CEA Energy Auditing & Assessment Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which instrument is used to measure the airtightness of a building envelope during an energy audit?
- Blower door test apparatus (Correct answer)
- Combustion analyzer
- Ultrasonic flow meter
- Infrared thermometer
Correct answer: Blower door test apparatus
A blower door test depressurizes the building to measure air leakage rate, quantified as ACH50 or CFM50.
Question 2: In a Level II energy audit (ASHRAE standard), what is the primary deliverable beyond a Level I audit?
- Detailed energy savings calculations with capital cost estimates (Correct answer)
- A simple list of no-cost operational improvements
- Continuous monitoring data over 12 months
- Equipment nameplate data collection only
Correct answer: Detailed energy savings calculations with capital cost estimates
A Level II audit expands on Level I by providing engineering analysis with quantified savings and capital cost estimates for each ECM.
Question 3: What does a 'utility bill analysis' in an energy audit primarily help determine?
- Baseline energy consumption and demand patterns (Correct answer)
- Current equipment replacement cost
- Indoor air quality compliance status
- Refrigerant charge levels in HVAC systems
Correct answer: Baseline energy consumption and demand patterns
Utility bill analysis establishes baseline energy use intensity (EUI), identifies seasonal demand peaks, and flags anomalies indicating waste.
Question 4: A walk-through energy audit reveals single-pane windows in a commercial building in a cold climate. The BEST immediate recommendation is to:
- Conduct a detailed window U-factor and SHGC assessment before specifying replacements (Correct answer)
- Replace all windows immediately with triple-pane units
- Apply reflective window film to reduce heat gain
- Seal only the most visible air gaps with caulk
Correct answer: Conduct a detailed window U-factor and SHGC assessment before specifying replacements
A proper audit requires measuring existing conditions and calculating savings before specifying costly replacements to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Question 5: When performing a lighting audit, which metric directly determines the quantity of light delivered to a work surface?
- Footcandles (lux) (Correct answer)
- Lumens per watt (efficacy)
- Color Rendering Index (CRI)
- Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)
Correct answer: Footcandles (lux)
Footcandles measure illuminance—the amount of light actually reaching the work plane—which auditors compare against IES recommended levels.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a 'demand charge' analysis during a commercial energy audit?
- To identify opportunities to reduce peak power draw and lower utility demand fees (Correct answer)
- To calculate the total annual kWh consumed by lighting systems
- To assess the power factor of motor-driven equipment
- To determine the natural gas consumption of heating equipment
Correct answer: To identify opportunities to reduce peak power draw and lower utility demand fees
Demand charges are billed based on peak kW usage in a billing period, so reducing peak demand can significantly lower utility costs independent of total energy use.
Question 7: An energy auditor calculates a building's Energy Use Intensity (EUI). This metric is expressed as:
- kBtu per square foot per year (Correct answer)
- Kilowatts per occupant
- Therms per degree day
- BTU per hour of operation
Correct answer: kBtu per square foot per year
EUI normalizes energy consumption by floor area (kBtu/sf/yr), enabling comparison across buildings of different sizes and types.
CEA Energy Auditing & Assessment Techniques 2
Which instrument is used to measure the airtightness of a building envelope during an energy audit?