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Section 2 Architectural Planning
2. Which of the following statements are true?
A. An ecosystem is the interaction of
plants and animals with each other
and the environment.
B. When selecting a site for a new home,
you should consider energy needs
for transportation to and from the
fi nished home.
C. Most lumber naturally contains a high
level of dioxins.
D. At this time, there is no such thing as a
net zero energy home.
E. Passive solar systems increase the
cost of a house very little if they are
included in the original house design.
3. Which of the following are considered
ways to conserve water?
A. Using standard toilets throughout the
home.
B. Using gray water for irrigation.
C. Running dishwashers once a week,
whether or not they are full.
D. Xeriscaping to reduce the amount of
water needed by landscaping plants.
E. Irrigating at night to minimize water
loss from evaporation.
Curricular Connections
1. Social Science. The EPA sponsors an
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
(EPP) program to help people locate
products that are recycled or otherwise
considered green. Conduct research to fi nd
out more about this program. What effect
do you think such a program will have on
building supply companies that make an
effort to offer green or sustainable products?
What effect will it have on companies that
offer only traditional products?
2. Language Arts. An important skill when
you are reading articles about green
building (or any other topic) is to be able
to distinguish truth from “hype.” Find an
article in a magazine or on the Internet
that discusses any aspect of green building
technology. Read the article carefully. Note
any statements that seem untrue or make a
claim that seems extreme. Conduct further
research if necessary to fi nd out whether
the claims are true. Then, write a summary
paragraph stating whether you think the
article is a reliable source of information,
and why.
STEM
STEM Connections
1. Technology. Conduct research to fi nd a
new and innovative building material
or process that is considered green or
sustainable. Write a report describing the
new or existing technology used to make
the material or process green.