Energy Audit Process 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 Energy Audit Process flashcards as text
What is the purpose of weather-normalizing energy consumption data during an audit?
Answer: To adjust billing data to account for weather variability so years can be fairly compared
Weather normalization uses heating and cooling degree-days to adjust historical energy data, removing the effect of year-to-year weather differences for valid comparisons.
Which energy conservation measure (ECM) typically offers the shortest simple payback period in commercial buildings?
Answer: Occupancy sensor lighting controls
Occupancy sensors are low-cost controls that eliminate lighting energy waste in unoccupied spaces, delivering rapid payback typically within one to two years.
During combustion testing of a natural gas boiler, an auditor measures flue gas O2 at 10%. What does this indicate?
Answer: Excessive excess air reducing thermal efficiency
High flue gas O2 (optimal is ~3–4%) indicates excessive excess air, which carries away heat in the flue gases and reduces boiler combustion efficiency.
An auditor recommends adding VFDs to chilled water pumps that currently run at constant speed. What operational scenario maximizes the energy savings from this measure?
Answer: When the system frequently operates at partial load
VFD savings follow the affinity laws: power varies with the cube of speed, so partial-load operation (reduced flow) yields dramatic energy reductions.
What is the key difference between a Measurement and Verification (M&V) plan and an energy audit report?
Answer: An M&V plan outlines how savings will be confirmed after implementation, while the audit report identifies and estimates potential savings
The audit report identifies ECMs and projects savings; the M&V plan specifies the post-installation methodology for measuring and verifying that projected savings are actually achieved.
A commercial kitchen exhaust hood runs at full speed 24/7 regardless of cooking activity. Which upgrade would an auditor most likely recommend?
Answer: Install demand-controlled kitchen ventilation (DCKV) with heat/opacity sensors
DCKV systems modulate exhaust fan speed based on real-time cooking load detected by temperature or opacity sensors, reducing fan energy and makeup air conditioning costs.
When preparing an energy audit report, which financial metric accounts for the time value of money, unlike simple payback?
Answer: Net Present Value (NPV)
NPV discounts future cash flows to present value, accounting for the time value of money and providing a more rigorous investment analysis than simple payback.