Test and Certification
CEM Certification
What does this mean?
Jobs:
Corporate Energy Manager
Energy Management Consultant
Energy Auditor
Product Energy Sales
Product Energy Management
Energy Buyer / Broker
CEM Certified
All CEMS are not equal
General areas of knowledge
Specialization
Regional Specialization
DOE vs ASHRAE vs LEED
What does this mean to you.
Applying your knowledge
CEM Certification
To raise the professional standards of those engaged in energy
management.
To improve the practice of energy management by
encouraging energy managers in a continuing program of
professional development.
To identify persons with acceptable knowledge of the
principles and practices of energy management related
disciplines and laws governing and affecting energy managers
through completing an examination and fulfilling prescribed
standards of performance and conduct.
To award special recognition to those energy managers who
have demonstrated a high level of competence and ethical
fitness for energy management.
Getting your CEM
CEM requirements
Minimum of 700 points on the exam
Minimum of 700 points on the application
A higher exam score is needed with a minimum
application score.
For Example if you engineering experience is borderline
energy experience and you score low on the test the
experience can be disallowed.
Test scores are valid for 3 years
CEM Test
CEM test has 17 sections
3 Mandatory sections
Codes and Standards
Energy Accounting and Economics
Energy Audits and Instrumentation
CEM Test
14 Optional Sections
Electrical Systems
HVAC Systems
Industrial Systems
Building Envelopes
Cogeneration & CHP systems
Energy Procurement
Building Automation and Control Systems
Green Buildings, LEED and Energy Star
CEM Test
14 Optional Sections (cont)
Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Lighting Systems
Boiler and Steam Systems
Maintenance & Commissioning
Alternative Financing
CEM Test
14 Optional Sections (cont)
Only the first 8 will be scored
If you mark in a section erase it totally if you decide to do a
different section.
What sections to do?
You need a specialty, whatever it is do that section.
Remember there is no penalty for wrong answers
Spend a little time on each section to see which is the easiest
Your teachers are a great source of knowledge use them
Remember the first 8 are the only ones scored so ERASE
COMPLETELY.
Techniques
All tests have a technique that will help you.
SAT, GRE, LSAT, Bar all have specific ways to take them
This test is really 4 kinds of questions:
Memorization
Logic
Evaluation
Calculation
Techniques
Memorization
A lot of questions are pure memorization.
What date did who do what.
What is the level, rate etc accepted for this group.
Learn important dates and names (memorize them)
Create/index the data
Memorize basics so you can look up specifics
For example ASHRAE 62 deals with air in a building. I can
look up specifics. These important items will be give you in
the class.
Techniques
Example Question
ASHRAE standard 62-2007 defines the minimum
standards for:
(A) HVAC equipment sizing
(B) Acceptable indoor air quality levels
(C) Chiller efficiencies
(D) Motor efficiencies
Techniques
Logic
These questions are items that require thought, not
memorization but not calculation.
These may be an evaluation they may be an application
of knowledge.
They will not be an exact item from a note or reference.
Techniques
Sample Problem
Ground source heat pumps may not meet efficiency
projections due to:
(A) Improperly installed ground loop
(B) Poor water treatment
(C) Soil contamination
(D) Oversizing
Techniques
Evaluation
These are a combination of the previous 2 techniques:
They require some knowledge, may require some logic
and will require simple (in your head) math
They will almost always be trying to trick you.
Feel confident in yourself.
Remember no penalty for wrong answers and you only
need 88 right to pass.
Techniques
Sample Problem
What is the $/MMBtu for a 80% efficient gas furnace if
gas costs $12.00/MCF?
(A) $8.89
(B) $11.23
(C) $22.46
(D) $15.00
Calculation
These are the down and dirty plug in the numbers and
get the answer problems.
Prepare a cheat sheet by section of appropriate
equations
Write equations down by section, if you repeat the
equation its only paper.
Be prepared for 2-3 per section
Do them last!!!!!!!
The count the same as a TRUE FALSE question.
Techniques
Sample Problem
Determine the solar heat gain through a 1’ x 3’ window at
1:00 pm in August located at latitude 28° N. The window
has an east orientation. The SHGF for the specified
conditions is 160 BTU/Hr- ft2. The SC is 0.70.
(A) 1,120 Btu/hr
(B) 228.6 Btu/hr
(C) 336 Btu/hr
(D) None of the above
Techniques
Overall Test Techniques
Time will be a factor
Each problem you have less than 2 minutes
If you spend to much time on a problem you will lose points
because you didn’t get to an easier problem.
Work the low hanging fruit
Have a plan, after the class you will know what areas you
understand and what ones you don’t.
If you think a problem is going to take to much time, grade it
and move on.
Techniques
Test Plan
Section order
You will find sections you thought would be easy to be hard
Be prepared with an order of which sections you want to do
Be prepared to look at least 13 sections 3 require, 8 optionals
you feel comfortable with and 2 secondary sections.
Do not panic if a section has lots of calculation problems
Follow your plan (88 right not 130)
Grade the questions and move on.
Techniques
Test Plan
Time Management
It’s a simple equation 4 hours/130 question = less than 2
minute per question.
My plan was no more than a minute on a question on the first
pass.
Grade all questions no answered.
1 for look up questions
2 for quick calcs
3 for hard calcs
4 for no clue
Techniques
Test plan
With time management and grading it is a simple as
1,2,3.
Work the test don’t let the test work you.
Use you back up sections.
Do not force you way through the test it will eat you
alive.
The faster you reach 88 the easier and more confident
you will feel.
Questions?
Sample Problems
Which of the following is correct:
(A) 10 kWh = 34,130 Btus
(B) 5 therms = 500,000 Btus
(C) 3 tons = 3,600 Btu/hr
(D) 10 therms = 10,000,000 Btus
Sample Problems
The lighting efficiency term is lumens per watt.
(A) True
(B) False
Sample Problems
A chiller has a full load rating of 0.7 kW/ton. What is
the full load kW if this unit has a 200 ton rating?
(A) 286
(B) 140
(C) 900
(D) 75
Sample Problems
An office building has 50 employees and is occupied
for 250 work days a year. It is estimated that each
employee uses, on the average, 1 gallon of hot water
per day for hand washing. The hot water temperature
required is 120°F and the city water is 60°F. Calculate
the amount of annual energy required to heat this
water:
(A) 12.50 MMBTUs
(B) 6.25 MMBtus
(C) 25 Mbtus
(D) 15.4 MMBtus
Sample Problems
An induction motor draws 13 amps at 240 volts. The
power factor is .9. Determine the kW.
(A) 5.54
(B) 5.16
(C) 4.86
(D) 6.32
Sample Problems
A hospital uses 400,000 gallons of water per year just
for showers. The showers have the old style
showerheads that use 4.5 gpm. What is the annual
amount of water saved if they replace the showerheads
with new ones that comply with the maximum flow
rates allowed per the Energy Policy Act of 1992?
(A) 200,000 gallons per year
(B) 285,765 gallons per year
(C) 222,222 gallons per year
(D) 177,778 gallons per year
Sample Problems
An alternative refrigerant to CFC-114 is HCFC-124?
(A) True
(B) False
Sample Problems
Participation in the Marching Grants Program for
Schools and Hospitals, as authorized in the National
Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA), requires an
80% match of funds from the recipient institutions
except in hardship cases.
(A) True
(B) False
Sample Problems
If electricity is selling for $0.06 per kilowatt-hour and
is used for electric heating with an efficiency of 100%,
what is the equivalent price of natural gas per therm if
it can be burned with an efficiency of 80%?
(A) $1.30/therm
(B) $1.40/therm
(C) $1.50/therm
(D) $1.60/therm
(E) $1.70/therm
Sample Problems
An energy saving device will save $25,000 per year for 8
years. How much can a company pay for this device if
the interest rate (discount rate) is 15%?
Thank - You
&
Good Luck