Learn about regenerative design in LEED certification, where buildings generate their own clean energy and send excess electricity back to the power grid. Discover how these innovative green buildings go beyond sustainability.
Table of Contents
Question
Which is an example of regenerative design?
A. A building with a recycling program
B. Passive house energy building
C. A building that generates electricity and sends the excess to the grid
D. A project that uses sustainable materials
Answer
The best example of regenerative design among the options provided is:
C. A building that generates electricity and sends the excess to the grid
Explanation
Regenerative design goes beyond sustainable design practices to create buildings and communities that not only minimize their environmental impact, but actively work to restore and replenish natural systems. A key aspect of regenerative design is generating renewable energy on-site to power the building’s operations.
A building that produces its own electricity, such as through rooftop solar panels or wind turbines, and is able to feed surplus clean energy back into the electrical grid is an excellent example of regenerative design in action. This type of project doesn’t just aim to be “less bad” in terms of energy use, but actually has a net positive impact by contributing clean power to the surrounding community.
The other options, while environmentally beneficial, do not rise to the level of regenerative design:
A) Having a recycling program is a sustainable practice but does not regenerate resources.
B) A Passive House focuses on energy efficiency but does not necessarily generate renewable energy.
D) Using sustainable materials is important for green building but is not itself regenerative.
So in summary, only option C describes a building that embodies the core regenerative principle of actively restoring natural capital and ecosystem services by generating clean energy and sharing it with the larger electrical grid. This innovative, restorative approach is what distinguishes true regenerative design.
USGBC LEED Green Associate certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the USGBC LEED Green Associate exam and earn USGBC LEED Green Associate certification.