BPI BUILDING SCIENCE PRINCIPLES REFERENCE GUIDE CHAPTER 1 NOTES
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS A+ GRADED
What is Home Performance
The systematic approach to improving comfort, health, safety, energy efficiency, and
durability of a house
What are the principles of Building Science?
Physics, Chemistry, and Thermodynamics
What does House-as-a-system mean?
It's the idea of a home being seen from a holistic view and seen as a system
What is a "Building" defined as
The structure of a house itself: The foundation, walls, windows, and doors. May also be
known as the building envelope.
What are the mechanical systems commonly found in a home?
Electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, and ventilation
What is "Environment" referred to as in the context of the book?
The indoor environment as the exterior environment is changing
What is one of the most important factors in a home's energy consumption and
overall effectiveness?
The Occupants
What is an interacting relationship?
A relationship where the action taken on one component causes reactions or changes
in other components
What is an attic?
The indoor space beneath the roof at the top of a house
What is a knee wall?
A 3ft to 4ft high wall that is anchored with plates between the attic floor joists and the
roof joists
What is a cathedral ceiling?
A high-sloping ceiling and two sloping sides rise to the top of the house and meet in the
center of the room.
What is a vaulted ceiling?
It can be sloped or arched but they do not have the same pitch as the roof
What is a "slab-on-grade" foundation
A concrete slab several inches thick that serves as the foundation of the house. It is the
least expensive foundation to construct and does not require excavation
Where is most ductwork found in a "slab-on-grade" foundation home
In the attic
Where are most of the utilities found on a "slab-on-grade" foundation home
They are placed under the slab
What is a "crawl space" configuration
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS A+ GRADED
What is Home Performance
The systematic approach to improving comfort, health, safety, energy efficiency, and
durability of a house
What are the principles of Building Science?
Physics, Chemistry, and Thermodynamics
What does House-as-a-system mean?
It's the idea of a home being seen from a holistic view and seen as a system
What is a "Building" defined as
The structure of a house itself: The foundation, walls, windows, and doors. May also be
known as the building envelope.
What are the mechanical systems commonly found in a home?
Electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, and ventilation
What is "Environment" referred to as in the context of the book?
The indoor environment as the exterior environment is changing
What is one of the most important factors in a home's energy consumption and
overall effectiveness?
The Occupants
What is an interacting relationship?
A relationship where the action taken on one component causes reactions or changes
in other components
What is an attic?
The indoor space beneath the roof at the top of a house
What is a knee wall?
A 3ft to 4ft high wall that is anchored with plates between the attic floor joists and the
roof joists
What is a cathedral ceiling?
A high-sloping ceiling and two sloping sides rise to the top of the house and meet in the
center of the room.
What is a vaulted ceiling?
It can be sloped or arched but they do not have the same pitch as the roof
What is a "slab-on-grade" foundation
A concrete slab several inches thick that serves as the foundation of the house. It is the
least expensive foundation to construct and does not require excavation
Where is most ductwork found in a "slab-on-grade" foundation home
In the attic
Where are most of the utilities found on a "slab-on-grade" foundation home
They are placed under the slab
What is a "crawl space" configuration
