Facilities and Site Selection Flashcards
7 cards from real CEM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Facilities and Site Selection flashcards as text
Which metric is used to compare the energy efficiency of a building's envelope across different climate zones in the US?
Answer: Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
Energy Use Intensity (EUI), expressed as kBtu/ft²/year, normalizes energy consumption by floor area and is widely used to benchmark and compare building performance.
A site selection team discovers that a candidate industrial site is located in a state with a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). What is the primary energy management implication?
Answer: The local utility is obligated to supply a minimum share of electricity from renewable sources
An RPS requires utilities to source a legislated percentage of electricity from renewables, which can affect the carbon intensity and long-term price stability of grid power at the site.
When performing a site energy audit during due diligence, a CEM finds that the existing building has an R-11 roof assembly in a climate zone 5 location. ASHRAE 90.1 requires R-30 for that climate zone. What is the most appropriate recommendation?
Answer: Quantify the energy penalty and include roof upgrade costs in the acquisition budget
The underperforming envelope should be identified as a capital need; quantifying its energy penalty and including retrofit costs in the acquisition budget is the sound energy management approach.
A proposed facility will operate multiple large air compressors. Which site utility characteristic is most critical to evaluate before finalizing the location?
Answer: Availability of adequate electrical service capacity and reliable power quality
Large air compressors are significant electrical loads; adequate service capacity and stable power quality (voltage, frequency) are essential to avoid equipment damage and efficiency losses.
In the context of facilities site selection, what does 'stranded energy asset risk' refer to?
Answer: The risk that energy infrastructure investments become economically obsolete before the end of their useful life due to regulatory or market shifts
Stranded asset risk occurs when energy capital investments (e.g., a new gas boiler plant) lose value early due to changes in carbon regulations, fuel prices, or technology, imposing unrecovered costs.
Which of the following best describes an 'energy burden' analysis in the context of facility site selection for a manufacturing company?
Answer: Energy costs as a percentage of total operating costs or revenue
Energy burden expresses energy costs as a share of operating expenses or revenue, helping management understand how much a site's utility rates will affect overall financial performance.
A new distribution center is being sited. The design team proposes a cool roof with high solar reflectance. What is the primary energy benefit in a hot US climate?
Answer: Reduced cooling loads by reflecting solar radiation rather than absorbing it as heat
Cool roofs with high reflectance re-emit solar energy rather than converting it to heat, directly reducing heat gain through the roof and lowering mechanical cooling energy consumption.