ENVE Urban Systems Practice Exam

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• Why is indoor environment important in green buildings?
• In 1990 travel patterns, which mode had the second-highest share?
• Since the 1970s, how have transportation costs changed?
• If traffic is the main source of pollution, what happens to pollution when travel stops?
• Which of the following describes how LID helps adapt to climate change?
• As cities grow, which of the following statements is supported?
• Deficient bridges are often concentrated in which areas?
• LID stands for what?
• Longer life expectancies for urban residents are associated with which of the following characteristics?
• Approximately what fraction of the U.S. population was at risk of illness or early death due to air pollution?
• What does the Clean Water Act regulate?
• Which category includes the Clean Water Act and zoning ordinances as regulatory tools?
• What did the 1987 amendments to the CWA introduce?
• Thinking in terms of inputs, governance, and outputs helps identify unsustainable parts of cities and areas for improvement.
• Cities can be broken into connected subsystems that influence each other. Which of the following is NOT listed as a city subsystem?
• The term 'Waters of the United States' is the legal definition used to identify what waters?
• Key Trend (2010-2017) of building energy use indicates fastest growth occurs in which combination?
• Resources and Flows into cities include Housing, Health Services, Infrastructure, Energy, Water, Food, and Communication. Which of the following is part of resources and flows?
• Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) determines the maximum daily load of pollutants that a water body can receive.
• Why has urban sprawl continued to expand outward from city centers?
• What is the primary purpose of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)?
• Which LID type is best for later peak storms?
• In 2020, mental health peaks occurred in which months?
• Which statement best describes city inputs as listed?
• Which of the following buildings are LEED Gold on the UConn campus?
• What percentage of construction waste is diverted at the UConn Rec Center?
• In educational facilities, approximately what share of energy use is for lighting, heating, and water heating?
• For high-density impervious cover, the water balance percent distribution is which of the following?
• City governance focuses include public services and organizational capacity, science and technology, urban design and planning, and managing supply and demand for services. Which of the following is NOT listed as a governance focus?
• What is the estimated extra work hours per employee per year in LEED buildings?
• CDD Trends (1900-2015) in the U.S. show which change?
• Which items are listed as city outputs?
• What is the goal of the stormwater management paradigm?
• Which statement about LID and climate change is correct?
• Which is an example of nonpoint source pollution?
• Which statement best describes urban design with people in mind?
• What was the reported increase in urban land from 1970 to 2000?
• Which countries are expected to urbanize heavily?
• What is thermal pollution in stormwater terms?
• Compared with traditional city layouts, suburban designs after FHA era were which of the following?
• Which region has SEER value of 5.2 in 2017 regional examples?
• LID stands for Low Impact Development.
• Which LID practice is listed as infiltration beds in parking lots?
• Around 2012, large commercial buildings used about what share of the public water supply?
• What was the 1972 goal of the Clean Water Act?
• According to a GSA study, LEED buildings show which change in occupant satisfaction?
• What percentage of roads are in poor or mediocre condition?
• What health outcome is associated with green buildings?
• In 2016, UConn created a Sustainable Design and Construction Policy requiring buildings to be:
• Which of the following is NOT listed as a positive outcome of well-managed cities?
• Which migration trend is highlighted as an input factor for cities?
• After ride-hailing expanded, which metric increased the most?
• What is a primary regulatory benefit of LID?
• Which of the following is a method to reduce inputs in green buildings?
• Which two sectors use more water than cities, according to the material?
• The Clean Water Act authorizes the EPA to protect which categories of waters?
• NPDES is a permit system under CWA controlling what?
• Which option describes a way to reduce negative outputs in green buildings?
• Which technique is listed as a method to improve heating and cooling efficiency?
• What outcomes are associated with green roof views?
• CDD impacts include which of the following?
• A building envelope with a higher R-value and a lower U-value implies what?
• Vehicle travel trends in 2020-2021.
• What overall global CO₂ reduction is cited for the COVID-19 period?
• Which statements describe the tradeoffs between the three city goals?
• Inputs into cities include human capital and land. Which of the following is categorized as an input?
• What is LEED?
• Which regulatory program regulates point source pollution such as factories and wastewater treatment plants?
• What is the SEER key issue regarding regions with high cooling needs?
• Urbanization and impervious surfaces cause which of the following effects?
• What is a reason transit use has declined, according to the material?
• Which Peter Calthorpe principle advocates connecting streets to create a well-connected network?
• Which Peter Calthorpe principle is described as creating walkable neighborhoods?
• Under engineering/site design tools, what is a typical approach to reduce runoff and pollution?
• What is a primary aim of green buildings?
• A household earning less than 80% of the area's median income is considered...
• Stormwater discharges from municipalities are regulated under which permit program?
• What primarily causes urban areas to be hotter than surrounding rural areas?
• Which combination best describes what drives energy demand in buildings?
• Which statement best reflects geographic equity in transit?
• If a city sacrifices A (avoid sprawl) in its goals, what typical outcome may result?
• Pollution types include point-source and non-point source. Which is an example of point-source pollution?
• What does SEER measure?
• In 2013 travel patterns, what was the share of public transit?
• Urban stimuli such as light, sounds, and smells can affect self-control in what way?
• Approximately what fraction of low-income households needing housing assistance actually receive help?
• Some bodies of water do not have ___ clearly defined watersheds.
• What was the peak annual congestion cost observed in the data, and in what year?
• Approximately how many bridges require repair or preservation?
• Which of the following is listed as a city subsystem?
• Which sustainable solution example is mentioned for improving energy efficiency?
• In the context of addressing water pollution, which statement is true?
• Which tool is widely used to study cities and infrastructure conditions?
• Which technique is cited as part of heating and cooling efficiency measures that involves water management?
• Why do people commute to cities according to the material?
• Which statement about indoor air is true?
• What does Young's Modulus primarily measure?
• In 2013 travel patterns, which mode had the highest share?
• From 1950 to 2009, other household energy use generally did what?
• LID is best described as which?
• By 2030 urban land may triple to about how many square kilometers?
• Point sources refer to which of the following?
• Urban stormwater contributes to what percentage of polluted ocean shoreline miles?
• Which factors limit the effectiveness of government efforts to address the housing crisis?
• What is a negative effect of attracting educated residents?
• What is a common finding about performance gaps in LEED buildings?
• If pollution primarily comes from heating or biomass burning, what happens to pollution when travel stops?
• Connecticut infrastructure needs include about $3.6 billion for which system?
• What does the "urban triangle problem" describe?
• Which pollutant category is associated with runoff from roofs and vehicles?
• Among the listed statements, which best describes a limitation of LID approaches?
• What is a common motivation for green buildings?
• Green buildings aim to lower energy use.
• What is the approximate global annual number of early deaths attributed to indoor and outdoor air pollution?
• What is the World Health Organization's safe level for PM2.5 in µg/m³?
• MS4s are best described as which of the following?
• What is the approximate cost of LEED certification?
• Which practice contributes to a healthier indoor environment?
• What did the 1972 original CWA law primarily regulate?
• From 1950 to 2010, CO₂ emissions rose in which set of sectors?
• Which statement about LEED certification is true?
• Which of the following is NOT a long-term health effect of air pollution?
• One environmental impact of cities is water quality.
• Which law provides major funding for roads, bridges, water systems, and similar infrastructure?
• What do building codes primarily emphasize?
• Which megacity is projected to grow by about 36%?
• Which statement best describes pollutants commonly found in urban runoff?
• Which statement accurately describes LID's design approach at its source?
• Total energy use in buildings rose by about what percent from 2010 to 2017?
• By what percentage did urban congestion increase since 1984 according to the data?
• Why are MS4s regulated under the NPDES program?
• During COVID lockdowns, which percent decline in NOx was observed in US cities?
• Cities with over 1 million people often attract residents with what level of education?
• Overall, how does urban sprawl influence travel into cities and congestion?
• What percent energy savings is achieved by LED lighting at the UConn Rec Center?
• What well-being impacts are listed for cities?
• Which statement best describes LID's objective?
• A watershed is defined as what?
• MS4s transport mostly what type of pollution into water bodies?
• Which of the following is a listed benefit of compact development according to Calthorpe?
• How does an old stormwater system work?
• Cities can create challenges such as mental health impacts. Which factor is linked to mental health in urban environments?
• Which pollutants are identified as main air pollutants in urban environments?
• Unassisted statistics: Families with children have 77% unassisted; Disabled 53%; Elderly 60%. Which group has the highest unassisted housing rate?
• In 2010, what share of urban freshwater was used for electricity generation?
• During COVID-19 lockdowns, which city experienced the largest percentage decline in NO2 levels?
• Which of the following is a Low Impact Development (LID) practice commonly used to manage stormwater?
• Which of the following is considered a positive output of cities?
• From 1950 to 2009, which sector's electricity emissions increased?
• Why did car-centered cities develop in many regions?
• Approximately how many birds are killed annually by light pollution?
• What is the primary purpose of building codes as described?
• Which statement about energy intensity per floor area during 2010 to 2017 is correct?
• Obesity has increased since the late 1900s to 2015 affecting both adults and youth. Which period does this describe?
• By how much can daylight improve productivity?
• Energy use by building type: which statement is correct?
• For impervious cover less than 5%, what is the stream condition?
• Which term describes inputs such as people, skills, and labor into a city?
• Building-related greenhouse gas emissions have declined since around 2015.
• Why focus on buildings in urban planning?
• Which of the following best describes a point source of pollution?
• Which pollutant marker is commonly used for traffic emissions and declined during lockdowns?
• How does growth compare to efficiency gains in the context of LEED buildings and urban energy?
• LID mainly targets which type of pollution?
• Watersheds collect which inputs that feed streams and rivers?
• What are the scales of watersheds from smallest to largest?
• Which statement best describes a green building?
• What type of pollutant sources are regulated by NPDES permits under the CWA?
• Which is a benefit of green roofs and green walls?
• Which of the following is LEED Silver at UConn?
• In the UConn impervious cover TMDL example, when was the TMDL established?
• Because of financial strain on city budgets, what is a common outcome for maintenance and infrastructure?
• Future US air conditioning demand forecasts indicate residential demand will rise by what percentage by 2025?
• City governance primarily concerns how cities manage which aspects?
• Between 1980 and 2025 there is a rising number of which disasters?
• The U.S. provides vouchers to help pay rent, but access is limited: About what percent of low-income households needing help do NOT receive it?
• Which statement about the use of LID at UConn is true?
• CDD stands for what?
• In CWA terms, what does Navigable waters refer to?
• Which of the following is included in the MS4 six minimum control measures?
• What is the current global housing gap in the number of homes (roughly)?
• At IC greater than 20%, stream conditions are described as:
• Which climate-related impact is included among city outputs?
• Aging infrastructure can lead to higher costs for drivers in which of the following?
• Post–World War II urban sprawl in the United States is best characterized by which of the following patterns?
• Which is a health and productivity benefit associated with LEED-certified buildings?
• In a tensile test, which term describes the final break of a material?
• Which example illustrates the practical implementation of green roof technology?
• Which statement about daylight is true?
• Which statement best describes LEED's approach?
• How are point sources defined under the CWA?
• TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) sets pollution limits for waterways.
• Which pollutant category is associated with vehicle-related sources such as exhaust and burning?
• Since 2015, space cooling has accounted for more than what percent of global electricity demand growth?
• Ozone pollution has what effect on health?
• Energy use (water) accounts for about what percent of human water use?
• Approximately what percent of U.S. bridges are structurally deficient?
• Which pollutant category is associated with pet waste and septic systems?
• Which objective is described as supporting health, comfort, and work efficiency?
• Extreme weather events such as storms and cyclones are becoming more:
• During shelter-in-place, how much weight did adults gain per 10 days according to smart scale data?
• Which is a positive output of green buildings?
• Which of the following is a short-term health effect commonly associated with air pollution?
• Which pollutant source is diffuse and not tied to a single point discharge?
• Which statement describes the relationship between pavement and water balance?
• One inch of rain on one acre of pavement yields approximately how many gallons of runoff?
• Passive Heating & Cooling relies on what?
• Which of the following is an example of improving the building envelope?
• Gentrification tends to result in which outcome?
• Rising incomes in developing countries lead to more use of which appliance?
• Which option is an example of a positive output in green buildings?
• Pre-pandemic NYC PM2.5 by borough: which borough had the lowest value (~8 µg/m³)?
• How have LEED and building codes evolved over time?
• Which of the following is a positive output?
• Which regulatory program governs point source discharges such as factories and wastewater plants?
• Which is a documented benefit of green roofs and green walls?
• Construction and demolition waste generation in the U.S. is approximately how many pounds per person per day?
• Which of the following is a long-term cardiovascular health effect linked to air pollution?
• What is the 'first flush' phenomenon in stormwater pollution?
• Following FHA-era suburban design in the 1950s, driving levels changed by approximately what percentage?
• Which statement best describes the drivers of energy demand in buildings?
• What term describes diffuse pollution arising from runoff and landscape sources?
• MS4 systems discharge stormwater into which water bodies?
• Which statement correctly contrasts LEED certification with building codes?
• Where has poverty increasingly concentrated in major metro areas over the last two decades?
• What percent of LEED-certified space has Platinum level?
• Urban systems are composed of which components?
• Nonpoint source pollution arises from which of the following?
• Negative outputs of cities include waste, pollution, and inequality and injustice. Which of the following is a negative output?
• Which entities are covered by the 1987 amendments for stormwater regulation?
• The sharp rise in healthcare and pension costs for city workers leads to which consequence?
• The I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis (2008) was labeled structurally deficient how many years before failure?
• Which organization is cited as the source for building energy use data?
• Which statement about zoning and housing affordability is most accurate?
• Which city is given as an example of a large, dense city that is among the wealthiest in the U.S.?
• What is a typical effect of zoning on housing?
• Where is new housing often pushed due to zoning and planning in contrast to near jobs and transit?
• What does the broader housing policy data suggest about solving affordability?
• By 2025, the projected daily urban waste globally is about how many tons?
• Which item is NOT a key design objective in green buildings?
• Which of the following describes a true feature of the UConn Rec Center LEED Gold certification?
• Storm drains send untreated water directly to which destination?
• Which statement describes a driver related to air conditioning that increases energy use?
• Which statement best describes the projected trend in cooling degree days (CDDs) from 2021 to 2099?
• In 1970 travel patterns, which two modes were reported with percentages?
• What role does LEED play relative to codes?
• Emissions slightly declined during which period?
• What is the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)?
• Disasters can increase waste generation by how much relative to normal yearly levels?
• Which of the following is NOT one of the six minimum control measures under MS4 permit requirements?
• In LEED-based green buildings, what standards are included?
• Cities are complex systems in which social, ecological, and physical subsystems interact. Which trio best describes these subsystems?
• If warming continues, what does the space cooling demand feedback loop imply about future cooling demand?
• Which of the following is a main energy use in buildings?
• Which of the following is a LEED evaluation category that focuses on regional priorities?
• Which behavior describes a material that strengthens as it deforms?
• Which are the three goals cities try to solve in the urban planning context?
• From 1980 to 2025, the trend in the number of billion-dollar disasters is:
• Which LEED category addresses water use efficiency?
• Which of the following is NOT typically classified under Appliances & Plug Loads?
• Which of the following are listed as inputs for a city?
• MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. These systems discharge to surface waters.
• What housing and zoning problems are common in many cities?
• What does Section 402 of the CWA address?
• CWA main law regulating water pollution.
• Which environmental factor during COVID-19 is associated with worsened mental health outcomes?
• LID at UConn uses LID to manage stormwater on campus. Which statement is true?
• Urban living increases risk of which mental health outcomes, according to the reported percentages?
• At UConn, LID is being used to help address which issue?
• What is the general trend for megacities in the future?
• Federal Housing Administration policies in the mid-20th century promoted which urban form?
• In which decade did suburbanization in the United States become prominent after World War II?
• Which statement best captures the current U.S. urban form regarding cars and people?
• Which act is described as the largest investment in climate and energy programs?
• Why is Impervious Cover a problem?
• Which of the following is identified as a major challenge for cities?
• What percentage of water savings did the UConn Rec Center achieve with low-flow fixtures?
• Causes of obesity include which factors?
• During COVID-19, energy use dropped. What does the drop in energy during COVID-19 illustrate about cities?
• Which land-density category yields the highest runoff percentage?
• In regions with high Cooling Degree Days (CDD), what is typically the relationship to SEER?
• IC-TMDL focuses on which of the following?
• Which of the following is part of how TMDLs work?
• Cities require developers to include a percentage of below-market-rate units in new buildings to...
• What is a method to reduce negative outputs?
• What is the approximate U.S. per person daily waste generation?
• Which LID practice is listed as along streets?
• Inequality in cities includes gaps in housing, income, and environmental quality, including homelessness. Which issue is associated with inequality?
• Affordable housing: A household is 'cost burdened' if
• Which of the following is NOT listed as a natural process used by LID in the EPA definition?
• Which land-density category has the highest infiltration percentage?
• What share of global energy is used by cities?
• What is a stated benefit of using multiple LID types?
• Which of the following is NOT an LEED evaluation category?
• Which pollutant category is associated with lawn and garden inputs?
• Which of the following factors contribute to the high cognitive load in cities?
• What is a characteristic of high-density cities according to population patterns?
• What is a key barrier even for households that obtain vouchers (about a quarter)?
• Which group has the second-highest unassisted housing rate among those listed?
• Growth of green buildings influences building codes in which state?
• Which megacity is projected to grow by about 5%?
• Which option represents all of the following as drivers of increased total energy use: more floor area built, population growth, and higher overall energy demand?
• Which is not an effect of increasing impervious cover?
• Which statement about U.S. urban areas is true?
• Urban areas use about 30% more energy than surrounding rural areas, especially for cooling. This contributes to which urban climate phenomenon?
• What is a primary benefit of LID in urban watersheds?
• Detention near where runoff is generated in LID refers to what?
• What percentage of bridges are past their design lifespan?
• Which of the following is listed as a source of indoor air pollution?
• What primarily drives the adoption of green buildings?
• Which term describes inequality in housing quality and pollution exposure?
• Which statement best describes city-average air quality assessments?
• What is a primary focus of traditional building codes?
• Which is a key driver of rising energy use in buildings?
• Indoor air pollution is often how much higher than outdoor levels?
• Which surfaces are considered Impervious Cover (IC)?
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, which mental health outcomes were observed compared with pre-pandemic levels?
• What fraction of total energy use is consumed by buildings?
• What is the projected range for the number of megacities (populations of 10 million or more)?
• What is a primary reason people move to cities?
• Green roofs and green walls provide several benefits. Which is NOT a benefit?
• In the U.S. urban water use in 2010, which sector consumed the largest share of freshwater?
• What share of global energy use is consumed by cities?
• What did the DC study indicate about performance gaps in LEED buildings?
• Which strategy reduces inputs?
• LID is most effective when distributed across a watershed rather than concentrated in one area.
• Which statement best describes the primary aim of green buildings?
• Which statement is true regarding water use across sectors in urban areas?
• Human-caused emissions primarily impact which domain?
• Cities depend on strong infrastructure to function properly. Which of the following are core infrastructure components mentioned?
• COVID-19 lockdown effects: People in ~200 countries walked 27% fewer steps after lockdown. Which option reflects this change?
• Which statement best describes the relationship between density and wealth in large U.S. cities?
• How often does a water main break occur in an urban water system?
• Which describes the space cooling demand feedback loop?
• Which LID type is best for early peak, small storms?
• Which LID type is best for mid-range peak storms?
• What is the effect of LID at the watershed scale?
• Mood disorders due to urban living have a reported increase of what percentage?
• Madrid NO2 reduction during 2020 vs 2019 occurred by approximately what percent?
• Which combination reduces urban flood depth and damage?
• Which of the following is NOT a LEED certification level?
• What happens to evapotranspiration as impervious cover increases?
• Urban stormwater contributes what percentage to polluted rivers?
• Which Calthorpe principle emphasizes mixing housing, jobs, and income groups in a given area?
• TMDLs are typically applied to waters on the 303(d) list.
• During COVID-19 lockdowns, PM2.5 changes were inconsistent; which statement is true?
• Which statement about UConn LEED footprints is true?
• On a typical stress-strain diagram with stress on the y-axis and strain on the x-axis, how is Young's Modulus defined?
• Which of the following is a stated effect of the ride-hailing expansion?
• Which option is NOT listed as a source of NOx, ozone, and particulate matter in urban environments?
• Non-point source pollution examples include street runoff. Which option is a non-point source pollutant?
• COVID-19 lockdowns reduced groundwater pollution in which form?
• What are the biggest sources of global greenhouse gas emissions?
• What is the goal of low impact development (LID) BMPs?
• Which concept describes the governance capacity of a city to provide essential services?
• In Washington, D.C., from 2000 to 2016, how did the center and surrounding suburbs change?
• Anxiety disorders increased due to urban living by what percentage?
• What is Cooling Degree Days (CDD)?
• Which city is cited as an example of first-flush pollution reaching the ocean?
• Which building is LEED Certified at UConn?
• Approximately what percentage of the world's population currently lives in cities?
• In 1970 travel patterns, which mode had a higher share?
• TMDLs are usually pollutant-specific and increasingly applied to impervious cover due to stream impacts.
• Which pollutant is NOT listed as a common stormwater pollutant?
• Approximately how much LEED-certified space has accumulated in the United States since 1993?
• In the described density pattern, what does the Y-axis represent?
• What is the primary reason cities attract people?
• Which effect is associated with increasing impervious cover?
• Why are cities major sources of anthropogenic emissions?
• By 2025, up to how many people may lack affordable, adequate housing?
• Which statement best describes modern travel trends?
• Energy intensity is defined as energy use per unit of what?
• BMP examples include which of the following?
• Why do vouchers often still fail to achieve affordability in high-rent areas?
• Which of the following is NOT a strategy for the stormwater management paradigm?
• What does the phrase 'Housing is a proxy for inequality' mean?
• Which set of factors are the main drivers of space cooling demand?
• The 27% reduction in steps during lockdown was reported by which study?
• Obesity has increased since the late 1900s to 2015, affecting which groups?
• Approximately what percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions is produced by cities?
• Which mode saw the largest increase in share from 1990 to 2013?
• In rapidly growing regions, what is a constraint on cooling technologies?
• What issue does worse water quality in rivers, lakes, and oceans along with increased flooding reveal about urban systems?
• Which of the following is NOT listed as a way to increase green building adoption?
• Which set of utilities is typically considered infrastructure services in cities?
• LID is defined as a design approach that manages stormwater at its source and mimics natural hydrology.
• From 2010 to 2017, total energy use in buildings changed how?
• Which of the following is listed as a city subsystem?