Building Envelope & Energy Audit Flashcards
7 cards from real CCP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Building Envelope & Energy Audit flashcards as text
During an energy audit, a commissioning professional evaluates a building's Energy Use Intensity (EUI). For a typical US office building, which EUI range (kBtu/ft²/year) is generally considered good performance?
Answer: 50–75
A good-performing US office building typically achieves an EUI of 50–75 kBtu/ft²/year, significantly below the national median of approximately 90 kBtu/ft²/year.
What is the key distinction between a vapor retarder and an air barrier in building envelope design?
Answer: Air barriers resist bulk airflow while vapor retarders resist water vapor diffusion by concentration gradient
Air barriers resist bulk airflow driven by pressure differences, while vapor retarders resist moisture diffusion driven by vapor pressure concentration gradients — they address different moisture transport mechanisms.
A commissioning professional performing a pre-functional checklist for a curtain wall system should verify which critical installation detail to prevent condensation on interior surfaces?
Answer: Thermal breaks are properly installed at all metal framing members
Thermal breaks in curtain wall framing prevent cold metal from conducting to the interior surface, where condensation would form when interior dew point exceeds the surface temperature.
An ASHRAE Level II energy audit of a grocery store reveals that refrigerated display cases account for 45% of total electricity use. What energy conservation measure (ECM) would most effectively reduce this consumption?
Answer: Adding night curtains/covers to open refrigerated display cases
Night curtains on open refrigerated display cases can reduce case energy consumption by 25–40%, representing substantial savings given that cases are typically the dominant energy load in grocery stores.
In the context of building envelope commissioning, what does 'hygrothermal analysis' evaluate?
Answer: The combined heat and moisture transfer through building assemblies to predict condensation risk
Hygrothermal analysis (using tools like WUFI) models both heat and moisture transport through building assemblies to predict where and when condensation might occur, guiding insulation placement and vapor control strategies.
A commissioning professional finds significant air leakage at the top-plate intersection where interior walls meet the ceiling in an existing building. Which retrofitting approach addresses this air leakage pathway most effectively?
Answer: Spray foam or sealant application at top plates before insulating the attic
Air sealing at the top plate/ceiling intersection before adding insulation directly blocks the primary stack-effect driven leakage pathway that allows conditioned air to bypass into the attic.
Which ASHRAE standard provides the primary reference for energy auditing procedures and defines Level I, II, and III audit classifications?
Answer: ASHRAE 211
ASHRAE Standard 211 (Standard for Commercial Building Energy Audits) defines the scope, procedures, and deliverables for Level 1, 2, and 3 commercial energy audits.