CPACE Energy Efficiency 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PACE lender requires a 'technical review' of an energy efficiency project proposal. What does this review primarily assess?
- Whether projected energy savings are reasonable and the measures are sound (Correct answer)
- The borrower's credit history and tax payment record
- The contractor's business license and insurance
- Whether the property meets zoning requirements
Correct answer: Whether projected energy savings are reasonable and the measures are sound
Technical review validates that the proposed measures will deliver projected savings and that the project scope and cost are appropriate for the claimed benefits.
Question 2: What is the primary role of a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) in a commercial HVAC system?
- To modulate motor speed to match actual load, reducing energy consumption (Correct answer)
- To convert AC power to DC power for refrigeration compressors
- To provide backup power during grid outages
- To filter harmonics from electrical distribution
Correct answer: To modulate motor speed to match actual load, reducing energy consumption
VFDs allow pumps and fans to operate at partial speed when full capacity is not needed, dramatically reducing energy use since power scales with the cube of speed.
Question 3: In commercial lighting retrofits, what does 'lighting power density' (LPD) measure?
- Watts of lighting per square foot of floor area (Correct answer)
- Lumens produced per watt consumed
- Color rendering index of the light source
- Hours of operation per day
Correct answer: Watts of lighting per square foot of floor area
LPD (W/sq ft) is the key metric used in energy codes to limit how much power a building's lighting system can consume.
Question 4: A commercial property installs a cool roof coating. Which mechanism primarily reduces building cooling loads?
- Higher solar reflectance reduces heat absorbed by the roof surface (Correct answer)
- Increased thermal mass stores heat during the day
- Improved moisture barrier reduces latent cooling loads
- Lower emissivity reduces radiant heat transfer indoors
Correct answer: Higher solar reflectance reduces heat absorbed by the roof surface
Cool roofs reflect more sunlight (high solar reflectance), keeping the roof cooler and reducing heat conducted into the building.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'retro-commissioning' as a PACE-eligible energy efficiency measure?
- Systematic process to optimize existing building systems to their intended performance (Correct answer)
- Complete replacement of aging HVAC equipment
- Installation of new building automation controls
- Renovation of the building envelope
Correct answer: Systematic process to optimize existing building systems to their intended performance
Retro-commissioning identifies and corrects operational deficiencies in existing systems—such as HVAC scheduling errors or sensor drift—to restore optimal energy performance.
Question 6: A grocery store replaces open refrigeration cases with doors. What is the primary energy benefit of this PACE measure?
- Doors prevent warm store air from mixing with cold case air, reducing compressor work (Correct answer)
- Doors improve product visibility and increase sales revenue
- Doors reduce defrost cycle frequency by keeping cases cleaner
- Doors lower the store's lighting power density requirements
Correct answer: Doors prevent warm store air from mixing with cold case air, reducing compressor work
Open cases constantly draw in warm, humid store air, forcing compressors to work harder; doors create a thermal barrier that dramatically cuts refrigeration energy use.
Question 7: What is the significance of a building's 'baseline energy consumption' in a PACE project?
- It establishes pre-retrofit energy use to calculate projected savings from improvements (Correct answer)
- It sets the maximum energy the building may consume after the project
- It determines the property's assessed value for tax purposes
- It represents the minimum energy required for code compliance
Correct answer: It establishes pre-retrofit energy use to calculate projected savings from improvements
The baseline captures current energy consumption so that post-installation measurements can quantify the actual savings achieved by PACE-funded improvements.
CPACE Energy Efficiency 3
A PACE lender requires a 'technical review' of an energy efficiency project proposal.
What does this review primarily assess?