Certified Energy Auditor Certification Certified Energy Auditor Energy Audit Process 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What distinguishes an ASHRAE Level I energy audit (Walk-Through Analysis) from a Level II audit (Energy Survey and Analysis)?
- Level I includes detailed energy modeling and simulation, while Level II relies solely on utility bills
- Level I identifies low-cost and no-cost energy conservation measures, while Level II analyzes capital-intensive ECMs with supporting financial analysis (Correct answer)
- Level I requires installation of sub-meters on all major systems before the site visit
- Level I is reserved exclusively for industrial manufacturing facilities
Correct answer: Level I identifies low-cost and no-cost energy conservation measures, while Level II analyzes capital-intensive ECMs with supporting financial analysis
A Level I audit is a preliminary assessment focused on identifying operational and low-cost improvements, whereas a Level II audit goes deeper by quantifying energy savings and costs for capital improvements through engineering analysis and financial metrics.
Question 2: During an energy audit, infrared thermography is primarily used to:
- Measure real-time electricity consumption of individual branch circuits
- Detect moisture infiltration within the building's plumbing distribution system
- Identify thermal anomalies such as insulation voids, air leaks, and thermal bridging in the building envelope (Correct answer)
- Calculate the coefficient of performance (COP) of rooftop HVAC units
Correct answer: Identify thermal anomalies such as insulation voids, air leaks, and thermal bridging in the building envelope
Infrared cameras detect surface temperature differences that reveal hidden deficiencies in insulation coverage, air sealing, and moisture intrusion — all critical building envelope findings in an energy audit.
Question 3: When reviewing 12 to 24 months of utility bills during the preliminary phase of an energy audit, an auditor should focus primarily on:
- The name and contact information of the utility account representative
- Consumption patterns, peak demand charges, applicable rate schedules, and any anomalous billing periods (Correct answer)
- The total number of invoice pages submitted each billing cycle
- Whether invoices were paid on time to avoid late-payment surcharges
Correct answer: Consumption patterns, peak demand charges, applicable rate schedules, and any anomalous billing periods
Utility bill analysis establishes the energy baseline and reveals demand peaks, seasonal trends, rate structure impacts, and outlier months that signal operational issues — all foundational inputs to the audit.
Question 4: An ASHRAE Level III (Investment-Grade) energy audit differs from a Level II audit primarily because it:
- Includes a visual walk-through of mechanical rooms and the building envelope
- Collects utility bills for the most recent 12-month period
- Provides detailed engineering calculations and rigorous financial analysis sufficient to justify major capital investment decisions (Correct answer)
- Identifies low-cost operational improvements with no supporting cost data
Correct answer: Provides detailed engineering calculations and rigorous financial analysis sufficient to justify major capital investment decisions
A Level III audit produces the high-confidence energy savings projections and detailed financial models that lenders, ownership groups, and performance contracting firms require before committing significant capital.
Question 5: Which diagnostic instrument is most commonly used during an energy audit to quantify a building envelope's overall airtightness?
- Clamp-on power meter
- Blower door apparatus (Correct answer)
- Combustion efficiency analyzer
- Power quality analyzer
Correct answer: Blower door apparatus
A blower door depressurizes the building to a standard reference pressure (typically 50 Pa) and measures airflow, allowing the auditor to calculate air changes per hour and identify leakage areas with a smoke pencil or infrared camera.
Question 6: When comparing energy conservation measures (ECMs) in an audit report, life cycle cost (LCC) analysis is preferred over simple payback because it:
- Is easier to calculate and requires no knowledge of discount rates or inflation
- Captures the total cost of ownership over the measure's useful life, including first cost, energy savings, maintenance, and the time value of money (Correct answer)
- Eliminates the need to estimate annual energy savings for each ECM
- Is the only metric accepted by ASHRAE Standard 90.1 for ECM evaluation
Correct answer: Captures the total cost of ownership over the measure's useful life, including first cost, energy savings, maintenance, and the time value of money
Simple payback ignores costs and savings that occur after the payback threshold and does not account for the time value of money, making LCC a more comprehensive financial tool for comparing measures with different useful lives and maintenance profiles.
