LEED AP Building Design and Construction (BD+C) Practice Exam

Which of the following is considered part of process energy?

1. Service water heating

2. Lighting for parking garages

3. Miscellaneous equipment

4. HVAC systems

The correct answer is: Miscellaneous equipment

Process energy refers to the energy used by equipment and appliances that are necessary for the activities that occur within a building, but are not directly related to the building's environmental control systems. This includes electricity consumed by items that perform work or provide services within the property's operational context. Miscellaneous equipment falls squarely within this definition. It encompasses all electrical appliances that support the operations of the building but are not classified as lighting or HVAC systems, including office equipment, vending machines, and other devices. Understanding process energy is crucial for energy modeling and efficiency assessments, as it often represents a significant portion of a building's energy consumption. By focusing on reducing process energy, building designers and operators can enhance overall energy performance and contribute to meeting LEED certification requirements regarding energy efficiency. The other choices, while also relevant to energy consumption in a building, are considered to fall outside of the process energy category. For example, HVAC systems are primarily for environmental control, and service water heating is a function of mechanical systems responsible for heating water. Lighting for parking garages is typically categorized under lighting energy rather than process energy. This distinction highlights the specific nature of miscellaneous equipment in energy consumption profiles.