• Cardinal Homes

In cooperation with the University of Central Florida Industrial Engineering Department (UCFIE), FSEC researchers tested four Cardinal modular homes with the Cardinal sales manager and plant quality engineer. Initial results found that peak loads for heating were almost double that for cooling.  All four of the homes had leaky ducts.  These leaks accounted for the largest peak load on the homes, averaging 28% of the winter peak and 21% of the summer peak.  (Please see section 1.3 UCFIE Cardinal Homes for additional details.)

• City of Lubbock Community Development (Texas)

Through Portland Cement Association (PCA), contact was established with the City of Lubbock who is building low income houses with insulated concrete form (ICF) systems.  FSEC researchers visited Lubbock twice to conduct diagnostic tests and provide training and technical assistance.  FSEC also received and conducted initial ratings on four Lubbock Habitat for Humanity home plans and introduced the Habitat affiliate to the City of Lubbock's other low-income housing activities.

• City of Orlando , Florida

The City of Orlando, through the office of Housing and Community Development in the Planning and Development Department, constructed an environmentally friendly demonstration home called the Orlando Energy House, on an infill site within the city.  The City requested FSEC assistance to assure the home met Building America goals and the Florida Green Home Designation Standards.  Ground broke on the demonstration home in December 2001 and the home is now open to the public for community educational purposes. The City acquired more than $100,000 in donated materials and services for the project. 

• Clayton Homes

FSEC personnel conducted a plant visit of the Clayton Homes factory in Waycross, Georgia in June 2002.  A singlewide home was tested and observations recorded of home and duct construction techniques. Remedies for leaky ducts found during visit were reported to factory representatives in a follow-up trip report.

• Dukane Precast

FSEC made a February 2002 site visit to Dukane Precast in Naperville, Illinois and provided technical design assistance in a follow-up telephone conference call in March.  Dukane plans to develop insulated concrete panel system homes.

• Eastern Dakota Housing Alliance

Nonprofit developer, Eastern Dakota Housing Alliance, plans to construct eight new single family housing units (townhouse and twin-home styles) for low-income home buyers in Grand Forks over a period of two years. Long-range, Alliance intends to construct 12 to 16 homes in the development.  FSEC provided design assistance to help this builder reach Energy Star status and higher.

The latest analysis shows that the planned twin homes will reach the Building America goal of 50% greater efficiency. Ventilation strategies include heat recovery ventilators (HRV), return air intake, and FanCycler options. FSEC researchers also analyzed savings from including Energy Star appliances (refrigerator, H-axis clothes washer, dishwasher) and determined an annual appliance savings of $43/year per home.

In August 2002, four Applegren Construction homes were rated with assistance from owner Ralph Applegren.  All homes tested very well in terms of meeting Energy Star requirements.  However, problems were found in duct leakage to inside.  FSEC supplied Applegren with data on energy saving measures from the Energy Gauge USA (EGUSA) output information. This included several changes to the base case home.  Researchers discussed using continuous foam sheeting insulation on the exterior walls of the two duplexes under construction and offered to provide direct technical assistance to the contractor on-site.

Unfortunately, the original plans for HRV ventilation were not incorporated because of budget constraints.  To assist Alliance in incorporating the best ventilation practices within their budget, FSEC suggested several lower-cost strategies like supply ventilation (FilterVent) and exhaust ventilation (continuous, quiet bath fan). Four homes were completed in March 2003.  Completion of eight additional units is expected in December 2003 and the following spring.

• EnergyGauge® USA

This software uses the hourly DOE 2.1E engine with FSEC enhancements and a FSEC-designed user friendly front end to calculate home energy ratings and energy performance.  (Please see Figure 3.)  Researchers continue to improve the software's features and accuracy.  Version 2.0 incorporates many enhancements, which may include multiple zones, multi-fuel use, and a detailed solar thermal and solar electric system analysis.  For more information, please visit www.energygauge.com.

Figure 3.  EnergyGauge input screen.