Practice Test Geeks(CPACE) Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Practice Test
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Efficiency Improvements Flashcards

7 cards from real CPACE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Efficiency Improvements flashcards as text

  1. A CPACE lender calculates a 'savings-to-investment ratio' (SIR) of 1.8 for a proposed project. This means:

    Answer: For every $1 invested, $1.80 in lifetime energy savings is projected

    An SIR of 1.8 means total projected lifecycle savings are 1.8 times the total project investment cost, indicating a financially sound project.

  2. Which building type typically shows the greatest energy savings potential from a CPACE-financed HVAC efficiency upgrade?

    Answer: Large office buildings with outdated central air systems

    Large office buildings with aging central HVAC systems have the highest baseline energy waste and thus offer the greatest absolute savings from modern high-efficiency equipment.

  3. Under CPACE guidelines, which of the following is generally NOT an eligible efficiency improvement?

    Answer: Cosmetic interior renovations with no energy impact

    CPACE financing is restricted to improvements that generate measurable energy, water, or renewable energy benefits — purely cosmetic renovations do not qualify.

  4. A commercial building installs sub-metering as part of a CPACE project. What is the primary energy management benefit?

    Answer: It provides granular data to identify waste and validate efficiency savings by end-use

    Sub-metering breaks down energy consumption by system or tenant space, enabling targeted efficiency improvements and accurate M&V of CPACE project savings.

  5. A hotel uses CPACE to finance a heat pump water heater (HPWH) system to replace electric resistance water heaters. The efficiency advantage of HPWH is expressed as:

    Answer: Coefficient of Performance (COP) typically 2.0–4.0, meaning 2–4x more efficient than resistance heating

    Heat pump water heaters achieve a COP of 2–4, meaning they deliver 2–4 units of heat energy for every unit of electrical energy consumed, far exceeding resistance heating's COP of 1.0.

  6. In a CPACE energy efficiency project, what does the term 'baseline' represent?

    Answer: The pre-retrofit energy consumption level against which savings are measured

    The baseline is the established pre-improvement energy use profile that serves as the reference point for calculating actual savings achieved by the efficiency measures.

  7. A CPACE project finances window replacement with high-performance glazing. Which specification indicates better solar control in a hot climate?

    Answer: Lower Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

    In hot climates, a lower SHGC means less solar radiation passes through the glass, reducing cooling loads and air conditioning energy consumption.