FREE Certified Energy Auditor Audit Strategy and Planning Questions and Answers

Question 1

An energy auditor is hired by a facility manager whose only instruction is to "find ways to reduce our high energy costs." What is the most critical first step the auditor must take to develop an effective audit strategy?

Accepted Answer

Work with the facility manager to formally define the specific audit scope, objectives, and boundaries.

Answer

Immediately request and analyze the last 36 months of utility billing data.

Answer

Schedule a comprehensive, multi-day site walk-through to inspect all equipment.

Answer

Install data loggers on the main electrical service and other large energy-consuming systems.

Question 2

Which of the following activities is a key differentiator of an ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit compared to a Level 1 audit?

Accepted Answer

A detailed breakdown of energy use by specific end-use systems (e.g., lighting, HVAC, process loads).

Answer

A walk-through of the facility to identify low-cost/no-cost improvement opportunities.

Answer

A review of historical utility bills to understand consumption patterns.

Answer

Benchmarking the facility's Energy Use Intensity (EUI) against similar buildings.

Question 3

During the Preliminary Energy-Use Analysis (PEA) phase of an audit, what is the primary goal for the auditor?

Accepted Answer

To benchmark the facility's performance and identify the largest energy-consuming systems to focus the audit.

Answer

To calculate the precise simple payback period for all potential retrofit projects.

Answer

To perform combustion efficiency testing on all boilers and furnaces.

Answer

To create a detailed energy simulation model of the entire building.

Question 4

An energy auditor is preparing for an on-site visit to a large, complex manufacturing plant. To ensure the visit is as efficient and productive as possible, which set of documents is most critical to obtain and review beforehand?

Accepted Answer

Architectural drawings, major equipment lists with specifications, and production schedules.

Answer

The company's annual financial statements and marketing materials.

Answer

The maintenance department's staff vacation schedule.

Answer

The facility's property tax and insurance records.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of creating a formal energy audit plan before beginning the main fieldwork?

Accepted Answer

To provide a structured roadmap detailing the audit's scope, timeline, tasks, and required resources.

Answer

To serve as the final, binding contract for the project.

Answer

To guarantee a minimum percentage of energy savings for the client.

Answer

To replace the need for interviews with facility staff.

Question 6

An auditor is planning an ASHRAE Level 2 audit for a 20-story office building with multiple tenants. When defining the audit scope, which of the following is the most important 'boundary condition' to clarify with the building owner?

Accepted Answer

Whether the audit is limited to base building systems or also includes tenant-controlled spaces and plug loads.

Answer

The manufacturer of the main chiller plant.

Answer

The location of the nearest electrical substation.

Answer

The age of the building's roof membrane.