Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Flashcards
7 cards from real CEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Sustainability & Energy Efficiency flashcards as text
Which of the following best describes a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA)?
Answer: A financial contract where a buyer pays a fixed price for RECs and the generator sells power to the market
A VPPA is a financial hedge where the corporate buyer receives RECs and the net settlement between strike price and market price, without physical power delivery.
What does the term 'carbon neutrality' require beyond simply purchasing carbon offsets?
Answer: Measuring, reducing, and then offsetting remaining emissions through verified projects
Carbon neutrality requires first measuring all relevant emissions, implementing reductions, and only then using offsets to neutralize unavoidable remainder.
A building's Energy Use Intensity (EUI) is best described as:
Answer: Energy consumption per square foot of floor area over a year
EUI measures kBtu (or kWh) consumed per square foot per year, enabling comparison of energy performance across buildings regardless of size.
Which protocol provides the most widely used framework for categorizing corporate greenhouse gas emissions into Scope 1, 2, and 3?
Answer: GHG Protocol Corporate Standard
The GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard defines Scope 1, 2, and 3 emission categories used globally for corporate carbon accounting.
What is the key difference between a 'bundled' and 'unbundled' REC transaction?
Answer: Bundled RECs are sold with the physical electricity; unbundled RECs are sold separately from the power
In a bundled transaction, the REC travels with the electricity commodity; in unbundled, the environmental attributes are sold separately from the power.
Which efficiency measure typically offers the fastest payback period in most commercial buildings?
Answer: LED lighting upgrades and lighting controls
LED retrofits and lighting controls typically offer payback periods of 1-3 years due to low installation cost and immediate energy savings.
In the context of Scope 3 emissions reporting, which category typically represents the largest share of emissions for most corporations?
Answer: Purchased goods and services
For most companies, purchased goods and services (Scope 3, Category 1) represent the largest portion of value chain emissions.