Period required for an energy generating system to harvest the same quantity of energy as was invested in its production | time it takes for E_profit = E_invested

Define the term: Primary energy

Energy that exists in a naturally occurring form, such as coal, before being converted into an end-use form. | Pre-production energy

Define the term: Final energy

Quantity of energy provided to the end consumer after subtracting loss through conversion and transportation. | Usable energy post-production

Define the term: Geothermal energy

The thermal energy generated and stored in the ground. Earth tubes or energy piles in combination with heat pumps can make use of the higher ground temperatures. | Heat from the earth turned into usable energy.

Define the term: Embodied energy

Total of energy required for the extraction, processing and manufacturing of building materials. | Energy used for during the production process

Define the term: Energy storage

A means to retain the energy derived from a primary source for use at a later time.

Define the term: Energy efficiency

Less energy is used to provide the same level of performance, comfort and convenience, also referred to as efficient energy use.

What are the results of saving energy? (Hint: increased fc, eq, n & p security & hc)

Increased financial capital, environmental quality, national and personal security and human comfort.

__% of energy consumption in the EU is from buildings.

What is the aim of energy saving orders? (Hint: Counter _____ _____)

To counter climate change.

What measures need to be taken to follow energy saving orders?

Make more energy efficient buildings with improved insulation, more airtightness and more efficient heating systems.

The energy consumption of a low energy house is what percent of an average house?

How do passive houses (which are almost energy-self-sufficient buildings) provide heating, warm water and electricity?

Passive houses use solar collectors and geothermal energy to provide heating and warm water, and photovoltaic elements to produce electricity.

What is the energy demand per year of passive houses in central Europe?

120 kWh/m^2

Name 3 types of energy efficient houses

Eco house, zero-carbon house, 3 liter house

What does LEED (USA) stand for? (Hint: it is a building certification system)

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

What does BREEAM (UK) stand for? (Hint: BRE- E___ A___ M____)

BRE Environmental Assessment Method

How much does a BREEAM certificate cost for a new office building with a gross floor area of 5000m^2?

3000 Euro

What percentage must be added to production costs for designing, building and certifying a green building? (Hint: _ to _%)

0 to 8%

What does LCA stand for?

Life Cycle Assessment

What is a LCA used for?

It evaluates the environmental impacts of a development from conception through to demolition and disposal, i.e. from cradle to grave.

Name the 4 phases in LCA (Hint: G-L-L-I)

Goal and scope definition, Life cycle inventory analysis, Life cycle impact assessment, Interpretation.

What is the purpose of the Goal and scope definition phase in LCA?

The purpose is to identify the system boundary, the functional unit and determine the level of detail.

What is the purpose of the Life cycle inventory analysis phase in LCA?

This phase involves creating an inventory of all material quantities using product inventory databases.

What is the purpose of the Life cycle impact phase in ICA?

The inventory items from the LCI phase are analyzed for their impacts on human health and the environment.

What is the purpose of the Interpretation phase in LCA?

To check and evaluate the information from the third phase in order to meet the requirements determined in the goal and scope definition phase. The results are used to compare concepts and make improvements.

Define the term: Non-residential building

All buildings which are not used for living purposes.

Define the term: Residential building

A dwelling./ places where people live, and amongst others, include bungalows, blocks of flats and flat sharing communities.

Flip the card and read carefully until you understand the paragraphs about building costs.

The building costs include all the expenses for goods, services and charges necessary to carry out a development. Before planning and constructing a property, the client needs to be aware of all the expenses associated with the development. Architects and engineers have a detailed knowledge of the costs involved and are able to support the client by preparing a realistic cost estimate. The client will then be able to determine the feasibility and affordability of the project. The design team may need to recommend adjustments in order to bring the scope of the project into line with the client’s means. The final step of this early process is the agreement of the budget for the project. The total expense budget, at the start, is the sum of a large number of individual items. As work progresses, the expense budget is replaced by actual costs until, on completion, the final statement is drawn up with the total cost of the project. Throughout the period of development, as actual costs are invoiced, it is essential to monitor progress against the original budget or revised budget if alterations have been agreed along the way. Since there is a tendency for all parties to pitch estimates on the low side, it is always prudent to allow for a contingency sum.

What is the purpose of the structural system of a building?

It is meant to support and transmit the applied gravity and lateral loads safely to the ground without exceeding the allowable stresses in its members.

Explain what the superstructure of a building is.

The superstructure is the vertical extension of a building above the ground, including all columns and beams and load-bearing walls supporting the floor and roof structures.

Explain what the substructure of a building is

The substructure is the underlying structure forming the foundation of a building.

List all 6 types of vertical members (Hint: w, p, p, p, c, s)

Wall, Pillar, Post, Pier, Column, Stud

List all 7 kinds of horizontal members (Hint: s, b, t, g, j, l, c)

Slab, Beam, Truss, Girder, Joist, Lintel, Cantilever

List all 10 types of connectors

Nut and bolt · gusset plate · screw · nail · scarf joint · mortise and tenon · butt weld · rivet · fillet weld · splice

What is the job of a structural engineer?

Determine all the forces acting on the static system and to establish the bearing pressure in order to fulfil the conditions of equilibrium.

Explain what Static load is

Static loads are applied slowly to a structure without fluctuating rapidly in magnitude or position

Explain what Dynamic load is

Dynamic loads are applied suddenly, often with a rapid change in magnitude and point of application. The two major types of dynamic loads are wind and earthquake loads.

Explain what permanent load/dead load is

The permanent load or dead load is the weight of the bearing structure itself including all permanently connected building elements.

Explain what imposed load/live load is

The imposed load or live load is a collection of changeable forces acting on the structure, such as the loads resulting from occupancy, which includes furniture, machinery and people, but also the loads resulting from collected snow or water, and ground pressure.

List all types of forces that are applied to all building components.

Compression, tension, shear, torsion