Audit Strategy and Planning Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Energy Auditor Certification practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Audit Strategy and Planning flashcards as text
What does 'degree-day normalization' accomplish when analyzing a facility's historical energy data?
Answer: It adjusts energy consumption for variations in outdoor temperature to reveal true usage trends
Degree-day normalization removes the influence of weather variation from consumption data, allowing auditors to compare energy use across years with different climates.
Which regulatory framework most directly influences the scope of a federal facility energy audit in the US?
Answer: Energy Policy Act (EPAct) and Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA)
EPAct 1992, EPAct 2005, and EISA 2007 mandate energy audits, metering, and reduction goals for federal facilities, directly shaping audit scope and reporting requirements.
An auditor identifies an ECM with a high NPV but a 12-year simple payback. How should this be presented to the client?
Answer: Present both metrics and note the long-term financial benefit versus short-term cash flow impact
Presenting multiple financial metrics gives the client a complete picture, allowing them to weigh long-term value against short-term capital constraints.
What is the role of a 'measurement and verification (M&V) plan' in the context of audit strategy?
Answer: It defines how energy savings from implemented ECMs will be measured and confirmed after installation
An M&V plan (per IPMVP protocols) specifies the methodology, metering points, and calculation approach used to verify that implemented ECMs deliver projected savings.
A manufacturing facility's energy costs are dominated by demand charges. What should the auditor prioritize in the audit plan?
Answer: Peak demand reduction strategies such as load shifting and demand response
When demand charges dominate utility bills, reducing peak kW demand through load shifting, scheduling, or storage has the greatest financial impact.
Which document published by ASHRAE provides the standard definitions for audit levels I, II, and III?
Answer: ASHRAE Standard 100 and the Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits
ASHRAE Standard 100 and the ASHRAE Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits define the three audit levels and their associated scope requirements.
During audit planning, an auditor learns the facility recently replaced its chillers. How should this affect the audit strategy?
Answer: Note the upgrade and focus chiller analysis on operational optimization rather than equipment replacement
Recently upgraded equipment is unlikely to be a replacement ECM candidate, but operational and controls optimization can still yield savings from new systems.