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
An energy auditor is analyzing a chiller plant and calculates a coefficient of performance (COP) of 2.8. The manufacturer's rated COP is 5.5. What action should the auditor prioritize?
Answer: Investigate operating conditions such as condenser water temperature, fouling, and refrigerant charge
A COP far below rated performance typically indicates an operational or maintenance issue—fouled tubes, high condenser water temp, low refrigerant—rather than an immediate need for replacement.
What is the purpose of conducting a 'blower door test' during an energy audit?
Answer: To quantify building envelope air leakage at a standardized pressure differential
A blower door test depressurizes or pressurizes the building to a standard 50 Pa and measures air infiltration rate (ACH50), identifying envelope leakage magnitude and locations.
When analyzing lighting system data, an auditor calculates lighting power density (LPD) in W/ft². This metric is primarily compared against:
Answer: ASHRAE 90.1 or IECC code allowances for the space type
LPD is benchmarked against ASHRAE 90.1 or IECC code maximums for the specific space type to determine if the lighting system is code-compliant or over-lit.
An auditor identifies that a commercial building's HVAC system runs at full capacity overnight when the building is unoccupied. What data analysis step should be performed first?
Answer: Review BAS/BMS schedules and control sequences to identify programming errors or sensor failures
Before recommending solutions, the auditor must determine whether the overnight operation is a control issue (wrong schedule, failed sensor) or an intentional setpoint strategy.
Which statistical method is best suited for identifying whether two variables—such as production volume and energy consumption—have a meaningful linear relationship?
Answer: Pearson correlation coefficient analysis
The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two continuous variables, commonly used in energy-production regression analysis.
A facility's annual electricity bill shows demand charges representing 45% of total cost. What type of energy conservation measure should the auditor prioritize recommending?
Answer: Demand response strategies and load shifting to reduce peak kW
When demand charges dominate the bill, reducing peak demand through load shifting, demand response, or peak shaving will yield the greatest cost savings.
What does a 'metered savings' approach in M&V Option B (IPMVP) require that Option A does not?
Answer: Continuous measurement of all energy parameters affected by the installed measure
IPMVP Option B requires continuous sub-metering and measurement of all key parameters (power, runtime) for the specific measure, while Option A stipulates some parameters to reduce monitoring cost.