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HVAC and Building Envelope 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 HVAC and Building Envelope flashcards as text

  1. What is the primary purpose of an economizer cycle in an HVAC system?

    Answer: Use outdoor air for free cooling when conditions allow

    An economizer uses cool outdoor air directly for space cooling when outdoor conditions are favorable, reducing or eliminating mechanical refrigeration energy.

  2. Which metric best describes the overall thermal resistance of a building's entire envelope assembly?

    Answer: R-value

    R-value measures thermal resistance; higher R-values indicate better insulating performance across the full assembly.

  3. A chiller's COP is 4.5. How many kW of cooling does it deliver per kW of electrical input?

    Answer: 4.5 kW

    COP (Coefficient of Performance) equals cooling output divided by energy input, so a COP of 4.5 means 4.5 kW of cooling per 1 kW of electricity consumed.

  4. What does 'infiltration' refer to in building energy analysis?

    Answer: Uncontrolled air leakage through gaps in the building envelope

    Infiltration is the uncontrolled flow of outdoor air into a building through cracks, gaps, and openings in the envelope, increasing heating and cooling loads.

  5. Which HVAC system type delivers conditioned air at variable airflow rates to match changing loads?

    Answer: Variable Air Volume (VAV)

    VAV systems modulate supply air volume to zones based on demand, reducing fan energy significantly at part-load conditions.

  6. What is the dew point temperature in the context of HVAC psychrometrics?

    Answer: Temperature at which air becomes fully saturated and condensation begins

    Dew point is the temperature at which moist air becomes saturated (100% RH) and water vapor begins to condense into liquid water.

  7. A building owner is considering replacing single-pane windows with double-pane low-e windows. What is the primary energy benefit?

    Answer: Reduced solar heat gain and improved thermal resistance

    Double-pane low-e windows reduce both conductive heat transfer (lower U-factor) and solar heat gain (lower SHGC), cutting both heating and cooling loads.