CEM Facilities and Site Selection 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When evaluating a site for a new industrial facility, which factor most directly impacts long-term energy costs related to climate control?
- Proximity to major highways
- Local climate degree-days data (Correct answer)
- Distance from suppliers
- Zoning classification
Correct answer: Local climate degree-days data
Heating and cooling degree-days data quantifies the energy demand a climate imposes on a building, directly predicting long-term HVAC energy costs.
Question 2: A facility manager is selecting between two sites. Site A has lower land cost but poor utility infrastructure. Site B has higher land cost but robust grid access. From an energy perspective, which additional cost should be estimated for Site A?
- Environmental impact assessment fees
- Utility extension and grid interconnection costs (Correct answer)
- Employee relocation allowances
- Property tax abatement value
Correct answer: Utility extension and grid interconnection costs
Poor utility infrastructure at Site A requires estimating utility extension and grid interconnection costs, which can substantially exceed land savings.
Question 3: Which building orientation strategy minimizes solar heat gain in summer while maximizing passive solar heating in winter for a US facility?
- Orient the long axis east-west with more glazing on the south facade (Correct answer)
- Orient the long axis north-south with equal glazing on all sides
- Maximize west-facing glazing to capture afternoon sun year-round
- Use a circular footprint to distribute solar exposure evenly
Correct answer: Orient the long axis east-west with more glazing on the south facade
An east-west long axis with south-facing glazing captures low winter sun while roof overhangs can block high summer sun, optimizing passive solar performance.
Question 4: What is the primary energy-related benefit of locating a new facility near an existing combined heat and power (CHP) district energy system?
- Reduced property insurance premiums
- Access to waste heat for space or process heating at lower cost (Correct answer)
- Eligibility for federal historic preservation tax credits
- Reduced municipal water rates
Correct answer: Access to waste heat for space or process heating at lower cost
District energy systems distribute the waste heat from CHP plants, allowing connected facilities to purchase thermal energy more cheaply than generating it on-site.
Question 5: In a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for site selection, which term represents the present value of all future energy operating costs?
- Simple payback period
- Net present value of energy costs (Correct answer)
- Internal rate of return
- Marginal cost of energy
Correct answer: Net present value of energy costs
The net present value of energy costs discounts all projected future energy expenditures back to today's dollars, enabling apples-to-apples site comparisons.
Question 6: A CEM is reviewing utility rate schedules for two candidate sites. Site X has a flat energy rate of $0.09/kWh. Site Y has a $0.07/kWh rate but with demand charges of $18/kW/month. Which scenario would favor Site Y?
- A facility with highly variable load and frequent short peaks
- A facility with a high, flat load factor operating near full capacity consistently (Correct answer)
- A facility that runs only daytime shifts with large morning startup surges
- A facility that plans to install significant on-site generation
Correct answer: A facility with a high, flat load factor operating near full capacity consistently
High, flat load factors minimize peak demand relative to total consumption, making demand charges less punishing and allowing the lower energy rate at Site Y to dominate.
Question 7: Which site characteristic is MOST relevant when assessing the feasibility of installing a ground-source heat pump system at a new facility?
- Proximity to interstate highways for equipment delivery
- Subsurface soil thermal conductivity and available land area for ground loops (Correct answer)
- Local prevailing wind speed at hub height
- Parcel shape and frontage dimensions
Correct answer: Subsurface soil thermal conductivity and available land area for ground loops
Ground-source heat pump performance depends on the thermal conductivity of subsurface soils and sufficient land area to install horizontal or vertical ground heat exchangers.
CEM Facilities and Site Selection 2
When evaluating a site for a new industrial facility, which factor most directly impacts long-term energy costs related to climate control?