PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

254+ Free AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Practice Questions

Pass your AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
Not publicly reported by AEE Pass Rate
254+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More AEE Energy Certifications

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

AEE Certified Energy Auditor (CEA)

Practice Questions1 blog

AEE Business Energy Professional (BEP)

Practice Questions

AEE Certified Energy Procurement Professional (CEP)

Practice Questions

AEE Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP)

Practice Questions

More From This Family

Videos and articles for deeper review.

VideoFREE CEM Exam Guide 2026: AEE Certified Energy Manager, 700/1040, 4 Hrs Open-BookThis examArticleFREE CEM Exam Guide 2026: AEE Certified Energy Manager, 700/1040, 4 Hrs Open-Book23 min readArticleCEA Exam Guide 2026: AEE Certified Energy Auditor Prep10 min read

Sample AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 254+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the primary difference between kW and kWh?
A.kW measures power capacity; kWh measures energy consumption over time
B.kW is for AC power only; kWh is for DC power only
C.kW measures voltage; kWh measures current
D.kW is used for residential; kWh is used for commercial billing
Explanation: kW (kilowatt) is a unit of power representing the rate of energy use at any instant, while kWh (kilowatt-hour) is a unit of energy representing the total amount of electricity consumed over time. A 10 kW load operating for 2 hours consumes 20 kWh of energy.
2A facility has a monthly peak demand of 500 kW and energy consumption of 80,000 kWh. What is the load factor?
A.16%
B.22%
C.34%
D.62%
Explanation: Load factor = (Energy consumption) / (Peak demand × Hours in period). For this case: 80,000 kWh / (500 kW × 730 hours) = 80,000 / 365,000 = 0.219 or approximately 22%. A higher load factor indicates more efficient use of electrical capacity.
3Under a time-of-use (TOU) rate structure, when are electricity rates typically highest?
A.During off-peak nighttime hours
B.During weekday afternoons in summer
C.During all weekend hours
D.During early morning hours on weekdays
Explanation: Time-of-use rates charge the highest prices during peak demand periods, which typically occur on weekday afternoons in summer when air conditioning loads are highest. Off-peak periods like nights and weekends have lower rates to encourage load shifting.
4An energy efficiency project costs $50,000 and saves $12,500 annually in energy costs. What is the simple payback period?
A.2.5 years
B.3 years
C.4 years
D.5 years
Explanation: Simple payback period = Initial investment / Annual savings. In this case: $50,000 / $12,500 = 4 years. Simple payback does not consider the time value of money, so it should be used for quick initial screening rather than final investment decisions.
5Which economic analysis method considers the time value of money and provides the rate of return at which the net present value equals zero?
A.Simple payback
B.Life cycle cost analysis
C.Internal rate of return (IRR)
D.Benefit-cost ratio
Explanation: The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is the discount rate that makes the net present value of all cash flows equal to zero. Unlike simple payback, IRR accounts for the time value of money and is useful for comparing projects of different sizes and durations.
6A project has the following cash flows: Year 0: -$100,000, Year 1: $40,000, Year 2: $40,000, Year 3: $40,000, Year 4: $40,000. Using a discount rate of 10%, what is the approximate net present value (NPV)?
A.$26,796
B.$60,000
C.$160,000
D.-$10,000
Explanation: NPV = -Initial investment + Sum of discounted cash flows. The present value of $40,000/year for 4 years at 10% is $40,000 × 3.1699 (annuity factor) = $126,796. NPV = -$100,000 + $126,796 = $26,796. A positive NPV indicates a financially viable project.
7In an energy savings performance contract (ESPC), what is the typical relationship between the energy service company (ESCO) and the facility owner?
A.The ESCO guarantees energy savings and is paid from those savings
B.The facility owner pays all costs upfront and receives rebates
C.The utility company pays the ESCO directly
D.The ESCO leases equipment to the owner for a fixed monthly fee
Explanation: In an ESPC, the ESCO designs, installs, and maintains energy efficiency measures and guarantees a certain level of energy savings. The ESCO is typically paid from the actual savings achieved, making it a performance-based arrangement that reduces risk for the facility owner.
8What is the approximate conversion factor between BTU and kWh?
A.1 kWh = 3412 BTU
B.1 kWh = 1000 BTU
C.1 kWh = 10,000 BTU
D.1 kWh = 1 BTU
Explanation: One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is approximately equal to 3,412 BTU (British Thermal Units). This conversion factor is essential when comparing energy consumption across different fuel types such as electricity, natural gas, and heating oil.
9What is power factor in an electrical system?
A.The ratio of real power (kW) to apparent power (kVA)
B.The ratio of voltage to current
C.The efficiency of electrical equipment
D.The maximum load divided by average load
Explanation: Power factor is the ratio of real power (kW) to apparent power (kVA), representing how effectively electrical power is being converted into useful work. A low power factor indicates reactive power consumption, which does no useful work but increases current flow and losses.
10A motor draws 100 kW of real power with a power factor of 0.80. What is the apparent power in kVA?
A.80 kVA
B.100 kVA
C.125 kVA
D.180 kVA
Explanation: Apparent power (kVA) = Real power (kW) / Power factor. For this case: 100 kW / 0.80 = 125 kVA. The facility is charged for 125 kVA of capacity while only using 100 kW of useful power, demonstrating the economic impact of poor power factor.

About the AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Exam

The AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM) certification is a professional credential for energy managers who evaluate energy use, identify conservation measures, manage energy projects, understand energy economics, and integrate policy, building systems, industrial systems, controls, commissioning, distributed generation, storage, performance contracting, and measurement and verification. The current CEM Body of Knowledge and Study Guide lists a four-hour open-book exam with 130 questions, including 120 scored questions and 10 unscored trial questions.

Assessment

Open-book multiple-choice exam with 130 questions total: 120 scored questions and 10 unscored trial questions distributed across 14 mandatory Body of Knowledge subject areas.

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

See the current AEE CEM handbook and scheme for scoring and certification rules.

Exam Fee

Varies by route, membership, training provider, location, and current AEE fee schedule. (Association of Energy Engineers (AEE))

AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Exam Content Outline

6%-8%

Energy and Sustainability Policies, Codes and Standards

Energy policy drivers, benchmarking, sustainability targets, energy codes, ASHRAE and ISO-style management-system concepts, compliance, and documentation.

5%-7%

Energy Rates, Tariffs and Supply Options

Rate structures, kWh and kW charges, demand ratchets, time-of-use periods, load factor, power factor penalties, supplier contracts, and bill analysis.

7%-11%

Energy Audits and Instrumentation

Audit scope, walkthroughs, measurement plans, trend logging, metering, safety, calibration, uncertainty, data quality, and opportunity development.

6%-10%

Energy Accounting and Economics

Energy-unit conversions, baselines, normalization, cost avoidance, simple payback, net present value, discount rate, escalation, and life-cycle cost.

7%-11%

Electrical Power Systems and Motors

Electrical power, demand, power factor, motor efficiency and loading, VFDs, transformers, harmonics, and motor-system savings calculations.

5%-7%

Lighting Systems

Lamp and fixture performance, lumens, watts, efficacy, lighting power density, occupancy controls, daylight controls, and retrofit economics.

10%-16%

HVAC Systems and Building Envelope

Chillers, boilers, heat pumps, air handlers, ventilation, economizers, heat transfer, insulation, infiltration, pumps, fans, coils, and efficiency metrics.

6%-10%

Building Automation, Controls and Artificial Intelligence Systems

Control sequences, schedules, sensors, resets, deadbands, PID basics, fault detection, analytics, AI optimization, and operator interfaces.

3%-5%

Energy Storage Systems

Battery storage, thermal storage, dispatch, peak shaving, round-trip efficiency, safety, demand response, and renewable integration.

4%-6%

Boiler and Steam Systems

Boiler efficiency, combustion, excess air, stack losses, blowdown, condensate return, steam traps, insulation, and distribution maintenance.

4%-6%

Distributed Generation and Renewable Energy Systems

Solar PV, CHP, wind, biomass, interconnection, net metering concepts, capacity factor, economics, resilience, and emissions impacts.

6%-8%

Industrial Systems

Compressed air, process heating, pumps, fans, refrigeration, cooling towers, process integration, production baselines, and maintenance practices.

7%-11%

Operations, Maintenance and Commissioning

Preventive maintenance, retrocommissioning, functional testing, calibration, persistence strategies, operator training, alarm management, and continuous improvement.

3%-5%

Energy Savings Performance Contracting and Measurement and Verification

ESPC cash flows, savings guarantees, baseline risk, M&V plans, IPMVP-style options, adjustments, metering boundaries, and reporting.

How to Pass the AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: See the current AEE CEM handbook and scheme for scoring and certification rules.
  • Assessment: Open-book multiple-choice exam with 130 questions total: 120 scored questions and 10 unscored trial questions distributed across 14 mandatory Body of Knowledge subject areas.
  • Time limit: 4 hours
  • Exam fee: Varies by route, membership, training provider, location, and current AEE fee schedule.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AEE CEM exam open book?

Yes. The official CEM Body of Knowledge and Study Guide describes the exam as a four-hour open-book exam.

How many questions are on the AEE CEM exam?

The official CEM Body of Knowledge and Study Guide lists 130 total questions: 120 scored questions and 10 unscored trial questions.

What topics are covered on CEM?

The CEM Body of Knowledge lists 14 mandatory subject areas spanning policy, tariffs, audits, economics, electrical systems, lighting, HVAC, controls, storage, steam, renewables, industrial systems, O&M, commissioning, ESPC, and M&V.

How many questions are in this practice bank?

This practice bank contains exactly 100 original questions for exam ID aee-cem.