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Advanced HVAC Humidity Control for Hot-Humid Climates

File Under: Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building America Program has spurred innovations in building efficiency, durability, and affordability for more than 25 years. Elevating a clean energy economy and skilled workforce, this world-class research program partners with industry to leverage cutting-edge science and deployment opportunities to reduce home energy use and help mitigate climate change. In cooperation with the Building America Program, Home Innovation Research Labs is one of many Building America teams working to drive innovations that address the challenges identified in the Program’s Research-to-Market Plan.

Percent Energy Savings: 2009 IECC Analysis

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope, Building Codes & Standards, Energy Efficiency & High-Performance Building, Moisture Management, Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality

A strong push was made by many advocacy groups, including the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), to increase the stringency of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This effort resulted in a number of major changes which impact both energy savings and construction costs for residential construction. As part of the federal effort to encourage state and local adoption of the more stringent code, provisions were also included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to persuade states to adopt the 2009 IECC.

Field Evaluation of Low-E Storm Windows

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope, Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality

A field evaluation comparing the performance of low emittance (low-e) storm windows with both standard clear storm windows and no storm windows was performed in a cold climate. Six homes with single-pane windows were monitored over the period of one heating season. The homes were monitored with no storm windows and with new storm windows. The storm windows installed on four of the six homes included a hard coat, pyrolitic, low-e coating while the storm windows for the other two homes had traditional clear glass. Overall heating load reduction due to the storm windows was 13% with the clear glass and 21% with the low-e windows. Simple paybacks for the addition of the storm windows were 10 years for the clear glass and 4.5 years for the low-e storm windows.

2006 Homeowner Indoor Air Quality Study

File Under: Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality

The purpose of the Indoor Air Quality Study was to understand homeowners’ perceptions of air quality inside their homes and how climate and vintage come into play. In parallel, a field protocol was developed and tested in a pilot study to quantify indoor air quality (IAQ) for homes. The findings of this project provide a basis for a comprehensive, Phase II, field investigation.