Practice AP Environmental Science questions on energy conservation, efficient buildings, transportation, appliances, BEVs, and data calculations.
Respond to parts A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
The average gas mileage for a small gasoline-powered sport utility vehicle (SUV) is 22 miles
per gallon (mpg) in the city. The average gas mileage for a small hybrid SUV is 36 mpg in the
city. One commuter sells their gasoline-powered SUV and replaces it with a hybrid SUV.
Calculate the percent change in gas mileage between the gasoline-powered SUV and the
hybrid SUV based on the data provided. Show your work.
| D | Calculate the percent change in gas mileage between the gasoline-powered SUV and the hybrid SUV. Setup: (36 mpg − 22 mpg) / 22 mpg × 100. | Point 04 |
|---|---|---|
| Correct calculation: 63.6% increase (accept 64%). | Point 05 |
Both the gasoline-powered SUV and the hybrid SUV have 14-gallon gas tanks. As stated in
part D, the average gas mileage for a small gasoline-powered sport utility vehicle (SUV) is 22
miles per gallon (mpg) in the city. The average gas mileage for a small hybrid SUV is 36 mpg
in the city.
Calculate how many more miles the owner can drive in the hybrid SUV in the city than they
could have driven in the gasoline-powered SUV. Show your work.
| E | Calculate how many more miles the owner can drive in the hybrid SUV. Setup: (14 × 36) − (14 × 22). | Point 06 |
|---|---|---|
| Correct calculation: 196 miles (accept 200). | Point 07 |
In addition to vehicles, buildings such as schools often have high energy consumption. The
primary sources of energy use in many buildings are heating, cooling, and lighting.
Propose a realistic solution that schools could implement to decrease energy use for heating
and cooling, other than a reduction in the amount of time the school building is occupied.
| F | Propose a realistic solution that schools could implement to decrease energy use for heating and cooling, other than a reduction in the amount of time the school building is occupied. Examples of acceptable responses may include the following: - Implement green building design features - Open windows to reduce use of air conditioning - Use energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment - Adjust the thermostat to reduce use of heat and air conditioning - Install conservation landscaping | Point 08 |
|---|
The school plans to upgrade its lighting to save money and reduce both its electricity use
and its ecological footprint. The sustainability committee proposes that the school reduce its
electricity use by switching to energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The school
building uses 2.8×104 bulbs. The LED bulbs would each use 0.0085 kilowatts per hour. Each
bulb would be used for an average of 2,340 hours per year.
Calculate the energy use in the school building in kilowatts per year using LED light bulbs.
Show your work.
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G Calculate the energy use in the school building in kilowatts per year using LED light bulbs.
Show your work.
One point for the correct setup to calculate the energy use in the school building in
kWh/year using LED light bulbs.
Examples of acceptable responses may include the following:
- (2.8×104 bulbs )×0.0085 kilowatt ×2,340 hours
- (2.8×10∧4)×0.0085×2,340
One point for the correct calculation of the energy use in the school building in kWh/ year
using LED light bulbs.
Examples of acceptable responses may include the following (if units are included in the
response, kWh/year or kW/year are accepted):
- 556,920
- 5.6×10∧5
- 5.6E5