Certified Energy Auditor Certification Certified Energy Auditor Audit Strategy and Planning 1

Question 1

During pre-audit planning, what is the primary purpose of conducting a kickoff meeting with the building owner or facility manager?

Accepted Answer

To align audit scope, site access requirements, and data collection needs prior to fieldwork

Answer

A kickoff meeting ensures the auditor and client agree on audit boundaries, identifies key contacts, confirms access to spaces and equipment, and clarifies what utility and operational data must be gathered — preventing scope creep and wasted field time.

Question 2

Which metric is most commonly used during audit planning to benchmark a building's energy performance against similar facilities?

Accepted Answer

Energy Use Intensity (EUI) in kBtu/ft²/year

Answer

EUI normalizes energy consumption by floor area and time, allowing meaningful comparison against buildings of the same type regardless of size. It is the standard metric used by tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for pre-audit benchmarking.

Question 3

What is the minimum recommended period of interval meter data that an energy auditor should collect before beginning detailed load profile analysis?

Accepted Answer

Twelve consecutive months of consumption data

Answer

Twelve consecutive months of data captures seasonal variation in heating, cooling, and lighting loads, which is essential for accurately characterizing annual energy use patterns and identifying demand peaks across all operating conditions.

Question 4

When planning an energy audit for a facility with tightly coupled HVAC and lighting systems, which analytical approach best accounts for interaction effects between the two systems?

Accepted Answer

Using a calibrated whole-building energy simulation model

Answer

A whole-building simulation model captures interactive effects — for example, replacing lighting reduces internal heat gain, which in turn reduces cooling loads. Analyzing systems in isolation misses these synergistic savings and can lead to oversized or undersized equipment recommendations.

Question 5

In audit strategy, what is the defining characteristic of a Level I ASHRAE energy audit (Walk-Through Analysis)?

Accepted Answer

It identifies and provides a rough prioritization of low-cost and no-cost energy improvements based on a brief site visit

Answer

A Level I audit is a rapid screening tool. The auditor performs a brief site walkthrough and utility bill review to identify obvious low-cost or no-cost measures (e.g., scheduling adjustments, setpoint changes) and flags potential capital improvements for deeper study in higher-level audits.

Certified Energy Auditor Certification Practice Test

Certified Energy Auditor Certification Practice Test

Certified Energy Auditor Certification Certified Energy Auditor Audit Strategy and Planning 1