SFP Managing Sustainable Facilities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A facility manager wants to benchmark energy performance against similar buildings. Which tool is most widely used in the US for this purpose?
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (Correct answer)
- LEED Energy Credit Calculator
- ASHRAE Energy Audit Software
- EPA Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool
Correct answer: ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is the standard US EPA tool for benchmarking building energy and water performance against comparable facilities.
Question 2: Which approach best describes a 'whole-building' energy audit as defined by ASHRAE Level II?
- Utility bill analysis only with no site visit
- Walk-through survey identifying low-cost improvements
- Detailed engineering analysis of systems with energy savings calculations and implementation costs (Correct answer)
- Real-time sub-metering of all loads for 12 months
Correct answer: Detailed engineering analysis of systems with energy savings calculations and implementation costs
An ASHRAE Level II audit provides detailed engineering analysis, energy savings estimates, and implementation cost projections for identified measures.
Question 3: A sustainability manager is developing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. What is the FIRST priority in IPM hierarchy?
- Chemical pesticide application
- Biological control agents
- Prevention and exclusion (Correct answer)
- Monitoring and identification
Correct answer: Prevention and exclusion
IPM prioritizes prevention and exclusion first, minimizing conditions that attract pests before resorting to controls.
Question 4: Under the Clean Air Act Section 608, facility managers handling refrigerants must ensure technicians hold which certification?
- EPA 608 certification (Correct answer)
- OSHA 30-hour card
- NATE certification
- CFC Handler License
Correct answer: EPA 608 certification
EPA Section 608 requires technicians who purchase or handle refrigerants to be certified under the EPA 608 program.
Question 5: A facility achieves a 15% reduction in potable water use by installing low-flow fixtures. What is this strategy primarily classified as?
- Water recycling
- Water demand reduction (Correct answer)
- Greywater reclamation
- Stormwater harvesting
Correct answer: Water demand reduction
Installing low-flow fixtures reduces water demand at the point of use, making it a water demand reduction strategy.
Question 6: Which lighting control strategy yields the greatest energy savings in perimeter office spaces with significant daylight access?
- Occupancy sensors only
- Daylight harvesting with dimming controls (Correct answer)
- Time-clock scheduling
- Manual dimmer switches
Correct answer: Daylight harvesting with dimming controls
Daylight harvesting automatically dims electric lights in response to available natural light, maximizing savings in daylight-rich perimeter zones.
Question 7: A facility manager is calculating a simple payback period for a $50,000 HVAC upgrade that saves $8,000 annually. What is the payback period?
- 4.0 years
- 5.25 years
- 6.25 years (Correct answer)
- 8.0 years
Correct answer: 6.25 years
Simple payback = $50,000 ÷ $8,000/year = 6.25 years.
SFP Managing Sustainable Facilities 2
A facility manager wants to benchmark energy performance against similar buildings.
Which tool is most widely used in the US for this purpose?