Learn key strategies to reduce anticipated building energy use during the pre-design phase of a project. Discover how maximizing daylighting with properly sized windows can help meet Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and achieve LEED certification. Prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam with expert question explanations.
Table of Contents
Question
During the pre-design phase of a three-story office building, the project team determines that the anticipated energy use of the proposed building will exceed the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). What strategy should the project team consider in order to lower the building’s energy use?
A. Increase the square footage of the building
B. Maximize daylighting opportunities with properly sized and oriented windows
C. Use valid survey protocols to assess occupants’ satisfaction with the indoor environment
D. Monitor and verity performance to ensure that building systems are functioning as designed
Answer
The best strategy for the project team to consider in order to lower the anticipated energy use of the proposed three-story office building is:
B. Maximize daylighting opportunities with properly sized and oriented windows
Explanation
Maximizing daylighting opportunities with properly sized and oriented windows can significantly reduce a building’s energy use. By allowing more natural light into the building, the need for artificial lighting can be reduced, which in turn reduces electricity consumption. Additionally, if windows are properly oriented, they can also help with passive heating and cooling, further reducing energy use.
During the pre-design phase, the project team has the greatest ability to influence the building’s energy performance through passive design strategies like daylighting. Properly sized and oriented windows can reduce the need for electric lighting during daytime hours, thereby lowering the building’s overall energy use. This helps align the design with the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR).
The other options are not the most appropriate:
A. Increasing the building’s square footage would likely increase energy use, not decrease it.
C. Occupant surveys assess satisfaction with the indoor environment after the building is occupied, not during pre-design, and do not directly lower energy use.
D. Monitoring and verifying performance happens during the operations phase after the building is constructed, not in pre-design, so it’s too late to lower anticipated energy use.
Therefore, maximizing daylighting opportunities through strategic window design (choice B) is the best approach for the project team to take in the pre-design phase to reduce the building’s expected energy consumption and meet the Owner’s Project Requirements.
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.