CEA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CEA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is 'agrivoltaics'? → Co-locating solar panels and agricultural crops on the same land
2. What is the standard unit used to express and compare greenhouse gas emissions across different gases? → Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)
3. In an energy audit report, the Simple Payback Period (SPP) is calculated as: → Implementation cost divided by annual energy savings
4. Under IPMVP, which party typically bears the risk of 'performance risk' in an ESPC? → The ESCO (Energy Service Company)
5. Which rating system evaluates building sustainability? → LEED certification
6. Interruptible rate programs are most appropriate for which type of customer? → Large industrial customers with flexible production schedules
7. What is the primary benefit of integrating ISO 50001 with other ISO management systems such as ISO 14001? → It streamlines processes and reduces duplication through a common High-Level Structure
8. A hospital wants ENERGY STAR certification. Which use-detail input is unique to acute care hospitals in Portfolio Manager? → Number of staffed beds
9. In the context of CEA certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing carbon footprint & emissions tracking? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
10. Which factor most significantly affects the economic viability of pumped hydro storage development in the United States today? → Long permitting timelines and site-specific geological and water rights constraints
11. In ISO 50001, corrective actions are required when: → A nonconformity or significant deviation from expected energy performance is identified
12. When presenting energy audit findings to a non-technical audience, which reporting element is most effective for communicating potential savings? → Dollar savings and simple payback period in plain language
13. Which practice can help reduce building energy loads? → Scheduling HVAC operation
14. What is the primary purpose of frequency regulation in grid-connected battery energy storage systems (BESS)? → Maintain grid frequency within acceptable bounds (e.g., 59.95–60.05 Hz)
15. When auditing a compressed air system, which condition represents the GREATEST source of energy waste? → System leaks, which can account for 20–30% of compressor output
16. In energy modeling, what does 'load matching' refer to in the context of renewable energy systems? → Aligning renewable energy generation profiles with building consumption profiles
17. What is the primary environmental concern associated with large-scale lithium mining for battery storage used in renewable energy systems? → High water consumption and habitat disruption in arid mining regions
18. What document formally establishes an organization's commitment to achieving energy performance improvement under ISO 50001? → Energy Policy
19. Which term in ISO 50001 refers to energy uses that account for substantial energy consumption or offer significant potential for energy performance improvement? → Significant Energy Uses (SEUs)
20. Which IPMVP option is most appropriate when energy savings cannot be attributed to isolated systems and whole-building metering is required? → Option C
21. Which market structure characterizes most U.S. electricity markets operated by regional transmission organizations (RTOs)? → Nodal locational marginal pricing (LMP)
22. In ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, what is the purpose of the 'Share Forward' feature? → To grant a service provider or third party access to a property's data
23. When performing interval data analysis, 15-minute demand data is primarily used to: → Identify demand peaks and opportunities to reduce peak demand charges
24. In energy reporting, what is the primary purpose of an Energy Performance Indicator (EnPI)? → To quantify energy consumption relative to a relevant variable like production or area
25. Under an energy efficiency portfolio standard (EEPS), utilities are required to: → Achieve a specified percentage reduction in electricity sales through DSM
26. In the context of CEA certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing benchmarking & energy star certification? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
27. In HVAC energy analysis, what does 'latent load' refer to? → Energy required to change moisture content (humidity) of air
28. Price elasticity of demand for electricity in the short run is typically described as: → Relatively inelastic, because few immediate substitutes exist
29. What type of energy is harnessed by solar panels? → Solar energy
30. Which eGRID subregion data does Portfolio Manager use to convert site electricity to source energy? → The U.S. national average grid emission and conversion factors