• Bellview Air

Florida H.E.R.O. discussed a range of issues with Bellview Air, including the impact of input data on Manual J equipment sizing and the air handler location in an effort to improve indoor air quality, comfort, and energy performance. The potential benefits of unvented cathedralized roof systems were also addressed. Construction anticipated in 2005.

• Cambridge Homes

This BAIHP partnership resulted in monitored field research in the Augusta Building America model (Figure 7) and a control home. See BAIHP Research (Section III), Site Built Housing Research, Cambridge Homes.

Figure 7 The Augusta, Cambridge Homes BA Prototype.

• Cardinal Homes, Inc.

During the 4 th budget period 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 in the homes, averaging 28% of the winter peak and 21% of the summer peak.

• Champion Homes

Champion Homes built the first stress skin insulated panel (SIP) manufactured home now sited in western Washington. The house air tightness was measured at ACH50=3.55, well below the average numbers for all homes previously tested in the WSU random home study (see Northwest Energy Efficient Manufactured Homes). Energy savings are estimated at 50% greater than a home constructed to the HUD Code. These results were presented at the 2003 ASHRAE Summer Meeting, authored by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), with contributions from BAIHP staff.

• City of Gainesville, Cedar Grove II

Figure 8 City of Gainesville house in Cedar Grove II.

Florida H.E.R.O. began working with the City of Gainesville before the ground-breaking in the Cedar Grove II subdivision of HUD housing. Project manager Judy Raymond envisioned a new urban style development (HUD’s first) with single family homes featuring high quality construction and individualized character with front porches and front façade details (Figure 8). She worked with Florida H.E.R.O. to develop engineered plans for mechanical and air distribution systems and a whole house package that was recognized with a HUD award in 2004. Table 9 summarizes the specifications.

• City of Orlando, The Orlando House

Figure 9 TheOrlando House.

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 TheOrlando House: Florida’s Future, on an infill site within the city (Figure 9). 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 was open to the public for community education purposes for approximately one year. Specifications are listed in Table 10.

The City acquired more than $100,000 in donated materials and services for the project, and completed much of the construction using their own staff. Along with public education, a primary purpose for this project was to give the city staff first hand experience in the use of green building materials and techniques - especially those relating to energy efficiency, indoor air quality, durability, disaster mitigation, and termite resistance. That experience would allow the products and techniques to be effectively used in future low-income housing constructed by the city.

One particular focus of this project was disaster resistance. For protection from wind storms, a durable steel structure was used along with a safe room located in the detached garage. For termite resistance, all structural and exterior finish materials were selected on the basis of providing the least amount of available food source. Materials such as borate treated lumber and sheathing, steel structural components, and plastic/composite finishes were used extensively in conjunction with a Termi-mesh barrier system.

FSEC certified the house for the Florida Green Home Designation Standard in February 2003. FSEC staff also presented information regarding Florida Green Home Designation as part of a builder training event held at the Orlando House. Two CEUs were available to attendees, and approx. 30 people attended from the central Florida area. Training also included talks on Zero Energy Homes, Florida Sun Built Program, and a “builder panel” that included 3 BAIHP partner builders.

The demonstration home was sold in May 2003, and money acquired from the sale will go directly towards the construction of low income housing that utilizes several green building techniques.

• City of Lubbock Community Development

Figure 10 Low income housing built by the City of Lubbock using insulated concrete forms.

Through the Portland Cement Association (PCA), contact was established with the City of Lubbock who is building low income houses with insulated concrete form (ICF) systems (Figure 10). FSEC researchers visited Lubbock twice to conduct diagnostic tests and provide training and technical assistance. FSEC also conducted initial HERS ratings on four Lubbock Habitat for Humanity (see Habitat for Humanity, Texas) homes plans and introduced the Habitat affiliate to the City of Lubbock’s other low-income housing activities.

• 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. Findings and remedies for leaky ducts found during the visit were reported to factory representatives in a follow-up trip report (see Appendix A).