CEA Benchmarking & Energy Star Certification 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A hospital wants ENERGY STAR certification. Which use-detail input is unique to acute care hospitals in Portfolio Manager?
- Number of staffed beds (Correct answer)
- Number of MRI machines
- Weekly dialysis patient hours
- Total surgical suite square footage
Correct answer: Number of staffed beds
Staffed beds is the key hospital-specific input because it directly correlates with patient load and energy intensity in acute care facilities.
Question 2: What minimum ENERGY STAR score is required for a building to be eligible for the ENERGY STAR label?
- 75 (Correct answer)
- 70
- 80
- 65
Correct answer: 75
Buildings must score 75 or higher on the ENERGY STAR 1–100 scale to be eligible for certification.
Question 3: Which benchmarking concept compares a building's EUI against the national median EUI for its property type?
- Normalized source EUI comparison (Correct answer)
- Absolute site EUI ranking
- Carbon intensity benchmarking
- Demand-side management scoring
Correct answer: Normalized source EUI comparison
Normalized source EUI comparison adjusts for weather and operational differences to benchmark a building against the national median for its type.
Question 4: Under the ENERGY STAR program, what category of buildings uses 'refrigeration units' as a required use detail?
- Supermarkets and grocery stores (Correct answer)
- Cold storage warehouses only
- Restaurants and food service
- Data centers with immersion cooling
Correct answer: Supermarkets and grocery stores
Supermarkets must enter the number of refrigeration/freezer units because refrigerated cases are a dominant energy end-use in grocery retail.
Question 5: A municipality passes a building energy benchmarking ordinance requiring annual disclosure. Which metric is most commonly mandated for public reporting?
- Site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) (Correct answer)
- Source Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
- ENERGY STAR score
- Peak demand (kW)
Correct answer: Site Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
Most municipal ordinances require disclosure of site EUI because it is straightforward to calculate directly from utility bills.
Question 6: Which EPA tool allows users to estimate the energy and financial savings potential of upgrading to ENERGY STAR-certified equipment?
- ENERGY STAR Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator (Correct answer)
- eGRID Emissions Factor Tool
- DOE EnergyPlus Simulation Engine
- ASHRAE Energy Cost Budget Method
Correct answer: ENERGY STAR Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator
The ENERGY STAR Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator estimates payback and savings for equipment upgrades to help prioritize investments.
Question 7: What is the correct formula for Site Energy Use Intensity (EUI)?
- Total annual site energy (kBtu) ÷ gross floor area (sq ft) (Correct answer)
- Total annual energy cost ($) ÷ gross floor area (sq ft)
- Total annual source energy (kBtu) ÷ occupancy hours
- Peak demand (kW) ÷ gross floor area (sq ft)
Correct answer: Total annual site energy (kBtu) ÷ gross floor area (sq ft)
Site EUI equals total annual site energy in kBtu divided by gross floor area in square feet, yielding kBtu/sq ft/yr.
CEA Benchmarking & Energy Star Certification 3
A hospital wants ENERGY STAR certification.
Which use-detail input is unique to acute care hospitals in Portfolio Manager?