• Bellview Air

Florida HERO discussed a range of issues, including the impact of input data on Manual J equipment sizing, impact of air handler location and it's effect on performance and indoor air quality, and the potential benefits of including unvented cathedralized roof systems.

• Brookside Apartments - Sandspur Housing

Figure 34.Each unit in this 176-unit complex were individually tested for envelope and duct leakage.

Sandspur Housing is expected to complete their 176-unit Gainesville complex in June 2003.  (Please see Figure 34.) Each apartment was individually tested for envelope and duct leakage as part of the BAIHP testing protocol.  Energy ratings conducted by Florida HERO with testing assistance from FSEC staff found the results listed in Table 10 below.

The complex consists of one to four bedroom models grouped into two-story buildings of eight to 16 units.  All units have interior air handlers with air conditioning systems and hydronic heat coils fed by a gas water heater in an exterior closet.  Each unit is supplied with ventilation air from a duct attached to the house side of the HVAC filter.  Heating and air conditioning system sizes range from 1½ to 2 tons.

Table 10.  Test results from a sample of four Brookside Apartments.

Unfaced fiberglass insulation was installed in the units in lieu of the standard kraft-faced insulation.  This eliminated a potentially detrimental vapor barrier, and according to the project manager decreased insulation costs by $0.02 per square foot and reduced on-site labor costs. 

All Brookside apartments have a four inch metal duct which provides outside air to the living space whenever the air handler operates.  The flow of outside air varies with air handler size, averaging 34 to 45 CFM for 1½ and 2-ton air conditioning systems respectively.  A manual damper allows occupants to shutdown ventilation when needed (outdoor smoke, high air pollutants, etc.).

Testing performed by BAIHP at Brookside showed the benefit of providing outside air to the living space with results indicating that the controlled introduction of outdoor air can be an effective method of limiting indoor humidity levels.  Since the initiation of this project, Sandspur began working with FSEC on separate projects in central and south Florida.

• Dye Company & DelAir - Southern Living Home

Florida HERO met with Dye Company president and his staff to discuss the new Southern Living Home planned for showcase at the 2003 Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) in Orlando, Florida.  This firm has a strong desire to differentiate their homes by emphasizing healthy and energy efficient homes.  Florida HERO introduced the Building America systems engineering approach to the builder and subsequent discussions resulted in Dye's commitment to partner with Building America in this project.  As a result, researcher met with DelAir mechanical contracting to discuss the development of mechanical specifications for the Southern Living project. While this home did not meet the BA standard of performance for the 2003 SEBC show, retrofits are being completed with the anticipation that it will be a BA home.