Ace the LEED Green Associate Exam 2025 – Go Green, Go Great!

Passive design strategies are approaches that enhance the energy efficiency of a building by utilizing natural resources, such as sunlight and airflow, to maintain a comfortable indoor environment with minimal reliance on mechanical systems.

Building orientation refers to the placement of a structure on its site to maximize solar gain, minimize heat loss, and optimize natural lighting and ventilation. This is a fundamental passive design strategy as it takes advantage of the sun's path and the surrounding environment.

Daylighting effectively uses natural light to illuminate interior spaces, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day. This method relies on the careful design of windows, skylights, and reflective surfaces, making it a key component of passive design.

Natural ventilation involves strategically placing windows and openings to allow fresh air to circulate through the building without the need for mechanical fans or HVAC systems. This practice helps regulate indoor temperature and air quality, making it an integral passive strategy.

In contrast, active heating systems involve mechanical processes, such as furnaces or heat pumps, to generate and distribute heat within a building. This reliance on mechanical systems for temperature regulation is not a passive strategy, thus making it the correct answer to the question.