CEM Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CEM facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. In energy auditing, what is the purpose of calculating 'energy use intensity' (EUI) normalized by floor plan area? → To enable benchmarking of energy performance across buildings of different sizes
2. What is the purpose of a thermal break in a window frame or curtain wall system? → Interrupt conductive heat transfer through the metal frame
3. Which ASHRAE standard specifically governs the energy performance requirements for the design of new commercial and industrial facilities in the US? → ASHRAE 90.1 (Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential)
4. What is the recommended approach when performing a simple payback calculation for a motor replacement project? → Measure actual load and operating hours; use measured efficiency at that load point
5. Which insulation class rating corresponds to a maximum temperature of 155°C and is commonly used in motors for high-ambient or overload applications? → Class F
6. When marketing an energy efficiency program at a trade show, which metric best demonstrates value to potential industrial customers? → Simple payback period in months
7. In a blower door test, what does a lower ACH50 value indicate? → Better building envelope airtightness
8. An event manager notices that exhibit hall lighting accounts for 40% of event energy costs. What control strategy would have the greatest impact? → Implement zone-by-zone dimming tied to the exhibit hall occupancy schedule
9. When developing a floor plan for energy code compliance under ASHRAE 90.1, what is the primary purpose of identifying 'semi-heated spaces'? → To apply less stringent envelope and lighting requirements than fully conditioned spaces
10. What does the Betz limit of approximately 59.3% represent in wind energy engineering? → The theoretical maximum fraction of kinetic wind energy that any turbine can extract
11. During an energy program sales presentation, a prospect asks about utility rebate availability. The BEST response strategy is to: → Research the prospect's utility territory and present verified rebate amounts
12. What does a 'motor management' or 'motor rewind vs. replace' analysis typically use as the financial decision threshold? → The 40% rule: replace when rewind cost exceeds 40% of new motor cost
13. A CEM is planning an energy audit showcase event for commercial building owners. Which segment should be prioritized for invitations to maximize ROI potential? → Buildings with high energy use intensity (EUI) relative to their sector
14. What is the main energy penalty of reheat in a constant-volume dual-duct or reheat HVAC system? → Simultaneous cooling and heating of the same air stream
15. Which of the following is an advantage of using technology-enhanced items in assessments? → They can assess higher-order thinking skills
16. Which of the following assessment strategies is best suited for evaluating students understanding of complex concepts or processes? → Performance-based tasks
17. Which measure is most effective for reducing peak cooling demand from solar heat gain through east- and west-facing windows? → Adding exterior shading devices such as fins or overhangs
18. An outdoor festival is using diesel generators for temporary power. Which operating practice most significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions? → Right-sizing generator sets so each operates between 70–80% of rated capacity
19. The rated life of a fluorescent lamp (e.g., 20,000 hours) is defined as the point at which: → 50% of lamps in a statistically tested sample have failed
20. What is the primary purpose of continuous (or surface) blowdown in a boiler system? → To control the concentration of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the boiler water.
21. Which metric best quantifies the financial impact of energy price volatility risk when comparing two candidate facility sites with different fuel mixes? → Coefficient of variation of historical energy prices for each dominant fuel type
22. What is 'sensible heat ratio' (SHR) in HVAC system design? → Ratio of sensible cooling load to total (sensible + latent) cooling load
23. A city government wants to reduce municipal energy costs by 25% in 10 years. Which governance structure best supports this goal? → Establishing a cross-departmental energy steering committee with executive sponsorship
24. A facility engineer wants to reduce pump energy in a chilled water system. Which measure has the greatest single impact? → Installing variable frequency drives (VFDs) on pumps
25. What is the primary energy benefit of using soft starters on large centrifugal pumps? → They reduce mechanical stress and inrush current during starting, extending equipment life
26. A 100 kW motor has a power factor of 0.80. What is the apparent power (kVA) drawn from the utility? → 125 kVA
27. Which of the following is an example of an informal assessment technique? → Classroom observation
28. The 'coefficient of performance' (COP) of a heat pump describes: → The ratio of useful heat delivered to the energy input required
29. A company sets an energy reduction target of 20% over 5 years. What type of planning document should govern this commitment? → Energy management plan (EMP)
30. In educational assessment, what does the term "norm-referenced" mean? → Students are compared to a predetermined standard or benchmark