Energy Audit Data Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Energy Auditor Certification practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Energy Audit Data Analysis flashcards as text
When analyzing utility bills for an energy audit, what does a high load factor indicate?
Answer: Electricity consumption is relatively consistent throughout the billing period
A high load factor (kWh / (peak kW × hours)) means demand is steady relative to peak, indicating consistent utilization throughout the billing period.
A facility's energy use intensity (EUI) is 120 kBtu/ft²/yr. The national median for its building type is 80 kBtu/ft²/yr. What does this indicate?
Answer: The facility uses 50% more energy per square foot than the median
An EUI of 120 vs. a median of 80 means the facility consumes 50% more energy per square foot than the typical building of its type.
What is the primary purpose of degree-day normalization in energy data analysis?
Answer: To remove the effect of weather variation when comparing energy use across periods
Degree-day normalization adjusts energy consumption data to account for weather differences, enabling fair year-to-year or site-to-site comparisons.
During regression analysis of a building's energy use, the R² value is 0.95. What does this mean?
Answer: 95% of the variation in energy use is explained by the independent variable(s) in the model
An R² of 0.95 means the regression model's independent variables (e.g., degree-days) explain 95% of the variance in the energy consumption data.
An energy auditor finds that a building's electricity consumption drops significantly on weekends. This pattern most likely indicates:
Answer: Process or occupancy-related loads that cease during non-business hours
Significant weekend consumption drops typically reflect occupancy-driven loads such as lighting, plug loads, and HVAC setback during unoccupied periods.
What does the term 'baseload' refer to in energy consumption analysis?
Answer: The minimum level of energy consumption that occurs regardless of weather or occupancy
Baseload is the constant minimum energy consumption present regardless of weather variations, representing always-on loads like servers, refrigeration, and standby equipment.
A measured and verified (M&V) analysis shows actual post-retrofit savings are 15% below projected savings. What is the most likely explanation?
Answer: Interactive effects between measures were not accounted for in the original projection
Interactive effects—where one measure reduces the savings potential of another (e.g., efficient lighting reducing HVAC cooling load)—are a common cause of actual savings falling short of simple additive projections.