Learn which renewable energy strategy meets LEED requirements for green building certification. Detailed explanation of solar hot water, RECs, and more. Ace the USGBC LEED Green Associate Exam.
Table of Contents
Question
Which of the following strategies meets energy demand with renewable energy?
A. Installing a solar hot water heater
B. Incinerating waste to heat a home
C. Implementing a composting program in an office break room
D. Purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)from a clean coal plant
Answer
A. Installing a solar hot water heater
Explanation
Installing a solar hot water heater is a strategy that meets energy demand with renewable energy. Solar hot water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat water, reducing the need for non-renewable energy sources.
A solar hot water heater is a renewable energy technology that harnesses solar thermal energy to heat water. Solar collectors, usually mounted on the roof, absorb sunlight and transfer the heat to a fluid that circulates through the collectors. This heated fluid then passes through a heat exchanger in a storage tank, warming the water inside. Solar hot water systems offset the need for conventional water heating fuels like natural gas or electricity, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on finite energy sources.
Installing a solar hot water heater is an effective renewable energy strategy that aligns with LEED’s goals of increasing energy efficiency and encouraging clean energy in green buildings. Solar water heating can significantly reduce a building’s energy consumption for water heating needs.
The other options do not meet the criteria of renewable energy as defined by LEED:
B. Incinerating waste to heat a home – While waste-to-energy incineration makes use of municipal solid waste, it is not considered a renewable energy source. Incineration still produces greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.
C. Implementing a composting program in an office break room – Composting is a sustainable waste management practice but does not generate renewable energy to meet building energy demands.
D. Purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from a clean coal plant – Clean coal is not a renewable energy source. It is a term used to describe various technologies that aim to reduce the environmental impact of coal-based electricity generation. However, coal itself is a finite, fossil-fuel resource. RECs are tradable certificates that represent the environmental attributes of renewable energy generation, but purchasing RECs from a clean coal plant would be misleading and invalid.
Therefore, installing a solar hot water heater (choice A) is the only strategy listed that genuinely meets energy demand with renewable energy, making it the correct answer for this LEED exam question.
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.