Mixed Deck — All Certified Energy Auditor Certification Topics Flashcards
100 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 20 Mixed Deck — All Certified Energy Auditor Certification Topics flashcards as text
Which type of window frame material has the highest thermal conductance (worst thermal performance)?
Answer: Aluminum without a thermal break
Aluminum is a highly conductive metal; without a thermal break (an insulating separator), aluminum frames conduct heat rapidly, resulting in poor thermal performance.
A utility offers a $0.15/kWh rebate for verified electricity savings from an energy retrofit. If the project saves 200,000 kWh annually, what is the one-time rebate amount?
Answer: $30,000
The rebate equals $0.15/kWh multiplied by 200,000 kWh, which equals $30,000.
Which data visualization method is most appropriate for identifying energy consumption anomalies over a continuous 12-month period?
Answer: Time-series line graph of daily or monthly consumption
A time-series line graph reveals trends, anomalies, and seasonal patterns in energy data across a continuous time period.
Which metric is the standard benchmark used to compare the overall energy efficiency of different compressed air systems or compressor packages?
Answer: Specific power (kW per 100 cfm delivered)
Specific power (kW/100 cfm) normalizes compressor energy consumption to a unit of useful output and accounts for both the compressor and ancillary equipment. It is the DOE and industry-preferred metric for benchmarking compressed air system efficiency across different sizes and types.
What is the thermal resistance (R-value) equivalent of a U-factor of 0.25 BTU/hr·ft²·°F?
Answer: R-4.0
R-value = 1 ÷ U-factor = 1 ÷ 0.25 = 4.0; R-value and U-factor are reciprocals of each other.
Which metric is used to evaluate the energy performance of skylights in commercial buildings under ASHRAE 90.1?
Answer: U-factor and SHGC per the fenestration schedule
ASHRAE 90.1 evaluates skylight performance through prescribed maximum U-factor and SHGC values based on climate zone, listed in fenestration tables.
Which metric is commonly used to express boiler efficiency as measured by the flue gas method?
Answer: Combustion efficiency (stack loss method)
Combustion efficiency using the stack loss method measures boiler efficiency by analyzing flue gas temperature and oxygen/CO2 content.
In evaluating a solar thermal system for domestic hot water, what does the 'solar fraction' indicate?
Answer: The proportion of total hot water energy demand supplied by the solar thermal system
Solar fraction is the percentage of a building's total hot water (or space heating) energy demand provided by the solar thermal system, with the remainder supplied by a conventional backup source.
An energy auditor evaluates a compressed air leak repair program costing $3,000 with projected annual savings of $4,800. Why might this project still receive a low priority ranking despite its excellent payback?
Answer: The savings may not persist without ongoing leak detection and maintenance
Compressed air leak repairs often require recurring effort because new leaks develop continuously, so savings degrade without an ongoing maintenance program.
What is the purpose of a bypass factor in coil selection?
Answer: Fraction of air that bypasses the coil without being conditioned
The bypass factor represents the fraction of air that passes through a cooling coil without contacting the coil surface and therefore is not fully conditioned.
What is the significance of the building envelope's effective R-value compared to the nominal R-value of installed insulation?
Answer: The effective R-value is typically lower due to thermal bridging, air leakage, and installation defects
Thermal bridging through framing, gaps in insulation installation, and air leakage all reduce the actual thermal performance below the nominal R-value printed on the insulation product.
For a fixed-tilt PV installation in the continental US, what is the general rule for maximizing annual energy production?
Answer: Set tilt angle equal to local latitude, oriented toward true south
Setting the tilt angle equal to the local latitude and orienting panels toward true south maximizes annual solar energy capture for fixed installations in the Northern Hemisphere.
The economic life of equipment used in LCC analysis is best defined as:
Answer: The period over which the equipment provides net positive savings versus the next-best alternative
Economic life ends when operating, maintenance, and replacement costs make retaining the equipment less favorable than replacing it with a better alternative.
When calculating the net present value of an energy retrofit, which of the following represents a 'residual value' consideration at the end of the analysis period?
Answer: The remaining economic value of equipment that outlasts the study period
Residual (salvage) value represents the remaining worth of equipment at the end of the analysis period and is included as a positive cash flow in LCC calculations.
Which diagnostic tool is most appropriate for quantifying the total air leakage area (ELA — Effective Leakage Area) of a building envelope?
Answer: Blower door combined with pressurization testing protocol
A blower door test depressurizes or pressurizes the building to a standard reference pressure (typically 50 Pascals), allowing measurement of total airflow required to maintain that pressure. This data, combined with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) model or equivalent, is used to calculate the Effective Leakage Area — a standardized measure of total envelope air leakage.
A performance contract (ESPC) shifts the financial risk of energy savings shortfalls to the:
Answer: Energy Service Company (ESCO)
In an Energy Savings Performance Contract, the ESCO guarantees the projected savings and absorbs the financial risk if actual savings fall short.
What is the primary risk of performing air sealing work without addressing combustion safety in a home with atmospheric-vented appliances?
Answer: Backdrafting of combustion gases including carbon monoxide into the living space
Tightening the building envelope without ensuring adequate combustion air supply can cause atmospheric-vented appliances to backdraft, pulling dangerous combustion gases including carbon monoxide indoors.
What is the purpose of a 'baseline period' in measurement and verification (M&V) under IPMVP Option B?
Answer: Establish pre-retrofit energy use for comparison against post-retrofit measured savings
The baseline period captures pre-retrofit energy performance so that actual post-retrofit savings can be calculated by comparison.
A facility's energy use intensity (EUI) is 120 kBtu/ft²/yr. The national median for its building type is 80 kBtu/ft²/yr. What does this indicate?
Answer: The facility uses 50% more energy per square foot than the median
An EUI of 120 vs. a median of 80 means the facility consumes 50% more energy per square foot than the typical building of its type.
In a life cycle cost analysis for an energy conservation measure, which of the following costs should be included?
Answer: Initial cost, annual energy savings, maintenance costs, and replacement costs
Life cycle cost analysis encompasses all costs and savings over the entire useful life of a measure, including initial, operating, maintenance, and replacement costs.