General Aspects of Energy Management & Energy Audit Available here with full solutions — 45 questions recovered from the 2009 exam:
Objective (1 mark)
40 of 50
Short (5 marks)
5 of 8
Long (10 marks)
0 of 6
This is not the complete paper. The questions below are the ones we could recover and verify; the rest of that year’s paper is not reproduced here. Every answer shown is checked against the 2014 BEE guidebook and carries its book section reference and an explanation.
Full paper pattern: Section-I 50×1 = 50 marks · Section-II 8×5 = 40 · Section-III 6×10 = 60 · Total 150, pass mark 75, 3 hours. ▶ Practice these interactively
Other years
Objective questions (1 mark) — 40
📖 §1.2 Primary and Secondary Energy
1. Which of the following is not a primary energy source?
electricity
coal
wood
natural gas
Answer: A) electricity
Confirmed vs Book-1 §1.2 — primary energy is energy extracted or captured directly from natural resources (coal, natural gas, wood/biomass). Electricity is produced by converting primary energy in a power plant, so the book classifies it as secondary energy. Wood is a tempting distractor but it is a natural (biomass) primary source.
2. Which one of the following is not an example of air pollution from furnace oil fired boilers and furnaces?
sulphur dioxide (SO2)
chloro-fluro carbons (CFC)
nitrous oxide (NOX)
carbon monoxide (CO)
Answer: B) chloro-fluro carbons (CFC)
Confirmed vs Book-1 §10.1 — Furnace-oil fired boilers emit SO2 (from fuel sulphur), NOx (from fuel and combustion air), CO (incomplete combustion) and CO2/particulates. CFCs are man-made refrigerants and propellants (§10.5) and are not combustion products.
📖 §3.1 Chemical energy — fuels store chemical energy
3. Propane is an example of
nuclear energy
radiant energy
chemical energy
thermal energy
Answer: C) chemical energy
Confirmed vs Book-1 §3.1 — Propane (a fuel) stores chemical energy. (Answer not marked in source.). Book-1 Ch.3, Chemical energy — fuels store chemical energy.
📖 §3.4 Fuel properties — density, specific gravity, viscosity
4. The density of a fuel oil is 0.86. Its specific gravity will be
0.75
0.86
1.75
0.0086
Answer: B) 0.86
Confirmed vs Book-1 §3.4 — Specific gravity equals density relative to water (=0.86). (Answer not marked in source.). Book-1 Ch.3, Fuel properties — density, specific gravity, viscosity.
📖 §3.1 Energy types & forms — potential (stored) vs kinetic energy
5. The total mechanical energy of a body free falling in a vacuum
increases
decreases
remains the same
depends on the shape of the body
Answer: C) remains the same
Confirmed vs Book-1 §3.1 — With no air resistance, total mechanical energy is conserved. (Answer not marked in source.). Book-1 Ch.3, Energy types & forms — potential (stored) vs kinetic energy.
📖 §10.5 CO2 avoided = energy saved × emission factor
6. How much carbon emission will be reduced per year by replacing a 60 W incandescent lamp with a 15 W CFL lamp, if emission per unit is 1 kg CO2 per kWh and annual burning is 3000 hours?
45 ton
3 ton
0.135 ton
183 ton
Answer: C) 0.135 ton
Confirmed vs Book-1 §10.5 — Power saved = 60 − 15 = 45 W = 0.045 kW. Energy saved = 0.045 × 3000 h = 135 kWh/yr. CO2 avoided = 135 kWh × 1 kg CO2/kWh = 135 kg = 0.135 tonne per year.
📖 §7.3 Financial Analysis Techniques — Time Value of Money
7. The present value of equipment is Rs. 10,000 and discount rate is 10%. The future value of the cash flow at the end of 2 years is:
Rs. 10000
Rs. 12,100
Rs. 8100
Rs. 8264
Answer: B) Rs. 12,100
Confirmed vs Book-1 §7.3 — FV = PV(1+i)^n = 10,000 x (1.10)^2 = 10,000 x 1.21 = Rs.12,100.
Rs.8,264 and Rs.8,100 are discounted (present-value) figures, which is the reverse operation.
📖 §3.3 Electrical energy — P = V·I, energy = V·I·t, 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ
8. What will be the energy saving if one 1500 W, 25 litre water heater, normally on for 20 minutes/day for 250 days/year, is replaced with a 100 litre solar water heater?
581 units
750 units
125 units
169 units
Answer: C) 125 units
Confirmed vs Book-1 §3.3 — Energy = 1.5 kW x (20/60) h x 250 = 125 kWh (units) saved per year. (Answer not marked in source.). Book-1 Ch.3, Electrical energy — P = V·I, energy = V·I·t, 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ.
9. An energy audit as defined in the Energy Conservation Act 2001 does not include
action plan to reduce energy consumption
verification, monitoring and analysis of use of energy
submission of technical report with recommendations
implementation of all the recommendations of energy audit
Answer: D) implementation of all the recommendations of energy audit
Confirmed vs Book-1 §2.1 — The Act defines energy audit as 'the verification, monitoring and analysis of use of energy including submission of technical report containing recommendations for improving energy efficiency with cost benefit analysis and an action plan to reduce energy consumption'. Options (a)–(c) are all inside that definition; IMPLEMENTING the recommendations is the consumer's decision and is deliberately left outside it.
📖 § Energy policy (energy-management practice — general)
10. A public expression of organization's commitment to energy conservation would be
reduce contract demand
energy audit
energy policy
improve power factor
Answer: C) energy policy
Confirmed vs Book-1 §2 (general) — A declared/published energy policy is top management's public statement of the organisation's commitment to energy conservation. An energy audit is a technical diagnostic exercise, while cutting contract demand or improving power factor are individual measures — none of them is a public expression of commitment.
📖 §9.6 Plant Energy Performance (PEP) & production factor
11. For calculating plant energy performance which of the following data is not required
current year's production
reference year's production
reference year energy use
capacity utilization
Answer: D) capacity utilization
Confirmed vs Book-1 §9.6 — PEP needs: reference-year energy use, reference-year production and current-year production (to get the production factor), and current-year energy use. Capacity utilisation is not part of the calculation. Answer (d).
📖 §4.12 Energy audit instruments — Speed Measurements
12. Non contact speed measurements can be carried out by
odometer
tachometer
stroboscope
oscilloscope
Answer: C) stroboscope
Confirmed vs Book-1 §4.12 — Book §4.12: the stroboscope is the non-contact speed instrument — its high-intensity flashes, when matched in frequency to the rotation, appear to freeze the motion and so give RPM. The tachometer is the tempting distractor but the book calls it "a contact type instrument"; an odometer measures distance and an oscilloscope displays waveforms.
13. In the first two months the cumulative sum is 4 and 12 respectively. In each of the next two months Ecalculated is more than Eactual by 3. The energy savings at end of the fourth month would be
-6
0
6
none of the above
Answer: C) 6
Confirmed vs Book-1 §9.6 — CUSUM = running Σ(E_act - E_calc). After two months CUSUM = +12. If E_calc exceeds E_act by 3 in each of the next two months, each difference is -3: CUSUM = 12 - 3 = 9, then 9 - 3 = 6. The line FALLS from 12 to 6, and the size of the fall (12 - 6) = 6 is the energy saved in those two months. Answer (c) 6.
📖 §4.4 Step 6 Analysis of energy use / energy balance (Sankey detail in Book-1 Ch5 & Ch9)
14. The statement not applicable in the case of Sankey diagram
useful tool to represent an entire input and output energy flow
represents visually various outputs and losses
depicts rejection and wastage of material flow
helps energy manager to focus on finding improvements in a prioritized manner
Answer: C) depicts rejection and wastage of material flow
Confirmed vs Book-1 §4.4 — The Sankey diagram maps energy input against every useful output and loss, so options (a), (b) and (d) all apply. Depicting rejection and wastage of MATERIAL flow is the job of the process flow diagram and material balance, not the Sankey diagram, so (c) is the odd one out.
15. The Designated National Agency (DNA) of India for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)
Answer: A) Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)
Confirmed vs Book-1 §10.11 — The book states the National CDM Authority (DNA) in India is the Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoE&F). The DNA reviews and approves the PDD and confirms the project meets the host country's sustainable-development criteria.
16. Which among the following can be best implemented through an ESCO (Energy Service Company) route:
coal procurement contract for captive power plant
energy efficient design of a municipal lighting system
large Waste Heat Recovery System in a large process plant, where external financing is sought
energy and mass balance study of a Steel Plant
Answer: C) large Waste Heat Recovery System in a large process plant, where external financing is sought
Confirmed vs Book-1 §2.3.3 — The ESCO model fits capital-intensive projects where outside financing is sought and the savings can be measured and paid back out of — exactly the case of a large waste-heat recovery system. A coal procurement contract and a one-off energy & mass balance study generate no guaranteed measurable savings stream, and a municipal lighting design alone is a smaller design task.
📖 §3.3 Electricity basics — maximum demand / load factor (tariff in kVA)
17. Which of the following will be true of load factor for a continuous process
higher than batch process plants
comparable to that of a five star hotel with 60% occupancy
less than that of an energy efficient municipal lighting system
closer to the regional grid load factor
Answer: A) higher than batch process plants
Confirmed vs Book-1 §3.3 — Continuous processes run steadily, giving a higher load factor than batch plants. (Answer not marked in source.). Book-1 Ch.3, Electricity basics — maximum demand / load factor (tariff in kVA).
18. In a heat treatment furnace the material is heated up to 800 deg C from ambient 30 deg C. With specific heat 0.13 kCal/kg deg C, what is the energy content in one kg of material after heating?
700 kCal
250 kCal
350 kCal
100 kCal
Answer: D) 100 kCal
Confirmed vs Book-1 §3.4 — Q = m Cp dT = 1 x 0.13 x (800-30) = 0.13 x 770 = 100.1 kCal ~ 100 kCal. (Answer not marked in source.). Book-1 Ch.3, Sensible heat — Q = m · Cp · ΔT.
19. In an industry the average electricity consumption is 4.6 lakh kWh, average production 40000 tons with specific electricity consumption of 10 kWh/ton. The fixed electricity consumption for the plant is:
60000 kWh
46000 kWh
20000 kWh
none of the above
Answer: A) 60000 kWh
Confirmed vs Book-1 §9.6 — variable (production-related) energy = specific consumption × production = 10 × 40,000 = 4,00,000 kWh. Fixed C = total - variable = 4,60,000 - 4,00,000 = 60,000 kWh. C is the y-intercept of the energy-vs-production line. Answer (a).
20. The process by which Annex 1 countries can invest in the GHG mitigation projects in developing countries is called:
green trading
clean development mechanism
conference of parties
certified emission reduction
Answer: B) clean development mechanism
Confirmed vs Book-1 §10.10 — CDM is the mechanism between one country that HAS a commitment (Annex I) and a country that does NOT (developing, non-Annex I); it earns CERs. Investment between two Annex-I countries is Joint Implementation (JI), which earns ERUs.
21. All the activities falling in the critical path of the PERT network will have
ES = LS and EF = LF
LF = LS and ES=EF
only ES=LS
only EF = LF
Answer: A) ES = LS and EF = LF
Confirmed vs Book-1 §8.3 — Book-1: 'The critical path is the path through the project network in which none of the activities have slack, that is, the path for which ES = LS and EF = LF for all activities in the path.'
Zero float therefore means ES = LS and EF = LF simultaneously → option (a).
📖 §7.3 Financial Analysis Techniques — Return on Investment (ROI)
22. The cost of replacement of an inefficient chiller with an energy efficient chiller was Rs. 10 lakh. The net annual cash flow is Rs. 2.50 lakh. The return on investment is:
18%
20%
15%
none of the above
Answer: D) none of the above
Confirmed vs Book-1 §7.3 — ROI = (Annual net cash flow / Capital cost) x 100 = (2.50 / 10.00) x 100 = 25%.
25% is not offered in (a), (b) or (c), so the answer is 'none of the above'.
📖 §3.4 Latent heat of fusion / vaporization — Qₗ = m · h
23. Condensation of saturated steam releases
sensible heat
super heat
latent heat
none of the above
Answer: C) latent heat
Confirmed vs Book-1 §3.4 — Saturated steam condensing releases its latent heat. (Answer not marked in source.). Book-1 Ch.3, Latent heat of fusion / vaporization — Qₗ = m · h.
📖 §3.4 Calorific value — GCV vs NCV (bomb calorimeter)
24. Calorific Value of coal is measured by a device called
bomb calorimeter
calorifier
infrared thermometer
none of these
Answer: A) bomb calorimeter
Confirmed vs Book-1 §3.4 — A bomb calorimeter measures the calorific value of solid fuels. (Answer not marked in source.). Book-1 Ch.3, Calorific value — GCV vs NCV (bomb calorimeter).
📖 §4.1 Energy management approach (see also Book-1 Ch6 Energy Action Planning)
25. The first vital step in an energy management program is
measurement
setting goals
energy audit
top management commitment
Answer: D) top management commitment
Confirmed vs Book-1 §4.1 — Book §4.1: successful energy management "begins with the key decision makers" and organisations must "give priority to energy management and make it an integral part of company management strategy" — i.e. top management commitment comes first. Measurement, goal-setting and the audit itself all follow once management has committed the resources and mandate.
27. Which gas has the least impact on global warming?
carbon dioxide
methane
ozone
carbon monoxide
Answer: D) carbon monoxide
Confirmed vs Book-1 §10.5 — CO2, methane and ground-level ozone are all listed by the book as greenhouse gases that absorb infrared radiation. Carbon monoxide is treated as an air pollutant from incomplete combustion (§10.1) and is not in the book's list of greenhouse gases, so it has the least global-warming impact.
📖 §11.1 Concept of New and Renewable Energy / §11.5 Wind Energy (Wind energy conversion)
29. A person can do the following with wind energy
destroy it
convert it
create it
burn it
Answer: B) convert it
Confirmed vs Book-1 §11.1 Concept of New and Renewable Energy / §11.5 Wind Energy (Wind energy conversion) —
The book calls wind machines ‘wind energy conversion systems (WECS)’ — the turbine converts the kinetic energy of moving air into mechanical and then electrical energy.
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and wind is not a combustible fuel.
Answer b (convert it).
📖 §6.4 Energy Policy and Planning - Figure 6.4 Force Field Analysis
30. In a force field analysis in energy action planning, high price of energy acts as
positive force
negative force
neutral forces
none of the above
Answer: A) positive force
Confirmed vs Book-1 §6.4 Energy Policy and Planning — In the guidebook's Figure 6.4 chart, 'High price of energy' is listed under Positive Forces - it pushes the organisation towards reducing energy consumption per unit of production. Negative forces in the same figure are items such as absence of a corporate energy policy, lack of awareness, insufficient skills, competing corporate priorities and insufficient funds.
📖 §4.1 Energy management approach (see also Book-1 Ch6 Energy Action Planning)
31. The four pillars of successful energy management are technical ability, monitoring system, top management support and ______
strategy plan
energy audit plan
quality plan
financial plan
Answer: A) strategy plan
Confirmed vs Book-1 §4.1 — The four pillars of a successful energy management programme are top management support, a strategy plan, a monitoring system and technical ability; with three named in the stem, the missing pillar is the strategy plan. An energy-audit plan, quality plan or financial plan are activities that flow FROM the strategy, not pillars in their own right.
📖 §8.3 (general management — Pareto 80/20; not defined in Book-1 Ch-8 text)
32. The 80/20 Rule in management means
few (20%) are vital and many (80%) are trivial
many (80%) are vital and few (20%) are trivial
80% of work is outsourced
20% of work is outsourced
Answer: A) few (20%) are vital and many (80%) are trivial
Confirmed vs Book-1 §8.3 — The 80/20 (Pareto) rule states that a vital few causes (about 20 %) account for the bulk (about 80 %) of the effect, so effort must be concentrated on that vital few.
It is a general management/prioritisation principle used when screening and ranking project opportunities. Option (a).
📖 §7.7 Energy Performance Contracting and Role of ESCOs
33. The contractor provides the financing and is paid an agreed fraction of actual savings achieved, used to pay down the debt costs of equipment/services. This is known as
traditional contract
extended technical guarantee/service
performance Contract
shared savings performance contract
Answer: D) shared savings performance contract
Confirmed vs Book-1 §7.7 — Book, Types of Performance Contracting: 'In shared savings, ESCO designs, FINANCES and implements the project, verifies energy savings and shares an agreed percentage of the actual energy savings over a fixed period with the customer.'
ESCO financing + payment out of an agreed fraction of actual savings = shared savings performance contract.
📖 §1.7 Indian Energy Scenario — Nuclear Power Supply (Table 1.12)
35. Installed capacity of nuclear power plants in India as a % of total installed capacity is
10%
25%
3%
55%
Answer: C) 3%
Confirmed vs Book-1 §1.7 — nuclear capacity is 5,780 MW of 2,38,743 MW total, i.e. 2.42%; the text states nuclear contributes 'only about 2 per cent of the total installed capacity'. Of the options given, 3% is the only value in that range. 10% and 25% are far above the book figure, and 55% is close to coal's share, not nuclear.
📖 §1.8 Sector wise Energy Consumption in India (Figure 1.4)
36. Name the sector which is the biggest consumer of commercial energy
industry
agriculture
transport
residential
Answer: A) industry
Confirmed vs Book-1 §1.8 — Figure 1.4 shows industry consuming almost 44% of total commercial energy, the largest of all sectors, followed by transport at 17%. Agriculture (7%) and residential/commercial (14%) are much smaller, so industry is the biggest consumer.
37. To calculate internal rate of return, the net present value is set to
1
0
10
100
Answer: B) 0
Confirmed vs Book-1 §7.3 — Book: 'By setting the net present value of an investment to zero ... the discount rate can be computed.'
IRR is therefore the discount rate at which NPV = 0.
38. Project management technique which uses three time estimates.
PERT
CUSUM
CPM
none of the above
Answer: A) PERT
Confirmed vs Book-1 §8.3 — Book-1: 'Unlike CPM where times can be estimated with relative certainty, PERT uses 3 time estimates' — T_O (optimistic), T_M (most likely), T_P (pessimistic).
CPM is deterministic (one fixed time) and CUSUM is a monitoring technique → option (a) PERT.
39. One Certified Emission Reduction (CER) in equivalent of CO2 emission is
1 ton of CO2
1 kg of CO2
10 kg of CO2
10 ton of CO2
Answer: A) 1 ton of CO2
Confirmed vs Book-1 §10.10 — CDM projects earn 'saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2'. The same one-tonne unit applies to an ERU under Joint Implementation.
40. A system uses 100 kg of raw material A, 200 kg of B and 220 kg of C. The mix is heated to 220 deg C. Air carries away on average 60% of A and 30% of B through the chimney. The output product would be
520 kg
400 kg
312 kg
208 kg
Answer: B) 400 kg
Confirmed vs Book-1 §5.3: Total raw material in = 100 + 200 + 220 = 520 kg. Waste carried away by air = 60% of A + 30% of B = (0.60×100) + (0.30×200) = 60 + 60 = 120 kg. With no storage, Products = 520 − 120 = 400 kg. Option (b).
1. Explain the difference between contract demand and maximum demand.
Model answer: Contract Demand is the amount of electric power (in kVA or kW) a customer contracts/agrees to draw from the utility in a specified interval; it is the capacity for which the utility must plan. Maximum Demand is the highest average kVA recorded during any one demand interval within the billing month (the interval is normally 30 minutes, ranging 15-60 minutes), measured by a tri-vector / digital energy meter.
Keep them apart by asking 'agreed' or 'recorded'. Contract demand is the capacity the consumer AGREES to draw; maximum demand is the highest average kVA actually RECORDED in a demand interval during the month. The number to quote is the demand interval: normally 30 minutes (range 15–60 minutes), measured by a tri-vector/digital meter. Common mistake: calling maximum demand the highest instantaneous peak — it is an interval average, not an instant.
2. An induction motor draws 8 kW with a lagging reactive power of 4 kVAR. Calculate the operating power factor.
Model answer: Power factor = kW/kVA = kW/sqrt(kW2 + kVAR2) = 8/sqrt(8^2 + 4^2) = 8/sqrt(80) = 8/8.944 = 0.894 (lagging). Book-1 Ch.3 §3.3 power triangle: kVA² = kW² + kVAr², PF = cos(theta) = kW/kVA. The load is therefore operating at about 0.89 lagging power factor.
One line does it: PF = kW/√(kW² + kVAR²). Here 8/√(64+16) = 8/8.944 = 0.894. Common mistake: writing PF = kVAR/kW (that is tanθ) or adding 8 and 4 straight. Always add the word 'lagging' for an induction motor — the direction of the phase angle carries a mark.
3. The initial temperature of 150 g of ethanol was 22 C. What is the final temperature if 3240 J is supplied? (Specific heat of ethanol = 2.44 J/g.C)
Model answer: Q = m x C x (Tf - Ti): 3240 = 150 x 2.44 x (Tf - 22) = 366 (Tf - 22). So Tf - 22 = 3240/366 = 8.85, giving Tf = 30.9 C.
Rearranged formula: Tf = Ti + Q/(m × C). The unit trap here is that the specific heat is given per GRAM (2.44 J/g·°C), so keep the mass as 150 g — do not convert to 0.15 kg. Common mistake: forgetting to add the initial 22 °C back at the end; the formula gives the RISE, not the final temperature.
4. An industry invests Rs.5,00,000 in an energy-saving project with cash flows Year 1 Rs.2,00,000, Year 2 Rs.3,00,000, Year 3 Rs.2,00,000. Required return 10%. Evaluate the NPV and comment on feasibility.
Model answer: NPV = −5,00,000 + 2,00,000/1.10 + 3,00,000/(1.10)² + 2,00,000/(1.10)³ = −5,00,000 + 1,81,818 + 2,47,934 + 1,50,263 = +Rs.80,015. Since NPV is positive, the project is viable and attractive (accept).
📖 §10.1 Environmental impacts of fossil-fuel combustion
5. What are the environmental impacts of combustion of fossil fuels?
Model answer: Combustion of fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons and particulate matter. SOx and NOx mix with atmospheric water vapour to form sulphuric and nitric acids, causing acid rain (a trans-boundary issue). CO arises from incomplete combustion and is toxic. CO2 is the dominant emission and is the major contributor to global warming and climate change (the enhanced greenhouse effect). Particulate matter causes local air-quality and health problems. CFCs used in energy services (refrigeration/AC) also deplete the ozone layer.
Do not just list gases - each emission must be tied to its damage: SOx/NOx -> acid rain, CO -> toxic, incomplete combustion, particulates -> local air quality, CO2 -> enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change. Adding CFCs (refrigeration/AC) -> ozone depletion shows the full picture and usually earns the last mark.