Sustainable Practices & Conservation Flashcards
7 cards from real EMP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Sustainable Practices & Conservation flashcards as text
Which factor most significantly affects the decision to use absorption chillers in a facility?
Answer: Availability of waste heat or low-cost thermal energy
Absorption chillers are economically attractive when waste heat or inexpensive thermal energy (steam, hot water) is available to drive the cycle.
What is the key advantage of a thermal energy storage (TES) system using ice storage in a commercial building?
Answer: Shifts chiller operation to off-peak hours to reduce demand charges
Ice storage shifts energy-intensive chiller operation to nighttime off-peak periods, lowering peak demand charges and taking advantage of lower off-peak rates.
A facility's steam system has a condensate return rate of 45%. What is the most immediate energy conservation opportunity?
Answer: Improving condensate return to reduce makeup water heating and chemical treatment
Increasing condensate return reduces the energy needed to heat cold makeup water and reduces blowdown, chemical, and water costs.
Under LEED v4, which credit category directly rewards energy efficiency improvements beyond the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline?
Answer: Energy & Atmosphere – Optimize Energy Performance
The LEED EA Optimize Energy Performance credit awards points for achieving percentage improvements in energy cost savings over the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline.
Which strategy is MOST effective for reducing plug loads in an office environment without replacing equipment?
Answer: Implementing a power management policy and enabling sleep modes
Activating sleep and hibernate modes on computers and monitors via IT policy can reduce plug load energy by 50% or more at minimal cost.
What does the term 'green power' specifically refer to when purchasing electricity?
Answer: Electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and biomass
Green power is electricity generated from renewable energy sources and marketed to customers who want to support clean energy generation.
An energy manager calculates a project's net present value (NPV) as negative. What does this indicate?
Answer: The project does not meet the required rate of return over its lifetime
A negative NPV means the present value of savings does not exceed the initial investment at the chosen discount rate, indicating the project fails to meet the financial threshold.