CEA Benchmarking & Energy Star Certification 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When entering data for a mixed-use building in Portfolio Manager, how should a retail space combined with an office be handled?
- Enter each space type as a separate 'use' within the same property (Correct answer)
- Create two separate Portfolio Manager properties linked by a shared meter
- Use only the dominant use type to classify the entire building
- Average the EUI targets of both use types
Correct answer: Enter each space type as a separate 'use' within the same property
Portfolio Manager allows multiple 'uses' within a single property to accurately reflect mixed-use buildings and generate a blended benchmark score.
Question 2: 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 (Correct answer)
- The local utility's actual generation mix
- The state-level renewable portfolio standard percentage
- The ISO/RTO hourly dispatch data
Correct answer: The U.S. national average grid emission and conversion factors
Portfolio Manager uses national average source-to-site ratios (currently 2.80 for electricity) rather than local or regional grid factors.
Question 3: A data center has a PUE of 1.4. In the context of ENERGY STAR benchmarking, what does this ratio indicate?
- For every 1 kWh used by IT equipment, 0.4 additional kWh is consumed by overhead systems (Correct answer)
- 40% of total energy is used by servers
- IT equipment efficiency is rated at 140% relative to the baseline
- The data center qualifies for ENERGY STAR if PUE ≤ 1.4
Correct answer: For every 1 kWh used by IT equipment, 0.4 additional kWh is consumed by overhead systems
PUE of 1.4 means the facility uses 1.4 kWh total for every 1 kWh consumed by IT loads, so overhead (cooling, lighting, UPS) accounts for 0.4 kWh.
Question 4: Which ENERGY STAR certified product category accounts for the largest energy savings in commercial building HVAC systems?
- Packaged unitary air conditioners and heat pumps (Correct answer)
- Variable frequency drives (VFDs)
- Building automation systems (BAS)
- Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs)
Correct answer: Packaged unitary air conditioners and heat pumps
ENERGY STAR certified packaged unitary HVAC equipment represents the broadest installed base and highest cumulative energy savings opportunity in commercial buildings.
Question 5: What happens to a building's ENERGY STAR score if significant tenant improvements increase conditioned floor area without a corresponding energy increase?
- The score likely improves because EUI (kBtu/sq ft) decreases (Correct answer)
- The score drops because more floor area increases source energy
- The score is unchanged because Portfolio Manager locks area inputs
- The building is automatically flagged for re-certification audit
Correct answer: The score likely improves because EUI (kBtu/sq ft) decreases
Adding floor area while energy stays constant reduces the EUI (energy per square foot), typically improving the percentile score.
Question 6: 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 (Correct answer)
- To publish a building's score on the EPA public website
- To automatically submit data to local benchmarking ordinance portals
- To forward utility bill copies to the EPA for verification
Correct answer: To grant a service provider or third party access to a property's data
Share Forward allows property owners to give energy managers, consultants, or auditors read or full access to Portfolio Manager property data.
Question 7: Which international benchmarking standard aligns most closely with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager's EUI-based approach?
- ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems (Correct answer)
- LEED Energy and Atmosphere prerequisite
- BREEAM In-Use Asset Performance rating
- GreenStar Performance tool (Australia)
Correct answer: ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems
ISO 50001 uses energy performance indicators (EnPIs) analogous to EUI for systematic energy benchmarking and management, making it the closest international parallel.
CEA Benchmarking & Energy Star Certification 4
When entering data for a mixed-use building in Portfolio Manager, how should a retail space combined with an office be handled?