Energy Efficiency & Conservation Techniques Flashcards

Which federal program sets minimum energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment in the US?

Answer: DOE Appliance Standards Program

The DOE Appliance Standards Program establishes legally mandatory minimum efficiency levels for appliances, lighting, and equipment sold in the US.

What is the primary purpose of a duct blaster test?

Answer: Quantify air leakage from the duct system

A duct blaster pressurizes the duct system and measures leakage to identify where conditioned air is being lost before delivery.

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is used to rate the efficiency of:

Answer: Air-source heat pumps and air conditioners

SEER measures cooling output divided by electrical energy input over a typical cooling season, used for rating air conditioners and heat pump cooling mode.

In an energy audit, the measure of cost-effectiveness comparing first-year savings to installation cost is called:

Answer: Simple Payback Period

Simple payback period divides upfront cost by annual energy savings to determine how many years until the investment is recovered.

Which window property most directly determines how much solar heat gain enters a building?

Answer: Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

SHGC measures the fraction of incident solar radiation that passes through a window as heat; lower SHGC reduces unwanted solar heat gain.

A variable-speed drive (VSD) on a pump motor reduces energy consumption because:

Answer: Fan/pump power varies with the cube of speed, so small speed reductions yield large savings

Per the affinity laws, power varies with the cube of rotational speed; reducing speed by 20% cuts power demand by nearly 50%.

Demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) adjusts outdoor air intake based on:

Answer: CO₂ concentration as a proxy for occupancy

DCV uses CO₂ sensors to modulate outdoor air ventilation rates in proportion to actual occupancy, reducing unnecessary ventilation energy.