I85PREP
⌘ K
ASHRAE HBDP study materials
ASHRAE HBDP study resources

ASHRAE HBDP practice questions

One question at a time. Build your ASHRAE HBDP understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1High-Performance Building Design

In high-performance design, the term 'load reduction' most directly refers to which strategy?

  1. Lowering peak and annual loads before selecting equipment Correct answer.
  2. Increasing ventilation rates to improve air quality
  3. Adding thermal storage to shift on-peak operation
  4. Sizing chillers to match peak block load

Explanation

Load reduction means lowering the building's peak and annual loads through envelope, lighting, and internal load measures before sizing any equipment. Reducing loads first allows smaller, less costly systems and improves the effectiveness of every downstream measure.

Question 2High-Performance Building Design

Which metric is defined as the total energy used by a building per unit of floor area over a year?

  1. Load factor
  2. Peak demand density
  3. Energy use intensity Correct answer.
  4. Coefficient of performance

Explanation

Energy use intensity (EUI) expresses annual site or source energy consumption divided by conditioned floor area. It is the standard benchmark for comparing whole-building energy performance across designs.

Question 3High-Performance Building Design

A design team wants to compare the whole-building energy impact of several design alternatives early in schematic design. Which approach is most appropriate?

  1. A single equipment cut sheet review
  2. Manual duct sizing calculations
  3. A code compliance check of the envelope only
  4. Whole-building energy simulation of each alternative Correct answer.

Explanation

Whole-building energy simulation evaluates the integrated effect of envelope, lighting, and system choices on annual energy use. It is the appropriate tool for comparing alternatives at the schematic stage, when many decisions are still open.

Question 4High-Performance Building Design

The primary purpose of a building envelope air barrier is to:

  1. Limit uncontrolled air leakage across the enclosure Correct answer.
  2. Reflect solar radiation from exterior surfaces
  3. Control moisture diffusion through the wall
  4. Provide structural bracing for cladding

Explanation

An air barrier is a continuous system that limits uncontrolled air movement between conditioned and unconditioned spaces. Air leakage carries both sensible and latent load, so controlling it is fundamental to high-performance envelopes.

Question 5High-Performance Building Design

Which glazing property most directly describes the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted to the interior?

  1. Solar heat gain coefficient Correct answer.
  2. U-factor
  3. Visible transmittance
  4. Light-to-solar-gain ratio

Explanation

Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) is the fraction of incident solar radiation that enters the space as heat gain. Lower SHGC values reduce cooling loads in climates with significant solar exposure.

Question 6High-Performance Building Design

A designer wants to reduce cooling loads from lighting while maintaining illuminance levels. Which strategy best accomplishes this?

  1. Using efficient luminaires with occupancy-based controls Correct answer.
  2. Adding more fixtures on the same circuit
  3. Increasing the maintained illuminance target
  4. Specifying higher-wattage lamps with wider spacing

Explanation

Efficient luminaires deliver the required illuminance with less input power, and controls cut energy when spaces are unoccupied. Together they reduce lighting power density and the associated cooling load.

Question 7High-Performance Building Design

Which quantity is used to describe the rate of heat transfer through a building assembly per unit area and temperature difference?

  1. Thermal transmittance Correct answer.
  2. Emissivity
  3. Thermal resistance
  4. Heat capacity

Explanation

Thermal transmittance, or U-factor, is the overall rate of heat flow through an assembly per unit area per unit temperature difference. It is the reciprocal of the assembly's total thermal resistance.

Question 8High-Performance Building Design

In a high-performance building, commissioning is most valuable when it is:

  1. Conducted as a planned process beginning in design and continuing through operation Correct answer.
  2. Performed only if a system fails during warranty
  3. Completed entirely by the installing contractor without third-party review
  4. Limited to documenting equipment nameplate data

Explanation

Commissioning is a quality-assurance process that starts with design intent, continues through construction and functional testing, and extends into operation. Early involvement allows issues to be resolved before they become costly.

Question 9High-Performance Building Design

A building has an annual energy consumption of 1,200,000 kWh and a conditioned floor area of 10,000 m². What is its site energy use intensity?

  1. 1,200 kWh/m²
  2. 0.12 kWh/m²
  3. 12 kWh/m²
  4. 120 kWh/m² Correct answer.

Explanation

EUI equals annual energy divided by floor area: 1,200,000 kWh ÷ 10,000 m² = 120 kWh/m². This value can be compared against benchmarks for similar building types.

Question 10High-Performance Building Design

A designer is comparing two glazing options for a hot climate. Option A has SHGC 0.25 and U-factor 1.8 W/m²·K; Option B has SHGC 0.55 and U-factor 1.4 W/m²·K. Which is generally preferable for reducing peak cooling load?

  1. Option B, because its lower U-factor reduces conduction
  2. Option B, because higher SHGC improves daylighting
  3. Either option, since SHGC and U-factor offset each other
  4. Option A, because its lower SHGC reduces solar heat gain Correct answer.

Explanation

In hot climates with strong solar exposure, solar heat gain typically dominates over conduction through glazing. The lower SHGC of Option A reduces the largest cooling load component even though its U-factor is higher.

Question 11High-Performance Building Design

Which measure most directly reduces the peak cooling load contribution of outdoor ventilation air?

  1. Raising the cooling coil leaving temperature
  2. Reducing the chiller condenser water flow
  3. Increasing supply fan static pressure
  4. Adding an energy recovery ventilator Correct answer.

Explanation

An energy recovery ventilator transfers heat and moisture between exhaust and incoming outdoor air, reducing the load needed to condition ventilation air. This lowers both peak coil load and annual energy use.

Question 12High-Performance Building Design

In an energy model, which input most directly affects the predicted annual heating energy for a perimeter zone with large windows?

  1. Duct leakage class
  2. Window visible transmittance
  3. Glazing U-factor Correct answer.
  4. Luminaire color temperature

Explanation

Glazing U-factor governs conductive heat loss through the windows, which is a major component of perimeter heating load. Lower U-factors reduce the heat lost to the exterior during cold periods.

Question 13High-Performance Building Design

Thermal bridging in a steel-stud wall assembly primarily causes which effect?

  1. Increased visible transmittance of the assembly
  2. A lower effective R-value than the cavity insulation alone Correct answer.
  3. A higher effective R-value than the cavity insulation alone
  4. Reduced air infiltration through the cavity

Explanation

Steel studs conduct heat far better than insulation, creating parallel paths that bypass the cavity insulation. The result is an effective R-value lower than the nominal cavity value, which must be accounted for in load and energy calculations.

Question 14High-Performance Building Design

A design team wants to reduce fan energy in a variable-air-volume system while maintaining ventilation. Which approach is most effective?

  1. Using demand-controlled ventilation with variable fan speed Correct answer.
  2. Increasing duct velocities to reduce duct size
  3. Operating the fan at constant full speed
  4. Closing zone dampers to minimum position year-round

Explanation

Demand-controlled ventilation adjusts outdoor-air quantity to actual occupancy, and variable fan speed reduces power approximately with the cube of flow. Together they cut fan energy while preserving required ventilation.

Question 15High-Performance Building Design

Which daylighting strategy is most likely to introduce glare problems in a perimeter office?

  1. High visible-transmittance glazing with interior blinds
  2. Exterior shading with a light shelf
  3. Unshaded floor-to-ceiling west glazing Correct answer.
  4. Skylights with diffusing glazing

Explanation

Large unshaded west-facing glazing admits low-angle afternoon sun that produces strong direct glare and high solar gain. Shading and glare-control devices are needed to manage these conditions.

Question 16High-Performance Building Design

A designer must select a chiller plant strategy for a building with a large cooling load and significant on-peak demand charges. Which combination best addresses both energy and demand?

  1. High-efficiency chillers with thermal storage to shift on-peak operation Correct answer.
  2. Constant-speed chillers with no staging controls
  3. Air-cooled chillers selected at part-load only
  4. A single large chiller sized for peak load

Explanation

High-efficiency chillers reduce energy per unit of cooling, while thermal storage shifts operation away from expensive on-peak periods. The combination lowers both annual energy and demand charges.

Question 17High-Performance Building Design

Which envelope measure best reduces summer cooling loads on a low-rise building with a large dark roof?

  1. Applying a high-reflectance roof coating Correct answer.
  2. Reducing roof insulation thickness
  3. Increasing roof structural depth
  4. Adding interior vapor retarders

Explanation

A high-reflectance roof surface reduces absorbed solar radiation and lowers the roof surface temperature, cutting heat gain through the roof. This is especially effective on low-rise buildings with large roof areas.

Question 18High-Performance Building Design

In a life-cycle cost analysis comparing two HVAC options, which cost category is often overlooked but should be included?

  1. Sales tax on equipment
  2. Maintenance and replacement over the analysis period Correct answer.
  3. Installation labor
  4. Initial equipment purchase price

Explanation

Life-cycle cost analysis should include all costs over the study period, including maintenance, energy, and replacement. Maintenance and replacement are frequently omitted even though they can change which option is least costly overall.

Question 19High-Performance Building Design

A building's measured EUI is well above its design prediction. Which investigation step is most appropriate first?

  1. Comparing metered end-use data with modeled assumptions to find discrepancies Correct answer.
  2. Recalibrating the model to match measured use without investigation
  3. Increasing the design ventilation rate
  4. Immediately replacing the chillers

Explanation

Comparing measured end-use data against modeled assumptions identifies where actual operation diverges from design, such as schedules, setpoints, or equipment performance. This diagnostic step should precede any capital replacement.

Question 20High-Performance Building Design

Which control strategy allows a building to reduce peak electrical demand by temporarily shedding non-critical loads?

  1. Continuous outdoor-air ventilation
  2. Demand limiting with load shedding Correct answer.
  3. Night setback of heating setpoints
  4. Economizer free cooling

Explanation

Demand limiting monitors whole-building demand and sheds non-critical loads when a threshold is approached. This reduces peak demand charges while preserving critical functions.

Question 21High-Performance Building Design

A high-performance building uses a dedicated outdoor air system with sensible and latent recovery. What is the primary benefit of this configuration?

  1. It removes the need for filters in the air handler
  2. It allows the chiller to be eliminated
  3. It decouples ventilation from space conditioning, improving control and efficiency Correct answer.
  4. It eliminates the need for any space heating

Explanation

A dedicated outdoor air system conditions ventilation air separately from space sensible loads, allowing each system to be optimized. Decoupling ventilation from temperature control improves humidity control and part-load efficiency.

Question 22High-Performance Building Design

Which combination of measures is most consistent with a passive-design-first approach?

  1. Orientation, shading, and envelope optimization before system selection Correct answer.
  2. Oversized HVAC equipment with simple controls
  3. Maximizing glazing area on all orientations
  4. Reliance on mechanical cooling to offset solar gains

Explanation

Passive design first addresses orientation, shading, mass, and envelope performance to reduce loads before mechanical systems are sized. This sequencing yields smaller systems and lower operating energy.

Question 23High-Performance Building Design

A project team is evaluating an on-site photovoltaic array. Which factor most affects the array's annual energy production estimate?

  1. The chiller's coefficient of performance
  2. The building's internal plug load density
  3. The building's ventilation rate
  4. Local solar resource and array tilt/orientation Correct answer.

Explanation

Annual PV production depends primarily on the available solar resource and how the array is oriented and tilted. Shading and system losses also matter, but the incident solar energy is the dominant driver.

Question 24High-Performance Building Design

In an energy model, a designer wants to check whether a proposed design beats a baseline by a target percentage. Which practice best supports a defensible comparison?

  1. Changing internal load densities only in the proposed model
  2. Holding all non-design parameters identical between baseline and proposed models Correct answer.
  3. Using different weather files for each model
  4. Varying schedules between baseline and proposed models

Explanation

A defensible comparison isolates the effect of the design measures by keeping all non-design parameters identical. Differences in schedules, weather, or internal loads would confound the result and overstate or understate savings.

Question 25High-Performance Building Design

A high-rise office building has a large internal load and a well-insulated envelope. In which season is the building most likely to require simultaneous heating and cooling?

  1. Only in midwinter
  2. Only in midsummer
  3. In swing seasons when perimeter zones lose heat while core zones gain heat Correct answer.
  4. Never, because internal loads dominate

Explanation

In swing seasons, cool outdoor conditions cause perimeter heat loss while the core remains dominated by internal gains. This creates simultaneous heating and cooling needs that a well-designed system must handle efficiently.

Question 26High-Performance Building Design

Which metric expresses a building's total site energy use per unit of conditioned floor area over one year?

  1. Power density (W/m²)
  2. Load factor
  3. Coefficient of performance (COP)
  4. Energy use intensity (EUI) Correct answer.

Explanation

EUI is annual site (or source) energy divided by conditioned floor area, giving a normalized benchmark for comparing buildings. COP is an equipment efficiency ratio, power density is an instantaneous demand per area, and load factor relates average to peak demand.

Question 27High-Performance Building Design

In the ASHRAE design process, at which stage are passive strategies such as orientation, massing, and envelope optimization most cost-effectively addressed?

  1. During construction administration
  2. During the post-occupancy measurement phase
  3. During conceptual and schematic design Correct answer.
  4. During value engineering after design development

Explanation

Passive measures are cheapest to influence early, when orientation and massing are still open, and become progressively more expensive to change later. Later stages can refine but rarely reverse fundamental form decisions without major cost.

Question 28High-Performance Building Design

A zone has a sensible cooling load of 12 kW and a supply-to-room air temperature difference of 10 K. Using air density 1.2 kg/m³ and specific heat 1.005 kJ/kg·K, what supply airflow is required?

  1. 4.30 m³/s
  2. 1.19 m³/s
  3. 0.99 m³/s Correct answer.
  4. 3.57 m³/s

Explanation

Volumetric flow equals load divided by (density × specific heat × temperature difference): 12 / (1.2 × 1.005 × 10) ≈ 0.99 m³/s. This is the standard sensible heat equation rearranged for airflow.

Question 29High-Performance Building Design

Which glazing property is most directly associated with reducing unwanted solar heat gain in a cooling-dominated climate?

  1. Light-to-solar-gain ratio
  2. Center-of-glass U-factor
  3. Visible transmittance
  4. Solar heat gain coefficient Correct answer.

Explanation

SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted as heat gain, so a lower SHGC directly limits solar load. U-factor governs conduction driven by temperature difference, and visible transmittance governs daylight, not solar heat directly.

Question 30High-Performance Building Design

A design team wants to reduce the energy penalty of a constant-volume reheat system serving zones with highly variable loads. Which change most directly addresses the core inefficiency?

  1. Converting to a variable-air-volume configuration with load-matched airflow Correct answer.
  2. Raising the duct static pressure setpoint
  3. Increasing the reheat coil capacity in each zone
  4. Lowering the supply air temperature setpoint

Explanation

Simultaneous heating and cooling from terminal reheat is the principal inefficiency; modulating airflow to match load reduces both fan and reheat energy. Lowering supply temperature or raising static pressure generally increases energy use rather than reducing it.

Question 31High-Performance Building Design

Which envelope feature most directly reduces heat loss caused by thermal bridging at floor slabs and balconies in a cold climate?

  1. Increasing window head height
  2. Increasing interior batt insulation thickness between studs
  3. Applying a reflective coating to the exterior
  4. Adding a continuous exterior insulation layer Correct answer.

Explanation

Continuous exterior insulation wraps structural penetrations, interrupting the conductive path that interior cavity insulation cannot cover. Cavity insulation alone leaves slab edges and balcony connections uninsulated.

Question 32High-Performance Building Design

A building has a peak demand of 400 kW and an average demand over the month of 160 kW. What is its load factor?

  1. 2.50
  2. 0.60
  3. 0.25
  4. 0.40 Correct answer.

Explanation

Load factor is average demand divided by peak demand: 160 / 400 = 0.40. A higher load factor indicates more even use of capacity, which generally improves plant efficiency and utility rate outcomes.

Question 33High-Performance Building Design

A dedicated outdoor air system with total energy recovery serves a humid climate. What is the principal benefit of the energy recovery component?

  1. It eliminates the need for a separate cooling coil in the DOAS
  2. It removes the need for duct insulation
  3. It allows the ventilation rate to be reduced below code minimums
  4. It reduces the sensible and latent load imposed by conditioning ventilation air Correct answer.

Explanation

Energy recovery preconditions incoming outdoor air using exhaust air, lowering both sensible and latent ventilation loads on the plant. It does not permit reducing ventilation below minimum rates or eliminate conditioning equipment.

Question 34High-Performance Building Design

A designer is comparing a variable-speed chiller plant to a constant-speed plant of equal capacity. Under which operating profile does the variable-speed plant most clearly outperform?

  1. Operation with frequent full stops and starts
  2. Operation only during winter
  3. Operation at part load for most hours Correct answer.
  4. Operation near full load for most hours

Explanation

Variable-speed machines gain most from extended part-load operation, where reduced speed cuts power far more than proportionally. Near-full-load operation narrows the efficiency gap between the two plant types.

Question 35High-Performance Building Design

A design team is choosing between a prescriptive-pathway compliance check and a whole-building energy performance pathway. Which statement best describes the performance pathway?

  1. It is limited to envelope measures and excludes HVAC systems
  2. It requires only that each component meet a minimum efficiency level
  3. It guarantees compliance without any energy modeling
  4. It compares annual simulated whole-building energy use against a defined baseline Correct answer.

Explanation

The performance pathway evaluates the whole building through annual energy simulation against a baseline budget, allowing trade-offs among systems. Prescriptive compliance checks individual components against minimum criteria.

Question 36High-Performance Building Design

Which control sequence is most appropriate for reducing pump energy in a variable-flow chilled water distribution system?

  1. Constant-speed pumps with three-way valves at each coil
  2. Variable-speed pumps held at a fixed speed regardless of load
  3. Constant-speed pumps with bypass flow maintained at all times
  4. Variable-speed pumps with differential pressure reset based on valve position Correct answer.

Explanation

Variable-speed pumps combined with differential pressure reset respond to actual valve demand, cutting pump power at part load. Three-way valves and constant bypass keep flow high and defeat the purpose of variable flow.

Question 37High-Performance Building Design

A building operates with high internal gains and a well-insulated envelope in a mixed climate. During which period is space cooling most likely to be required even when outdoor temperatures are moderate?

  1. Cold winter nights
  2. Early morning in winter
  3. Mild spring afternoons with high occupancy Correct answer.
  4. Periods when the building is unoccupied

Explanation

When internal gains dominate, cooling demand follows occupancy and solar gains rather than outdoor temperature alone, so mild afternoons with full occupancy can require cooling. Winter nights and unoccupied periods typically present heating or no-load conditions.

Question 38High-Performance Building Design

Which strategy best reduces peak electrical demand without compromising critical building functions?

  1. Permanently shutting off all ventilation fans during peak hours
  2. Disabling the building automation system during peak periods
  3. Automated demand response that temporarily curtails non-critical loads Correct answer.
  4. Raising the chilled water supply temperature to room temperature

Explanation

Demand response sheds or shifts discretionary loads for short periods while preserving critical functions, lowering peak demand charges. Eliminating ventilation or disabling controls compromises operation and is not acceptable.

Question 39High-Performance Building Design

A designer wants to size an on-site photovoltaic array to offset a target fraction of annual energy use. Which factor most strongly determines the array's annual energy production per installed kilowatt?

  1. The local solar resource and array orientation Correct answer.
  2. The chiller plant's part-load performance
  3. The building's heating fuel type
  4. The number of occupants in the building

Explanation

Annual PV yield per kilowatt depends primarily on incident solar resource and orientation/tilt, which set how much irradiation the array receives. Building fuel type, chiller performance, and occupancy do not determine PV output.

Question 40High-Performance Building Design

A team is evaluating whether a proposed design beats a baseline by a target percentage in a whole-building energy simulation. Which practice best supports a credible comparison?

  1. Applying different occupancy schedules to each model
  2. Using identical weather data, schedules, and internal load assumptions for both models Correct answer.
  3. Changing both the baseline and proposed models between runs
  4. Comparing annual results from different weather files

Explanation

A valid comparison holds non-design variables constant so that differences reflect only the design measures being tested. Varying weather, schedules, or loads between models confounds the result.

Question 41Energy Analysis and Modeling

In whole-building energy simulation, what does the term 'design day' refer to?

  1. The day with the highest measured energy use in a utility bill history
  2. The average weather conditions over an entire typical meteorological year
  3. A single calendar day used to calibrate the model against metered data
  4. A representative 24-hour weather profile used to size equipment and test peak loads Correct answer.

Explanation

A design day is a synthesized 24-hour weather profile (temperature, humidity, solar) representing near-extreme conditions, used to evaluate peak loads and size systems. It is not a calibration or averaging construct.

Question 42Energy Analysis and Modeling

A simulation uses a typical meteorological year (TMY) weather file. What is the primary purpose of this data set?

  1. To determine code-minimum insulation levels
  2. To capture the single worst hour for equipment sizing
  3. To verify the model against a specific historical year
  4. To represent long-term average conditions for annual energy use estimates Correct answer.

Explanation

TMY files concatenate representative months from many years to approximate long-term typical conditions, which is appropriate for annual energy estimates. Peak sizing instead relies on design-day or extreme-condition data.

Question 43Energy Analysis and Modeling

Which metric expresses annual building energy use normalized by floor area?

  1. Coefficient of performance (COP)
  2. Energy use intensity (EUI) Correct answer.
  3. Load factor
  4. Peak demand (kW)

Explanation

EUI is annual energy consumption divided by conditioned floor area, enabling comparison across buildings of different sizes. COP, peak demand, and load factor describe performance or instantaneous load rather than area-normalized annual use.

Question 44Energy Analysis and Modeling

In a simulation tool, what does 'zone' typically represent?

  1. A physical wall assembly between two spaces
  2. A single piece of HVAC equipment serving a building
  3. A thermal control volume with assumed uniform internal conditions Correct answer.
  4. A utility meter serving part of a building

Explanation

A thermal zone is modeled as a control volume with well-mixed, uniform temperature and humidity, exchanging heat with adjacent zones and outdoors. Equipment, constructions, and meters are separate model objects.

Question 45Energy Analysis and Modeling

What is the primary role of a shadow calculation in an energy model?

  1. To compute infiltration through the envelope
  2. To account for solar gains blocked by building self-shading and surroundings Correct answer.
  3. To size the chilled-water plant
  4. To estimate internal heat gains from occupants

Explanation

Shadow calculations determine which exterior surfaces receive direct beam solar radiation at each timestep, accounting for obstructions. This affects solar heat gain, not internal gains, infiltration, or plant sizing directly.

Question 46Energy Analysis and Modeling

What does a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3.0 for a chiller indicate?

  1. It rejects three units of heat per unit of cooling
  2. It consumes three units of electricity per unit of cooling
  3. It delivers three units of cooling per unit of electrical input Correct answer.
  4. It maintains a 3:1 ratio of supply to return water temperature

Explanation

COP is the ratio of useful cooling output to energy input, so a COP of 3.0 means three units of cooling per unit of input energy. It is not a heat-rejection ratio, an inverse efficiency, or a temperature ratio.

Question 47Energy Analysis and Modeling

Which load component is typically excluded from the cooling coil load but included in the zone sensible load?

  1. Heat conducted through the roof
  2. Sensible heat from equipment
  3. Latent heat from occupant respiration
  4. Radiant heat from lights absorbed and later released by surfaces Correct answer.

Explanation

Radiant gains are absorbed by surfaces and released over time, so a portion appears as a delayed zone load that may not reach the coil at the same timestep. Latent occupant gains, equipment sensible gains, and roof conduction are handled as direct load components to the zone or coil.

Question 48Energy Analysis and Modeling

What is the purpose of a schedule in an energy model?

  1. To specify the physical dimensions of a zone
  2. To set the weather file location
  3. To select the simulation engine
  4. To define how a load or setpoint varies over time Correct answer.

Explanation

Schedules define time-varying values such as occupancy fractions, lighting fractions, or thermostat setpoints, driving loads across hours and seasons. They do not define geometry, weather location, or engine choice.

Question 49Energy Analysis and Modeling

A building model predicts annual energy use of 1,200 MWh but the utility meter shows 1,500 MWh. What does this discrepancy most directly indicate?

  1. The weather file is invalid and must be replaced
  2. The simulation engine is unsuitable for the building type
  3. The model likely requires calibration against measured data Correct answer.
  4. The design-day profile was set too cold

Explanation

A 25% gap between predicted and measured use signals the need for calibration, adjusting inputs such as schedules, infiltration, or equipment efficiency to match reality. The discrepancy alone does not invalidate the weather file, engine, or design day.

Question 50Energy Analysis and Modeling

A zone has a peak sensible cooling load of 40 kW and a peak latent load of 10 kW. What is the total peak cooling load?

  1. 30 kW
  2. 50 kW Correct answer.
  3. 40 kW
  4. 400 kW

Explanation

Total cooling load is the sum of sensible and latent components, so 40 + 10 = 50 kW. Subtracting or multiplying the components does not represent total load.