AI in Building Energy Management Quiz

Answers and explanations appear as you take the quiz.

1. Which systems are the focus of NIST’s AI-Optimized Building Controls project?
   • Commercial-building heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems
   • Passenger aircraft navigation systems
   • Restaurant payment systems
   • Municipal drinking-water billing systems
2. What is the purpose of pre-cooling in a building demand-response strategy?
   • Guarantee lower energy use in every building
   • Use thermal mass to shift some cooling demand away from a peak period while considering comfort
   • Disable occupant comfort limits during peak hours
   • Replace the building automation system
3. What comparison does NIST’s IBASIM research plan use when testing control algorithms?
   • Assume every new algorithm improves performance
   • Evaluate only how many parameters the model has
   • Compare their performance with baseline controllers under different scenarios
   • Remove comfort constraints to maximize the reported savings
4. How does fault diagnosis fit NIST’s intelligent-building-agent research?
   • It guarantees equipment can never fail
   • It replaces all maintenance staff and inspection
   • It proves that every energy increase is a fault
   • Agents investigate equipment status to identify and diagnose possible problems
5. Why is a building's thermal mass sometimes described as 'like a battery'?
   • It can store heat or coolness, letting energy use be shifted in time
   • It stores electricity in the walls
   • It is made of lithium
   • It powers the lights directly
6. What is NIST’s Virtual Cybernetic Building Testbed (VCBT) used for?
   • Issuing HVAC operating permits
   • Evaluating building-control hardware and software with a simulated building
   • Writing construction contracts
   • Replacing all onsite sensor data with forecasts
7. Why should a building controller include occupant comfort constraints?
   • Comfort is irrelevant to HVAC control
   • AI can infer consent automatically
   • Energy savings should not come at the cost of unacceptable indoor conditions
   • A temperature sensor guarantees comfort
8. How should an AI building controller be evaluated before deployment?
   • By training accuracy alone
   • By one day of energy data
   • By removing manual overrides
   • In simulation or a testbed first, then monitored in the target building with safety limits