CEM Facilities and Site Selection 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which metric is used to compare the energy efficiency of a building's envelope across different climate zones in the US?
- Energy Use Intensity (EUI) (Correct answer)
- Building Energy Quotient (BEQ)
- Thermal Mass Index (TMI)
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) average
Correct 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.
Question 2: 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?
- The facility must generate 100% of its own electricity on-site
- The local utility is obligated to supply a minimum share of electricity from renewable sources (Correct answer)
- The facility qualifies automatically for federal investment tax credits
- Natural gas supply to the site will be restricted by regulation
Correct 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.
Question 3: 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?
- Accept the existing assembly as grandfathered under prior code
- Quantify the energy penalty and include roof upgrade costs in the acquisition budget (Correct answer)
- Install interior radiant heating to compensate for heat loss
- Switch from natural gas to electric heating to offset the envelope deficiency
Correct 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.
Question 4: A proposed facility will operate multiple large air compressors. Which site utility characteristic is most critical to evaluate before finalizing the location?
- Availability of natural gas at sufficient pressure and volume
- Availability of adequate electrical service capacity and reliable power quality (Correct answer)
- Municipal recycled water service for cooling towers
- Fiber optic connectivity for process controls
Correct 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.
Question 5: In the context of facilities site selection, what does 'stranded energy asset risk' refer to?
- The risk that on-site solar panels will be shaded by future neighboring structures
- The risk that energy infrastructure investments become economically obsolete before the end of their useful life due to regulatory or market shifts (Correct answer)
- The risk of utility theft at remote industrial sites
- The risk that a site's energy meters will be replaced by the utility without notice
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes an 'energy burden' analysis in the context of facility site selection for a manufacturing company?
- The physical weight imposed on the structure by rooftop HVAC equipment
- Energy costs as a percentage of total operating costs or revenue (Correct answer)
- The carbon emissions per unit of product manufactured at the site
- The number of energy audits required annually by local ordinance
Correct 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.
Question 7: 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?
- Increased rooftop solar panel output due to higher panel temperatures
- Reduced cooling loads by reflecting solar radiation rather than absorbing it as heat (Correct answer)
- Lower wind uplift forces on the roof assembly
- Improved daylighting through translucent roofing membranes
Correct 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.
CEM Facilities and Site Selection 3
Which metric is used to compare the energy efficiency of a building's envelope across different climate zones in the US?