Green Building Pop Quiz!

How much do you really know about green? Here's a Quiz:

 

Question 1:
Which of the following is the most efficient heating source:

A. Electric Heat Pump
B. High efficiency gas furnace
C. Geothermal heat pump
D. Dual Fuel heating system

Answer 1:
C. Geothermal heat pumps use the earth's constant core temperature to help heat & cool your home, making it up to 60% more efficient than gas furnaces.

 

Question 2:
How much of a tax credit can a homeowner get for installing a new geothermal unit?

A. $2,000
B. 30% of the installed price up to $4,000
C. 3% of the installed purchase price with no cap
D. 30% of the installed purchase price with no cap

Answer 2:
D. Geothermal systems installed after February 19, 2009 qualify for a 30% tax credit regardless of install price. Prior to 2009 there was a $2,000 tax credit available for installing geothermal heating systems. This tax credit applies to both newly constructed and existing homes, and is credited to the homeowner.

 

Question 3:
Why is Low V.O.C. (Volitile Organic Compound) paint an environmentally friendly choice?

A. Because VOC's contribute to depleting the ozone layer
B. Because VOC’s can agitate breathing conditions such as asthma
C. Because VOC’s can seep into the soil and contribute to water table contamination
D. All of the Above.

Answer 3:
D. VOC's can be found in paint and many other building products like vinyl flooring. VOC's can also be found in cleaning products. They can have adverse health effects both short and long term, making it important to air out your home a few times a year to make sure those VOC's aren't trapped indoors.

 

Question 4:
What is the best score a newly constructed home can obtain on a
HERS rating (Home Energy Score)?

A. HERS Score of “100” is the best
B. HERS Score of “0” is the best
C. HERS Score of “56” is the best
D. None of the above

Answer 4:
B. A HERS Score of '0' means the home purchases no energy from the power company and it is completely self-sustaining. A HERS Score of 100 means the home was built to the 2006 Energy Code. Interesting fact: the 2006 Energy Code is not enforced in the greater Cincinnati market and many builders' homes would not meet this code.

 

Question 5:
Which of the following offers Green Certifications for newly constructed homes?

A. The Department of Energy's EnergyStar Program
B. The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Program
C. The National Association of Home Builders' Certified Green Home Program
D. All of the Above

Answer 5:
D. Each of these three programs is a nationally recognized green certification program. Each program requires certification & house inspections by an independent 3rd party, and each program requires new homes to be constructed to more stringent energy and environmental standards than required by building codes.

 

Question 6:
To maximize the efficiency of your heating system, how often should you change your furnace/ heat pump filter?

A. once every 6 months
B. Once a year
C. Once every 1-3 months
D. When the dirt on the filter is visible

Answer 6:
C. Check and change your furnace/ heat pump filter at least once every three months. It will make your heating system run more efficiently and it will reduce the amount of dust in your home.

 

Question 7:
Which of the following will help save energy?

A. Unplugging small appliances like cell phone chargers when not in use
B. Using florescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs
C. Shutting down the computer instead of using a sleep mode
D. All of the above

Answer 7:
D. All of the above. Small appliances like toasters, cell phone chargers, computers, coffee makers continue to use energy even when turned off, so unplug them when not in use. Florescent EnergyStar rated bulbs can save as much as 40% compared to incandescent bulbs.

 

How do you rate? If you got...

...all 7 right:	you're a "Greenius" (a green genius)
...6 out of 7 correct,	you know your stuff
...5 out of 7 correct,	It's not easy being green
...4 out of 7 correct,	your green quest has just begun
...3 out of 7 correct,	you're not such a smartypants
...2 out of 7 correct,	please visit www.MeridianMarkManagement.com for green information because you need it.
...1 out of 7 correct,	you do know "green" is not just a color, right?
...0 out of 7 correct,	I hope you were trying to answer these wrong!

 

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