Methods and Strategies Flashcards
7 cards from real CEM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Methods and Strategies flashcards as text
Which financing mechanism allows an organization to fund energy upgrades with no upfront capital by using guaranteed future energy savings?
Answer: Energy savings performance contract (ESPC)
An ESPC uses an energy service company (ESCO) that guarantees savings sufficient to cover project costs, eliminating the need for upfront capital.
In the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle applied to energy management, what occurs during the 'Check' phase?
Answer: Performance is monitored and measured against objectives
The Check phase involves comparing actual energy performance against targets using metered data and KPIs to determine whether actions achieved expected results.
A manufacturing plant uses a steam distribution system. Which strategy offers the GREATEST energy savings potential with moderate investment?
Answer: Auditing and replacing failed steam traps
Failed steam traps continuously vent live steam, and a systematic trap survey and replacement program typically yields 10–20% steam system energy savings.
What does 'load disaggregation' mean in the context of advanced energy management strategies?
Answer: Identifying energy consumption by individual end-use from whole-building meter data
Load disaggregation uses algorithms to extract appliance- or system-level consumption signatures from aggregate metering data without sub-metering each device.
Which factor MOST significantly affects the decision to pursue an on-site combined heat and power (CHP) system?
Answer: High simultaneous demand for both electricity and thermal energy
CHP is economically attractive when a facility has a consistent, year-round need for both power and heat (or cooling via absorption chiller), allowing most of the fuel energy to be utilized.
An energy manager is presenting a project to senior leadership. Which financial metric is typically MOST persuasive to executive decision-makers unfamiliar with energy?
Answer: Simple payback period in years
Simple payback — the time in years for savings to repay the investment — is intuitive and requires no financial modeling expertise, making it the most accessible metric for executives.
What is the primary purpose of an energy policy statement in an organizational energy management strategy?
Answer: Establish management commitment, scope, and goals to guide the energy program
An energy policy provides the top-level mandate and direction — similar to a quality or safety policy — that legitimizes the energy program and aligns staff behavior.