OBJ 1.2 Flashcards
(38 cards)
Natural ventilation
The process of moving air through an indoor space without the use of a mechanical system. Natural ventilation typically uses pressure differences between spaces to drive air between areas.
Rainwater harvesting
The process of collecting, diverting, and storing rainwater for later use. Commonly referred to as “gray water,” harvested water can be utilized for irrigation, water closets, and urinals. Unless it is properly treated, it is not suitable for use as potable water.
Photovoltaic (PV) panels
Convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity, which can subsequently be “inverted” to AC electricity to meet an AC load. PV panels can be mounted on the ground or may be attached to building roofs or walls. If they are static, their ideal orientation depends on the sun’s altitude angle. PV panels may also utilize solar trackers to better orient themselves in relation to the sun.
Recycled content (post-consumer vs. pre-consumer)
Post-consumer: Waste material generated by end users that can no longer be used for its intended purpose.
Pre-consumer: Material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. Use of products that utilize post-consumer and pre-consumer waste in their production reduces the amount of waste produced.
Stormwater runoff management
Stormwater runoff from a project site can overwhelm the surrounding ecosystem, so managing it is an important principle of sustainable design. Some ways to reduce runoff include using landscape areas to complement hardscape, rainwater harvesting, using permeable and semipermeable pavers, and retaining water on-site to release gradually over a longer period of time.
Direct gain
In passive solar heating, south windows that allow heat from the winter sun to directly absorb into the thermal mass inside the building.
Insolation
Solar radiation.
Geothermal systems
Energy-efficient heating method that collects heat from under the Earth’s surface using a heat pump system and delivers it into a building to supplement the heating demand and reduce the carbon footprint.
Aquifer thermal energy storage
Energy-efficient method to heat and cool a building through the storage and recovery of thermal energy from groundwater in an aquifer. Cold groundwater is collected in winter months and stored for use in the warm months, and vice versa. The cold water that is used and subsequently warmed can also be stored as warm water for cool months.
Building commissioning
Process used on new construction that verifies that systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire suppression, lighting, etc.) are all functioning according to the design and the owner’s requirements. This encourages energy efficiency and lower maintenance and operating costs.
Structural insulated panels
High-performance wall system that consists of an insulating foam core between two structural facings (such as OSB ). They are strong, energy efficient, and built in a controlled factory environment that maintains consistency and quality.
Sick building syndrome
A series of symptoms connected with the phenomenon of building occupants feeling sick when they are in a building, and then recovering when they leave the building.
Smart growth
An approach that protects open space and farmland by emphasizing development with houses, jobs, and services near each other.
Xeriscaping
Landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate potable water use in irrigation through the planting of native and adapted species of vegetation and the use of other water-conserving techniques.
Passive design
A design strategy that uses natural climatic conditions to heat, cool, and light a building.
Reclaimed water
Wastewater that has been treated and purified for nonpotable uses.
Commissioning
Verification after construction that a structure and its systems and subsystems meet project requirements as intended and designed.
Environmental product declaration
A standardized, internationally recognized comprehensive tool for providing information on a product’s environmental impact based on an ISO-compliant life cycle assessment (LCA) and verification by a third party. It includes the life cycle of the product, energy use and efficiency during manufacture, transportation methods, and end-of-service-life recycling.
Aeroponics
Process of growing plants in suspension in an air or mist environment without the use of soil.
Rapidly renewable materials
Fiber- or animal-based material that can be grown, harvested, or manufactured in ten years or less.
Gray water
Wastewater from kitchens, laundry, and bath fixtures, but not toilets.
Blackwater
Wastewater from toilets.
Closed-loop (geothermal)
Closed-loop is a term used to describe a geothermal heat pump system with a continuous loop of plastic pipe as the heat exchanger. It is a “closed” system where water or antifreeze recirculates through the pipes. The loops can be either vertical (drilled) pipes or horizontal (trenched) pipes, depending on site conditions. Closed loops can also be installed in ponds and lakes.
Open-loop (geothermal)
Open-loop describes a geothermal heat pump system that uses a well or surface water for source fluid and discharges to the surface or groundwater. It is also known as a pump-and-dump or once-through.
