Discover the unit used for purchasing green power according to the USGBC LEED certification. Prepare for your LEED Green Associate Exam with our expert insights.
Table of Contents
Question
What unit is green power purchased in?
A. Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
B. British thermal units (BTUs]
C. Dollar amount of the purchase price
D. Megawatt-hour per square foot (MWh/sf)
Answer
A. Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Explanation
Green power, like all electricity, is typically purchased in units of kilowatt-hours (kWh). This unit measures the amount of energy used over time. For example, a 1-kilowatt (1000 watts) appliance used for one hour consumes one kilowatt-hour of electricity.
Green power, which is electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydroelectric sources, is purchased in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is the standard unit of measurement for electrical energy consumption.
One kilowatt-hour represents the amount of energy consumed by a 1,000-watt (1 kW) electrical appliance operating for one hour. For example, if a 100-watt light bulb is left on for 10 hours, it will consume 1 kWh of energy (100 watts x 10 hours = 1,000 watt-hours, or 1 kWh).
In the context of LEED certification, projects can earn points under the Energy and Atmosphere (EA) category by purchasing green power. The amount of green power purchased is measured in kWh and must be equivalent to a percentage of the project’s total energy consumption.
The other options provided in the question are incorrect:
- British thermal units (BTUs) measure thermal energy, not electrical energy.
- The dollar amount of the purchase price does not indicate the actual amount of green power purchased.
- Megawatt-hour per square foot (MWh/sf) is not a valid unit for measuring green power purchases.
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.