Certified Energy Auditor Certification Data Collection and Analysis 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a 'baseline period' in measurement and verification (M&V) under IPMVP Option B?
- Establish pre-retrofit energy use for comparison against post-retrofit measured savings (Correct answer)
- Set the equipment replacement schedule for the audit period
- Define the utility rate structure before contract negotiation
- Identify peak demand months for demand response enrollment
Correct 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.
Question 2: When reviewing compressed air system data, an auditor finds the compressor runs at 100% load continuously even during low-demand periods. What does this most likely indicate?
- Significant air leaks in the distribution system consuming excess compressed air (Correct answer)
- The compressor is correctly sized for the load
- The pressure set point is too low
- VFD control is functioning optimally
Correct answer: Significant air leaks in the distribution system consuming excess compressed air
A compressor running fully loaded even during low-demand periods typically indicates leakage is consuming capacity that should be unloaded.
Question 3: An auditor uses a data logger to capture chiller runtime over 30 days. The logger records 720 hours of operation in a month with 720 total hours. What does this reveal?
- The chiller ran continuously with no off-cycles, suggesting oversizing or controls issues (Correct answer)
- The chiller is properly sized and running efficiently at part load
- The data logger malfunctioned and must be recalibrated
- Cooling load is excessive and additional chiller capacity is needed
Correct answer: The chiller ran continuously with no off-cycles, suggesting oversizing or controls issues
Continuous runtime with no cycling suggests the chiller cannot satisfy load demand, or controls are preventing it from shutting down during low-load periods.
Question 4: Which ASHRAE standard defines the procedures and minimum requirements for commercial building energy audits at Levels 1, 2, and 3?
- ASHRAE Standard 211 (Correct answer)
- ASHRAE Standard 90.1
- ASHRAE Standard 55
- ASHRAE Standard 62.1
Correct answer: ASHRAE Standard 211
ASHRAE Standard 211 establishes the scope, deliverables, and data collection requirements for each level of commercial energy audit.
Question 5: A natural gas utility bill shows consumption in therms. If an auditor needs to convert therms to MMBtu for an energy analysis, what conversion factor applies?
- 1 therm = 0.1 MMBtu (Correct answer)
- 1 therm = 1.0 MMBtu
- 1 therm = 10 MMBtu
- 1 therm = 0.01 MMBtu
Correct answer: 1 therm = 0.1 MMBtu
One therm equals 100,000 Btu, which is 0.1 MMBtu, so dividing therm values by 10 yields MMBtu.
Question 6: When analyzing lighting energy data collected via occupancy sensors and data loggers, what metric helps quantify the savings opportunity from reducing burn hours?
- Annual operating hours multiplied by installed wattage versus occupied-only operating hours (Correct answer)
- Lumen output per watt of installed lighting
- Color rendering index (CRI) of existing lamps
- Photometric layout uniformity ratio
Correct answer: Annual operating hours multiplied by installed wattage versus occupied-only operating hours
Comparing actual burn hours against occupancy-only hours reveals how many hours lights run unnecessarily, which directly quantifies kWh savings potential.
Question 7: An auditor performs an end-use disaggregation and finds that plug loads account for 35% of total electricity use. Which data collection method most accurately measures individual plug load consumption?
- Portable plug-in power meters installed on individual circuits or devices (Correct answer)
- Nameplate wattage of all plug-connected equipment
- Utility bill analysis alone
- Panel schedule amperage readings
Correct answer: Portable plug-in power meters installed on individual circuits or devices
Plug-in power meters capture actual real-time power draw including part-load and standby conditions, which nameplate data significantly overestimates.
Certified Energy Auditor Certification Data Collection and Analysis 5
What is the purpose of a 'baseline period' in measurement and verification (M&V) under IPMVP Option B?