Embodied energy refers to the total energy consumed in the production, transportation, and installation of building materials, a key consideration for sustainable design that supports health and wellness through environmentally responsible practices. The CPRP Exam Blueprint (Domain VII: Supporting Health & Wellness) indirectly relates to this through promoting wellness via sustainable, health-focused environments (Task VII.A.1: "Promote holistic wellness, including purpose and meaning in life"). Option B (fly ash concrete) is the best strategy for embodied energy saving, as fly ash—a byproduct of coal combustion—replaces a portion of Portland cement in concrete, which has high embodied energy due to its energy-intensive production (e.g., 4,000–5,000 MJ/ton for cement vs. 800–1,000 MJ/ton for fly ash concrete). Using fly ash reduces energy consumption, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances concrete durability, aligning with sustainable practices that support wellness by reducing environmental impact.

Option A (external shading) reduces operational energy (e.g., cooling) but has minimal impact on embodied energy, as shading materials (e.g., louvers) still require production energy. Option C (aluminum sliding window) has high embodied energy, as aluminum production is energy-intensive (around 200 MJ/kg). Option D (waterproofing with SRI of 84%) focuses on solar reflectance to reduce heat gain, affecting operational energy, not embodied energy, and waterproofing materials (e.g., coatings) have moderate production energy. Literature on sustainable construction, such as guidelines from the U.S. Green Building Council, emphasizes fly ash concrete for embodied energy savings, supporting Option B.