How to Green a House?

Quiz

1. Geothermal heating and cooling systems work by:
1. Tapping into underground steam, then circulating it through a home's radiators to provide heat.
2. Using the sun's energy to create electricity, which powers a traditional electric heat pump.
3. Using underground pipes to pump fluid below the Earth's surface, taking advantage of the constant temperature to create energy to heat and cool a home.
4. Using compressed earthen bricks as a source of fuel for a traditional furnace.
2. To avoid exposing homeowners to volatile organic compounds, green builders may:
1. Install hardwood flooring instead of carpets.
2. Choose low-odor paints.
3. Limit the use of adhesives, varnishes and other chemicals used in construction.
4. All of the above.
3. By replacing old toilets with high-efficiency toilets, a homeowner can save up to how much water annually:
1. 10,000 gallons
2. 25,000 gallons
3. 60,000 gallons
4. 90,000 gallons
4. A "graywater" collection systems saves water by:
1. Diverting rainwater from the roof into storage tanks, where it's filtered and reused
2. Diverting used water from showers, sinks, and appliances for reuse in toilets or for irrigation
3. Utilizing unfiltered well water for a household's nondrinking supply
4. Creating trenches around a yard to prevent water runoff to other properties
5. A radiant barrier is:
1. a metallic foil material used to block heat transfer, usually installed in attics in hot climates
2. a specialized radiator installed below windows, to hear any incoming air that may infiltrate the home
3. an electric-powered strip typically placed beneath doors to create a heated seal against cold air
4. a shiny material installed on the outside of the roof to reflect the sun's energy back into the sky
6. In the building trades, R-value stands for:
1. A measure of how a window reflects the sun's heat, reducing a home's cooling costs.
2. A measure of the number of years of life expectancy of different kinds of roofing material
3. A measure of how ell different building materials provide insulation by retarding the flow of heat
4. A measure of how well a building site is graded to prevent runoff
7. To increase the thermal performance of windows, manufacturers inject what kinds of gases between the double panes:
1. Argon
2. Krypton
3. Both of the above
4. None of the above
8. Replacing a dishwasher built before 1994 with a new Energy Star dishwasher should save how much in annual utility bills:
1. $10.00
2. $30.00
3. $90.00
4. $120.00
9. What is the correct order, from highest to lowest, of the activities that consume the most energy in the average U.S. home:
1. Heating & cooling, air conditioning, lighting & appliances, water heating
2. Heating & cooling, water heating, air conditioning, lighting & appliances
3. Heating & cooling, lighting & appliances, water heating, air conditioning
4. Water heating, heating & cooling, lighting & appliances, air conditioning
10. The average U.S. family spends how much per year on home-utility bills:
1. $900.00
2. $1200.00
3. $1500.00
4. $2000.00

Answers: c, d, b, b, a, c, c, b, c, c