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.
One point for the correct setup to calculate the percent change in gas mileage.
Examples of acceptable responses may include the following:
- 22mpg36mpg−22mpg×100
- 2236−22×100
One point for the correct calculation of the percent change in gas mileage.
Examples of acceptable responses may include the following:
- 63.6% increase
- 63.6%
- 63.6
- 64%
- 64
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.
One point for the correct setup to calculate how many more miles the hybrid SUV can drive than the gasoline-powered SUV.
Examples of acceptable responses may include the following:
- (14gallon×36mpg)−(14gallon×22mpg)
- (14×36)−(14×22)
- 14(36-22)
One point for the correct calculation of how many more miles the hybrid SUV can drive than the gasoline-powered SUV.
Examples of acceptable responses may include the following:
- 196
- 200
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.
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
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.
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:
- (2.8×104bulbs)×0.0085kW×2,340hours
- (2.8×104)×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
- 5.6×105
- 5.6E5