Certified Energy Auditor Certification Energy Audit Process 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document is most critical to review during the pre-audit phase to understand a building's energy consumption history?
- Occupant comfort surveys
- Utility billing records for 12–24 months (Correct answer)
- Equipment purchase invoices
- Local building code amendments
Correct answer: Utility billing records for 12–24 months
Utility billing records spanning 12–24 months establish the baseline energy use intensity (EUI) and reveal seasonal consumption patterns essential for audit planning.
Question 2: During a walk-through audit, an auditor notices condensation on interior window surfaces in winter. What does this primarily indicate?
- High indoor humidity combined with poor window insulation value (Correct answer)
- Excessive HVAC cooling capacity
- Roof membrane failure
- Oversized domestic hot water system
Correct answer: High indoor humidity combined with poor window insulation value
Condensation on interior glazing occurs when warm, humid indoor air contacts a cold surface, signaling low window U-value and potentially high relative humidity.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a blower door test in an energy audit?
- Measure HVAC airflow at supply registers
- Quantify building envelope air leakage (Correct answer)
- Test exhaust fan performance
- Calibrate CO2 sensors
Correct answer: Quantify building envelope air leakage
A blower door depressurizes the building to a standard pressure (typically 50 Pa) and measures the airflow required, revealing total envelope air leakage in CFM50 or ACH50.
Question 4: An energy auditor calculates a simple payback period of 6 years for a lighting retrofit costing $18,000. What annual energy savings does this imply?
- $1,800
- $2,400
- $3,000 (Correct answer)
- $4,500
Correct answer: $3,000
Simple payback = Cost ÷ Annual Savings; $18,000 ÷ 6 years = $3,000 per year in energy savings.
Question 5: Which ASHRAE audit level involves detailed energy modeling and investment-grade analysis?
- Level 0 – Benchmarking
- Level I – Walk-Through
- Level II – Energy Survey
- Level III – Detailed Analysis (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Level III – Detailed Analysis
ASHRAE Level III audits provide rigorous engineering analysis with calibrated simulation models, suitable for major capital investment decisions.
Question 6: When assessing lighting energy consumption, which metric best represents the efficiency of a luminaire?
- Color Rendering Index (CRI)
- Lumens per watt (luminous efficacy) (Correct answer)
- Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)
- Beam angle in degrees
Correct answer: Lumens per watt (luminous efficacy)
Luminous efficacy (lumens per watt) measures how efficiently a light source converts electrical energy into visible light.
Question 7: An auditor finds that a chiller's actual COP is 3.2 versus a rated COP of 4.5. What is the most likely cause?
- Oversized condenser water pump
- Fouled condenser tubes reducing heat rejection (Correct answer)
- Excessive supply air static pressure
- Incorrect thermostat setpoints
Correct answer: Fouled condenser tubes reducing heat rejection
Fouled or scaled condenser tubes increase condenser water temperature, forcing the chiller to work harder and reducing its actual coefficient of performance.
Certified Energy Auditor Certification Energy Audit Process 2
Which document is most critical to review during the pre-audit phase to understand a building's energy consumption history?