BPI Energy Auditing 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What instrument does a BPI auditor use to detect moisture in building materials without invasive sampling?
- Psychrometer
- Moisture meter (pin or pinless) (Correct answer)
- Manometer
- Anemometer
Correct answer: Moisture meter (pin or pinless)
Moisture meters measure electrical resistance or capacitance in building materials to identify elevated moisture content without destructive testing.
Question 2: In a home energy audit, a 'thermal bridge' most commonly refers to which condition?
- A radiant heat panel spanning two rooms
- A highly conductive building component that bypasses insulation (Correct answer)
- A heat recovery ventilator connecting two air streams
- A solar thermal collector on the roof
Correct answer: A highly conductive building component that bypasses insulation
A thermal bridge is a conductive element such as a metal stud or concrete beam that allows heat to bypass surrounding insulation.
Question 3: What does ASHRAE Standard 62.2 govern in the context of residential energy auditing?
- Minimum duct insulation requirements
- Ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality for low-rise residential buildings (Correct answer)
- Combustion appliance venting requirements
- Attic and crawlspace moisture control
Correct answer: Ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality for low-rise residential buildings
ASHRAE 62.2 establishes minimum ventilation rates and indoor air quality requirements for low-rise residential buildings.
Question 4: Which of the following best explains why 'negative air pressure' in a combustion appliance zone is a safety concern?
- It reduces heating system efficiency by 10–15%
- It can cause appliances to backdraft, pulling combustion gases into living spaces (Correct answer)
- It increases moisture accumulation in the heat exchanger
- It triggers nuisance tripping of carbon monoxide detectors
Correct answer: It can cause appliances to backdraft, pulling combustion gases into living spaces
Negative pressure in the CAZ can overwhelm the appliance's draft, reversing flue gas flow and introducing CO and other combustion products into the home.
Question 5: A homeowner complains of condensation on interior window surfaces in winter. What is the most likely root cause from an energy auditing perspective?
- Windows with high Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
- High indoor relative humidity combined with low window surface temperature (Correct answer)
- Insufficient attic ventilation
- Oversized heating equipment causing short cycling
Correct answer: High indoor relative humidity combined with low window surface temperature
Condensation on windows occurs when interior glass surface temperatures fall below the dew point of the indoor air, indicating high humidity relative to the window's thermal performance.
Question 6: What is the typical pressure difference (in Pascals) applied during a standard blower door test?
- 25 Pa
- 50 Pa (Correct answer)
- 75 Pa
- 100 Pa
Correct answer: 50 Pa
The standard blower door test protocol pressurizes or depressurizes the building to 50 Pascals to measure air leakage in CFM50.
Question 7: What does the term 'Manual J' refer to in residential energy auditing?
- A duct design sizing procedure
- ACCA's residential load calculation methodology for HVAC sizing (Correct answer)
- BPI's combustion safety testing protocol
- An attic ventilation calculation standard
Correct answer: ACCA's residential load calculation methodology for HVAC sizing
Manual J (ACCA Manual J) is the industry-standard method for calculating heating and cooling loads to properly size HVAC equipment in residences.
BPI Energy Auditing 4
What instrument does a BPI auditor use to detect moisture in building materials without invasive sampling?