Certified Energy Auditor Certification Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Certified Energy Auditor Certification facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which lighting metric measures the total luminous flux emitted per watt of electrical power consumed? → Luminous efficacy
2. What does a savings-to-investment ratio (SIR) greater than 1.0 indicate about an energy project? → The project's discounted savings exceed its discounted costs
3. What does a low superheat reading at the evaporator coil of a direct-expansion cooling system typically indicate? → The system is overcharged or the expansion valve is feeding too much refrigerant
4. When evaluating a small wind turbine for a facility, what is the generally accepted minimum average annual wind speed for a viable installation? → 5 m/s (11.2 mph)
5. What is the primary advantage of a variable air volume (VAV) system compared to a constant air volume (CAV) system in commercial buildings? → Reduced fan energy consumption at partial loads
6. Which inverter technology is best suited for maximizing energy harvest when individual PV panels may experience partial shading? → Microinverter or DC power optimizer
7. Which benchmarking tool is most commonly used by energy auditors in the US to compare a building's energy performance against similar facilities? → ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
8. What is the primary limitation of using simple payback period as the sole criterion for evaluating energy conservation measures? → It ignores the time value of money and savings beyond the payback period
9. Which energy conservation measure (ECM) typically offers the greatest ROI in a large industrial steam system? → Steam trap repair and replacement program
10. Which thermal imaging condition is most likely to produce accurate results when scanning a building envelope for insulation defects? → When there is at least a 10°F temperature difference between indoors and outdoors
11. What is the primary risk of performing air sealing work without addressing combustion safety in a home with atmospheric-vented appliances? → Backdrafting of combustion gases including carbon monoxide into the living space
12. What is the recommended minimum outdoor air ventilation standard that energy auditors reference for commercial HVAC systems in the United States? → ASHRAE Standard 62.1
13. Which control strategy is most effective for reducing energy consumption in a multi-zone HVAC system experiencing simultaneous heating and cooling? → Resetting supply air temperature based on zone demands
14. What is the most common kind of loss in an AC motor at full load? → Resistive losses
15. Which lighting control strategy is most effective for reducing energy use in a daylit open-plan office? → Continuous dimming with photosensor controls
16. Which metric best indicates the seasonal cooling efficiency of a central air conditioning system? → SEER
17. Which factor should an energy auditor prioritize when recommending a lighting retrofit for a warehouse with 24/7 operations? → Maximizing luminous efficacy and implementing high-bay occupancy sensors
18. What is the recommended minimum R-value for attic insulation in US Climate Zone 5 according to IECC guidelines? → R-49
19. What is the purpose of the ASHRAE Level II energy audit? → To provide detailed energy analysis with financial projections for recommended measures
20. Which refrigerant management practice is required under EPA Section 608 for certified energy auditors to understand? → Recovery of refrigerants before disposing of equipment
21. What is the recommended method for measuring the air infiltration rate of an existing commercial building during an energy audit? → Blower door depressurization test
22. Which data collection method is most appropriate for identifying intermittent equipment operation issues during an energy audit? → Short-term monitoring with portable data loggers over a minimum two-week period
23. A utility's electricity rate structure that differs according to the time of day is known as: → Time of use rate
24. When performing duct leakage testing, what does the term 'duct leakage to outside' specifically refer to? → Air leaking from ducts into unconditioned spaces such as attics or crawlspaces
25. What document does a CEA auditor typically produce to summarize recommended ECMs, projected savings, and implementation costs after an industrial energy audit? → Energy Audit Report with investment-grade analysis
26. What is the internal rate of return (IRR) for an energy project? → The discount rate at which the net present value equals zero
27. Which type of drive mechanism typically offers the highest efficiency for constant-speed motor applications? → Direct coupling
28. What is the primary energy-saving opportunity identified when boiler blowdown heat recovery is implemented? → Recovering heat from blowdown water to preheat makeup water
29. Which of the following is an example of a no-cost or low-cost energy conservation measure an auditor might recommend? → Adjusting thermostat setback schedules
30. In a direct digital control (DDC) system, what is the function of the proportional-integral (PI) control loop for a cooling coil valve? → Modulates the valve position to maintain discharge air temperature at setpoint