

Answer 1

a class of technology people are using to bring utility electricity delivery systems

Question 2

xeriscape

Answer 2

landscape requiring little or no irrigation

Question 3

blackwater

Answer 3

contaminated water

Question 4

graywater

Answer 4

used water without toxic chemicals

Question 5

stormwater

Answer 5

originated from intense precipitation

Question 6

combined sewer overflow

Answer 6

untreated or partially treated human/industrial waste, toxic materials, debris

Question 7

MS4-municipal separate storm sewer system

Answer 7

urban waste waters intended to be removed from communities

Question 8

HVAC

Answer 8

technologies to control temp, humidity, and purity of air

Question 9

biophilia

Answer 9

innate instinct to connect with nature

Question 10

vernacular architecture

Answer 10

building that is specific to a region/period of time

Question 11

LEED

Answer 11

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Question 12

commissioning

Answer 12

process of assuring that all systems and components of a building or industrial plant are designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained according to the operational requirements of the owner

Question 13

demand response

Answer 13

provides an opportunity for consumers to play a significant role in the operation of the electric grid by reducing or shifting their electricity usage during peak periods

Question 14

carbon offsets

Answer 14

eduction or removal of emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere

Question 15

carbon credits

Answer 15

any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit a set amount of carbon dioxide

Question 16

green power

Answer 16

electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources

Question 17

renewable energy

Answer 17

energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale

Question 18

refrigerants

Answer 18

chemical compound that is used as the heat carrier

Question 19

solar heat gain

Answer 19

increase in thermal energy of a space, object or structure as it absorbs incident solar radiation.

Question 20

thermal mass

Answer 20

ability of a material to absorb, store, and release heat

Question 21

plug load

Answer 21

energy used by products that are powered by means of an ordinary AC plug

Question 22

glazing

Answer 22

the action, process, or trade of fitting windows with glass

Question 23

fenestration

Answer 23

the design, construction, or presence of openings in a building

Question 24

albedo

Answer 24

surface ability to reflect sunlight

Question 25

daylighting

Answer 25

emission of natural light, direct sunlight to reduce electrical light

Question 26

ventilation

Answer 26

the process or act of supplying a house or room continuously with fresh air

Question 27

building envelope

Answer 27

separation of the interior and exterior of a building

Question 28

brownfield

Answer 28

property complicated by presence of hazardous substance, pollutant

Question 29

grayfield

Answer 29

underused real estate or land

Question 30

infill

Answer 30

rededication of land in an urban environment, usually open-space, to new construction

Question 31

impermeable surface

Answer 31

solid surface that will not allow water to penetrate through

Question 32

radiant heating

Answer 32

heat energy transmitted by electromagnetic waves in contrast to heat transmitted by conduction or convection

Question 33

stack or chimney effect

Answer 33

movement of air into and out of buildings, chimneys, flue-gas stacks, or other containers, resulting from air buoyancy

Question 34

life cycle cost

Answer 34

approach that assesses the total cost of an asset over its life cycle

Question 35

green infrastructure

Answer 35

network that provides the “ingredients” for solving urban and climatic challenges by building with nature

Question 36

emissivity

Answer 36

relative power of a surface to emit heat by radiation

Question 37

regenerative development

Answer 37

use of resources to improve society's wellbeing in a way that builds the capacity of the support systems needed for future growth

Question 38

embodied energy

Answer 38

energy associated with the manufacturing of a product or services

Question 39

R-value

Answer 39

measure of thermal resistance

Question 40

air sealing

Answer 40

a seal that prevents the passage of air or vapor

Question 41

REC

Answer 41

Renewable Energy Certificate

Question 42

ground source energy

Answer 42

heating/cooling system for buildings that uses a type of heat pump to transfer heat

Question 43

peak demand

Answer 43

connects top companies in the renewable energy space with the talent they need to grow their businesses

Question 44

photovoltaic

Answer 44

conversion of light into electricity