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BPI Home Energy Professional (HEP) Energy Auditor Practice
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
Domain 1: Building Science Fundamentals (Questions 1-40)
1. The fundamental scientific principles that govern home performance are collectively known
as:
A) Physical laws
B) Building science
C) Diagnostics
D) Thermodynamics
Answer: B
Rationale: Building science is the interdisciplinary field that applies physics, chemistry,
engineering, and architecture to understand how buildings function as systems. It encompasses
heat transfer, moisture dynamics, air movement, and material science as they relate to building
performance .
2. The components of a house can be said to fall into four general categories: building,
mechanicals, environment, and:
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A) Structure
B) Ventilation
C) Occupants
D) Energy
Answer: C
Rationale: The four categories of a home system are the building (structure and envelope),
mechanicals (HVAC, water heating, appliances), environment (climate, site conditions), and
occupants (activities, behavior, health needs). Occupants are a critical variable as their behavior
significantly impacts energy use and indoor air quality .
3. The transfer of heat through materials in contact is called:
A) Diffusion
B) Convection
C) Conduction
D) Radiation
Answer: C
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Rationale: Conduction is the transfer of heat through solid materials via molecular vibration.
Heat flows from warmer to cooler areas through direct contact. The rate of conduction depends
on the material's thermal conductivity, with metals conducting heat much faster than insulation
materials .
4. What is the unit of measurement for thermal resistance (R-value)?
A) Btu/hr
B) hr·ft²·°F/Btu
C) Btu/lb
D) °F·hr/Btu
Answer: B
Rationale: R-value is expressed in units of hour·square feet·degrees Fahrenheit per British
thermal unit (hr·ft²·°F/Btu). It measures a material's resistance to conductive heat flow, with
higher R-values indicating better insulating properties. R-value is the reciprocal of U-factor .
5. 1/R = ?
A) Conductance (C)
B) U-factor
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C) Thermal conductivity (k)
D) Emissivity
Answer: B
*Rationale: U-factor is the reciprocal of R-value (U = 1/R). It measures the rate of heat transfer
through a building assembly, expressed in Btu/hr·ft²·°F. Lower U-factors indicate better
insulating performance. U-factor is commonly used for windows and doors, while R-value is
more common for insulation materials .*
6. What is a BTU (British thermal unit)?
A) The amount of heat required to raise one pound of water 1°F
B) The amount of heat required to raise one gallon of water 1°F
C) The amount of heat required to melt one pound of ice
D) The amount of heat required to boil one pound of water
Answer: A
Rationale: A British thermal unit (Btu) is the amount of heat energy required to raise the
temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at sea level. This is the standard
unit for measuring heat energy in the United States .
BPI Home Energy Professional (HEP) Energy Auditor Practice
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
Domain 1: Building Science Fundamentals (Questions 1-40)
1. The fundamental scientific principles that govern home performance are collectively known
as:
A) Physical laws
B) Building science
C) Diagnostics
D) Thermodynamics
Answer: B
Rationale: Building science is the interdisciplinary field that applies physics, chemistry,
engineering, and architecture to understand how buildings function as systems. It encompasses
heat transfer, moisture dynamics, air movement, and material science as they relate to building
performance .
2. The components of a house can be said to fall into four general categories: building,
mechanicals, environment, and:
, Page 2 of 121
A) Structure
B) Ventilation
C) Occupants
D) Energy
Answer: C
Rationale: The four categories of a home system are the building (structure and envelope),
mechanicals (HVAC, water heating, appliances), environment (climate, site conditions), and
occupants (activities, behavior, health needs). Occupants are a critical variable as their behavior
significantly impacts energy use and indoor air quality .
3. The transfer of heat through materials in contact is called:
A) Diffusion
B) Convection
C) Conduction
D) Radiation
Answer: C
, Page 3 of 121
Rationale: Conduction is the transfer of heat through solid materials via molecular vibration.
Heat flows from warmer to cooler areas through direct contact. The rate of conduction depends
on the material's thermal conductivity, with metals conducting heat much faster than insulation
materials .
4. What is the unit of measurement for thermal resistance (R-value)?
A) Btu/hr
B) hr·ft²·°F/Btu
C) Btu/lb
D) °F·hr/Btu
Answer: B
Rationale: R-value is expressed in units of hour·square feet·degrees Fahrenheit per British
thermal unit (hr·ft²·°F/Btu). It measures a material's resistance to conductive heat flow, with
higher R-values indicating better insulating properties. R-value is the reciprocal of U-factor .
5. 1/R = ?
A) Conductance (C)
B) U-factor
, Page 4 of 121
C) Thermal conductivity (k)
D) Emissivity
Answer: B
*Rationale: U-factor is the reciprocal of R-value (U = 1/R). It measures the rate of heat transfer
through a building assembly, expressed in Btu/hr·ft²·°F. Lower U-factors indicate better
insulating performance. U-factor is commonly used for windows and doors, while R-value is
more common for insulation materials .*
6. What is a BTU (British thermal unit)?
A) The amount of heat required to raise one pound of water 1°F
B) The amount of heat required to raise one gallon of water 1°F
C) The amount of heat required to melt one pound of ice
D) The amount of heat required to boil one pound of water
Answer: A
Rationale: A British thermal unit (Btu) is the amount of heat energy required to raise the
temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at sea level. This is the standard
unit for measuring heat energy in the United States .
