Discover which power sources are considered green power for LEED certification. Learn why biomass makes the cut while natural gas, nuclear, and clean coal do not meet the strict criteria.
Table of Contents
Question
Which of the following power sources are considered green power?
A. Natural gas
B. Biomass
C. Nu clear
D. Clean coal
Answer
Of the power sources listed, only B. Biomass is considered a green power source under LEED criteria.
Explanation
Biomass is a renewable energy source that can be used to produce electricity from organic plant and waste material. It is considered green power by the U.S. EPA because it provides environmental benefits and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Green power is defined as renewable energy sources that have the highest environmental benefits and lowest adverse impacts. To qualify as green power, an energy source must be generated from renewable sources, and the emissions and environmental impact of harvesting, processing and consuming the energy source must be minimal.
Biomass energy comes from recently living organic materials like wood, crops, and waste that can be burned to produce heat and electricity. As long as biomass feedstocks are sustainably grown and harvested, they are considered renewable and carbon neutral since the CO2 released during combustion is offset by CO2 absorbed during plant growth. This renewable nature and limited net emissions allow biomass to qualify as green power.
In contrast, the other listed power sources do not meet the definition of green power:
A. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that releases greenhouse gases and is non-renewable. While cleaner than coal, it is still not considered a green power source.
C. Nuclear power, while low-emission, relies on finite uranium reserves and generates hazardous radioactive waste. These attributes disqualify it from being categorized as green power.
D. Clean coal is a broad term for technologies that reduce emissions from coal combustion. However, coal is still a non-renewable fossil fuel with significant environmental impacts from mining to burning. Even with emissions reduction, clean coal does not transform coal into green power.
So in summary, biomass is the only energy source listed that is renewable, sustainably sourced, and low-emission enough to be officially classified as green power for LEED certification purposes. The others have certain advantages but fall short of the strict green power criteria.
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