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The EDGE App relies on location-specific climate data to calculate resource savings, but not all cities are listed. The EDGE User Guide provides guidance for such cases: "If the project city is not listed in the EDGE App, the user should choose the closest city to the project location that is available in the database. If necessary, the user can edit the climate data (e.g., temperature, humidity) to better reflect the project’s actual conditions, ensuring accurate calculations" (EDGE User Guide, Section 2.2: Project Setup). Option B, choose the closest city and edit the climate data if necessary, directly matches this protocol. Option A (write to EDGE Certifier and wait) is incorrect, as this is not a required step: "Users are not required to request new cities; they can proceed by selecting the closest city" (EDGE User Guide, Section 2.2: Project Setup). Option C(select any city in the same climate zone globally) is too broad and inaccurate: "Choosing a city from a different region, even in the same climate zone, may lead to incorrect assumptions about local practices and climate" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 3.2: Climate Data Inputs). Option D (choose the capital city) is also incorrect unless it is the closest: "The capital city should only be selected if it is the nearest available option in the database" (EDGE User Guide, Section 2.2: Project Setup). Thus, the correct protocol is to choose the closest city and edit climate data (Option B).

EDGE Auditors are bound by ethical protocols to maintain professionalism and independence when encountering issues like misleading information. The EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols outline the procedure: "If an EDGE Auditor discovers misleading or incorrect information during an audit,they must contact the design team to recommend that they provide updated and correct information to the Client. The Auditor should document the issue in the audit report but must not adjust the assessment themselves or take punitive actions, ensuring the process remains transparent and fair" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 4.3: Handling Discrepancies). Option B, contacting the design team to recommend updated information, aligns with this protocol. Option A (negotiate a friendly solution) violates the Auditor’s impartiality: "Auditors must avoid direct negotiations that could compromise their independence" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 2.3: Conflict of Interest). Option C (warn the Client of deception) oversteps the Auditor’s role by assigning blame: "Auditors should not accuse parties of deception but focus on facilitating corrections" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 4.3: Handling Discrepancies). Option D (reject and adjust the assessment) is incorrect, as Auditors cannot modify assessments: "Auditors must assess the project as submitted and cannot reject or adjust measures on their own" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.2: Audit Requirements). Thus, recommending corrections to the design team (Option B) is the appropriate action.

The EDGE software estimates water use in homes by considering elements that contribute to potable water demand, focusing on indoor and occupant-related usage. The EDGE User Guide details the elements included in water use calculations: "In EDGE, water use in homes is estimated based on occupant activities, including water for showers, faucets, toilets, laundry, and water heating, which accounts for hot water demand in these applications. These elements are modeled using standard usage assumptions for residential buildings" (EDGE User Guide, Section 5.2: Water Efficiency Measures). Option B, water heating, is explicitly included, as it represents the hot water demand for showers, faucets, and laundry, which is a significant component of residential water use. Option A (HVAC) is incorrect, as HVAC systems primarily consume energy, not water, except in specific cases like cooling towers, which are not typical in homes: "HVAC systems in homes, such as air conditioners, do not directly contribute to water use in EDGE calculations, unlike in commercial buildings with cooling towers" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 4.2: Water Savings Calculations). Option C (exterior fountains) is also excluded, as EDGE focuses on indoor water use: "Exterior water use, such as for fountains or irrigation, is not typically included in EDGE’s water use estimates for homes, unless specifically modeled as an optional measure, which fountains are not" (EDGE User Guide, Section 5.3: Additional Water Efficiency Measures). Option D (solar water heaters) is a measure to reduce energy use for water heating, not an element of water use itself: "Solar water heaters reduce the energy demand for water heating but do not change the volume of water used, which is what EDGE estimates for water use in homes" (EDGE User Guide, Section 4.2: Energy Efficiency Measures). The EDGE Methodology Report further specifies: "Water use in homes is calculated based on per-capita assumptions for activities like showering, flushing, and water heating, ensuring a standardized baseline for savings calculations" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 4.2: Water Savings Calculations). Thus, water heating (Option B) is the element considered in EDGE to estimate water use in homes.

An occupancy permit indicates that a building meets local regulatory requirements for occupancy,but it does not address the specific green building measures required for EDGE certification. The EDGE Certification Protocol clearly outlines the role of such permits in the audit process: "A local occupancy permit provided by the Client confirms that the building complies with local building codes and is ready for use. However, it does not replace the need to audit all EDGE measures, as EDGE certification requires verification of specific energy, water, and materials efficiency measures that are not typically covered by local permits" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.4: Post-Construction Requirements). Option A, does not replace the need to audit all EDGE measures, directly aligns with this guidance, as the Auditor must still verify each claimed measure (e.g., insulation, low-flow fixtures, fly ash concrete) against EDGE standards. Option B (replaces the need to audit all EDGE measures) is incorrect, as the permit does not address EDGE-specific requirements: "Local permits do not verify EDGE measures like energy savings or embodied energy reductions, so a full audit is still required" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 4.4: Site Audit Procedures). Option C (does not replace the need for desktop studies) is partially correct but less comprehensive, as desktop studies are only one part of the audit process: "Desktop studies are part of the audit, but the occupancy permit does not exempt any aspect of the EDGE audit, including site visits and measure verification" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.2: Audit Requirements). Option D (replaces the need to audit EDGE Materials measures) is also incorrect, as materials measures (e.g., use of fly ash concrete) require specific evidence like manufacturer’s data sheets, not covered by an occupancy permit: "Materials measures require detailed documentation of embodied energy reductions, which local permits do not address" (EDGE User Guide, Section 7.2: Materials Efficiency Measures). The EDGE User Guide further reinforces: "The Auditor must verify all EDGE measures through appropriate documentation and site visits, regardless of local permits, to ensure compliance with the EDGE standard" (EDGE User Guide, Section 6.3: Post-Construction Certification). Thus, the occupancy permit does not replace the need to audit all EDGE measures (Option A).

In hot climates, reducing heat gain through building envelopes is a key strategy for energy efficiency, as emphasized in EDGE’s green building design principles. The EDGE User Guide discusses solar reflectivity (measured by the Solar Reflectance Index, SRI) for walls and roofs, stating: "Higher SRI values indicate greater reflectivity, which reduces heat absorption and lowers cooling energy demand in hot climates. For walls in hot climates, an SRI of 0.7 or higher is recommended to maximize energy savings" (EDGE User Guide, Section 3.5: Passive Design Strategies). The options provided are 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.7. Since 0.7 is the highest SRI value among the choices, it reflects the most solar radiation, thereby reducing the cooling load andimproving energy efficiency in a hot climate, as per EDGE’s guidance. Options A, B, and C have lower SRI values and would result in greater heat absorption, increasing energy use for cooling.

EDGE recognizes renewable energy sources for their contribution to reducing carbon emissions in hot water production. The EDGE User Guide defines renewable hot water technologies: "Solar hot water collectors are considered a renewable source in EDGE, as they directly use solar energy to heat water, reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based energy" (EDGE User Guide, Section 4.2: Energy Efficiency Measures). Option B, solar hot water collectors, matches this description as it harnesses solar energy, a renewable resource. Option A (ground source heat pump) uses electricity to transfer heat from the ground, which is efficient but not renewable unless the electricity is from a renewable source: "Ground source heat pumps are efficient but rely on electrical input, not classified as a renewable source in EDGE" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 5.1: Energy Efficiency Metrics). Option C (high efficiency boiler) typically uses gas or electricity, not a renewable source: "Boilers, even high-efficiency ones, are not renewable as they burn fuel or use grid electricity" (EDGE User Guide, Section 4.2: Energy Efficiency Measures). Option D (preheating water using waste heat from the generator) is a heat recovery method, not a renewable source: "Waste heat recovery improves efficiency but is not considered a renewable energy source in EDGE" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 5.3: Energy Measures). Thus, solar hot water collectors (Option B) is the renewable source technology.

The EDGE App assigns specific user roles to manage project collaboration and access within the software. The EDGE User Guide details the available roles: "In the EDGE App, user roles for project teams include Project Admin, who manages the project and has full access to edit and submit assessments, and other roles like Project Collaborator for team members contributing to the assessment. The Project Admin is responsible for overseeing the project’s self-assessment and coordinating with the team" (EDGE User Guide, Section 2.2: Project Setup). Option A, Project Admin, is explicitly listed as a role in the EDGE App. Option B (Project Architect) and Option C (Project Engineer) are not defined roles in the software, as the guide clarifies: "Roles like architect or engineer are project-specific titles, not EDGE App roles; team members are grouped under Project Admin or Collaborator" (EDGE User Guide, Section 2.2: Project Setup). Option D (Project Auditor) is also incorrect, as auditors have a separate role outside the project team: "Project Auditors are assigned by the Certification Provider and access the assessment separately, not as partof the project team’s roles in the EDGE App" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.1: Certification Process). Thus, Project Admin (Option A) is the correct user role available in the EDGE App.

The roles and responsibilities in the EDGE certification process are clearly defined to ensure a streamlined audit process. The EDGE Certification Protocol explicitly assigns the responsibility for providing documentation to support green building measures: "The EDGE Client is responsible for providing a full set of documentation to support each green building measure selected in the project assessment. This includes drawings, specifications, manufacturer’s data sheets, and any other evidence required by the Auditor to verify compliance with the EDGE standard during both the design and post-construction stages" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.1: Certification Process). Option A, the Client, directly aligns with this requirement, as the Client (typically the project owner or developer) is the primary party submitting the project for certification and must provide all necessary evidence. Option B (the Facility Manager) is incorrect because the Facility Manager’s role is operational, not related to certification documentation: "Facility Managers may assist with operational data for EDGE Zero Carbon certification but are not responsible for providing design or construction documentation" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 2.3: Certification Levels). Option C (the Building Inspector) is also incorrect, as this role is external to the EDGE process and not involved in certification: "Building Inspectors ensure compliance with local codes, not EDGE requirements" (EDGE User Guide, Glossary). Option D (the project design team) may prepare documentation, but the responsibility lies with the Client to submit it: "While the design team often prepares technical documents, it is the Client’s responsibility to compile and provide them to the Auditor as part of the certification process" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 2.1: Roles of EDGE Client). The EDGE User Guide further reinforces this by stating: "The Client must ensure all supporting documentation is complete and accessible to the Auditor to avoid delays in the certification process" (EDGE User Guide, Section 6.2: Documentation Requirements). Therefore, the Client (Option A) is responsible for providing the full set of documentation for the audit.

The EDGE App Results Bar displays key outputs of the software analysis after a project is modeled. The EDGE User Guide details the contents of the Results Bar: "The EDGE App Results Bar provides a summary of the project’s performance, including percentage savings in energy, water, and embodied energy in materials, as well as the incremental cost, payback period, and carbon emissions reduction" (EDGE User Guide, Section 2.4: Interpreting EDGE Results). Option C, incremental cost, is explicitly mentioned as part of the Results Bar, representing the additional cost of implementing green measures. Option A (building type) and Option B (occupant use) are inputs specified by the user during project setup, not outputs in the Results Bar, as noted: "Building type and occupant use are input parameters, not displayed in the Results Bar" (EDGE User Guide, Section 2.2: Project Setup). Option D (climate conditions) is also an input parameter (selected via location), not an output: "Climate conditions are derived from the selected location and are not shown in the Results Bar" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 3.2: Climate Data Inputs). Thus, incremental cost (Option C) is the correct parameter found in the Results Bar.

Greywater recovery in EDGE is a water efficiency measure, and the software calculates savings by comparing water consumption before and after implementing the measure. The EDGE Methodology Report explains the calculation method: "Water consumption savings from greywater recovery are calculated as the difference between the Base Case water consumption and the Improved Case water consumption after applying the measure. The Base Case represents the typical water use without any efficiency measures, serving as the benchmark for all savings calculations" (EDGE Methodology Report Version 2.0, Section 4.2: Water Savings Calculations). Option A, Base Case water consumption, is the correct reference point for determining savings, as it establishes the baseline against which the greywater recovery measure is evaluated. Option B (Improved Case water consumption) is the result after applying the measure, not the basis for savings. Option C (cost of water consumption at local tariff) and Option D (incremental cost of installation and cost of water consumption at local tariff) relate to financial outputs, not the direct calculation of water savings, as clarified: "Water savings in EDGE are quantified in volume (liters or cubic meters), not cost, though cost savings are derived later using local tariffs" (EDGE User Guide, Section 5.2: Water Efficiency Measures). Thus, greywater recovery savings are based on Base Case water consumption (Option A).