(April 16, 2026 @ 6pm ET) 40 Minutes of Competence PDD Study Session: Problem Solving - An Expert’s Process for Answering ARE Questions

Join us for our interactive quiz-style 40 Minutes of Competence, where you'll compete against one of our team members to see who can answer the most ARE questions correctly. You may come away with helpful insights about these exams whether your answers are right or wrong.

These study sessions are free and open to all, not just Amber Book subscribers, so join us this Thursday at 6pm ET: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83922907346

You’ll take the first five minutes of class to answer this week's question alone, but if you would like to get a head-start on that, here is the assignment:

An architect is designing a small single-family vacation home that will be vacant for extended periods. The home is located in a rural area with very cold winters and hot, humid summers. Electricity in the area is inexpensive and mainly generated from renewable sources. The owners desire a home that is low maintenance, economical to heat and cool, and has a low impact on the environment.

 

Which one of the following HVAC systems should the architect recommend?

 

A. Central oil furnace with through-the-wall direct expansion cooling units.

B. Thermostatically controlled wood stove with circulation fan and window air conditioners.

C. Separate natural gas furnace and ducted, direct expansion central air conditioning system.

D. Ductless, direct expansion heat pump system with backup electrical resistance baseboards.