Energy Efficiency Flashcards
7 cards from real CPACE 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 Efficiency flashcards as text
A commercial building owner wants to qualify a boiler replacement for PACE financing. What must the new boiler demonstrate?
Answer: Measurable improvement in thermal efficiency over the existing unit
PACE requires that financed measures result in documented energy savings, so the replacement boiler must show higher efficiency (e.g., higher AFUE or thermal efficiency) than the old unit.
What does 'thermal bridging' mean in the context of commercial building envelope improvements?
Answer: Heat flow through highly conductive materials that bypass insulation layers
Thermal bridges are highly conductive elements (like steel studs or concrete columns) that allow heat to bypass insulation, significantly reducing actual thermal performance.
In a PACE energy audit, what does 'simple payback period' represent?
Answer: Years required for energy savings to equal the initial project cost
Simple payback (cost divided by annual savings) gives a quick measure of how many years before cumulative energy savings recover the investment.
A PACE project installs a Building Automation System (BAS). Which energy function does a BAS primarily perform?
Answer: Centrally monitors and controls HVAC, lighting, and other systems to optimize energy use
A BAS integrates control of multiple building systems, enabling scheduling, setpoint optimization, and fault detection that collectively reduce energy waste.
Why is duct sealing a commonly approved PACE measure in commercial buildings?
Answer: Leaky ducts waste conditioned air before it reaches occupied spaces, increasing HVAC energy use
Air leaks in duct systems mean the HVAC must condition more air than actually delivered, wasting 20–30% of heating and cooling energy in poorly sealed systems.
Which of the following best describes 'integrated lighting controls' as a commercial PACE measure?
Answer: Combining occupancy sensing, daylighting, and scheduling to minimize lighting energy
Integrated controls layer multiple strategies—dimming when daylight is available, turning off lights in empty areas, and scheduling overrides—to achieve maximum energy reduction.
A PACE project reports savings in 'kBtu' rather than 'kWh.' Why would this unit be used?
Answer: kBtu allows comparison of savings across different fuel types on a common energy basis
kBtu (thousand British thermal units) is a fuel-neutral unit that lets analysts compare and aggregate savings from electricity, natural gas, and other fuels in a single figure.