Engineering Commons^™

Study Of Photoelectrochemical Cells For Hydrogen Production By Water Splitting Using Cigs2/Cds Heterojunction, Florida Solar Energy Center, Neelkanth Dhere

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Study of Photoelectrochemical Cells for Hydrogen Production by Water Splitting Using CIGS2/CdS Heterojunction

Industry Guide To Selecting The Best Residential Window Options For The Florida Climate, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ross Mccluney

FSEC Energy Research Center®

It used to be said that windows are little more than holes in the insulation. It is true to some extent that poorly insulated and drafty windows in certain climates defeat the purpose of wall insulation. However, modern high performance windows are almost as good as opaque insulated wall sections, at least in terms of total energy savings over long periods of time. In some cases, they can be shown to actually out-perform insulated walls. Of course, they have the priceless additional benefits of providing views to the outdoors and natural daylight illumination indoors important issues of quality and comfort. …

Executive Summary: Comparative Evaluation Of The Impact Of Roofing Systems On Residential Cooling Energy Demand In Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, John Sherwin

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Roof and attic thermal performance exert a powerful influence on cooling energy use in Florida homes. Unshaded residential roofs are heated by solar radiation causing high afternoon attic air temperatures. The large influence on cooling is due to increased ceiling heat transfer as well as heat gains to the duct systems which are typically located in the attic space (Figure E-1). The Florida Power and Light Company and the Florida Solar Energy Center instrumented six side-by-side Habitat homes in Ft. Myers, Florida with identical floor plans and orientation, R-19 ceiling insulation, but with different roofing systems designed to reduce attic …

Evaluating The Impacts Of Uncontrolled Air Flow And Hvac Performance Problems On Florida's Commercial And Institutional Buildings - Final Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Twenty commercial and institutional buildings located in central Florida were tested for uncontrolled air flow and cooling system problems. Tested buildings were selected based on three criteria; 1) buildings with large exhaust fans, 2) buildings with leaky ceilings, and 3) education buildings. They ranged in size from a 650 square foot portable classroom to a 50,000 square foot elementary school, with an average floor area of 6518 square feet.

Diagnostic inspection and testing was performed in each building to identify problems related to uncontrolled air flow or HVAC system or control problems. The tests were performed to characterize or identify …

Validation Of Energygauge® Usa Using The Hers Bestest Procedure, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report presents results from the testing and validation of the EnergyGauge USA home energy rating software conducted using the HERS BESTEST procedures. The results show that EnergyGauge USA is an excellent and verifiable simulation program that is capable of meeting all national requirements for home energy rating software tools.

Developing An Implementation Plan For The Idaho Msri Partnership Workshop Summary - Final Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jennifer Szaro

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Workshop conducted to develop an implementation plan for the Idaho Million Solar Roofs Initiative.

The Hers Rating Method And The Derivation Of The Normalized Modified Loads Method, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This paper provides much of the historical background surrounding the contentious development of a national, uniform rating method for rating the energy-efficiency of homes. A full derivation of the most recently adopted rating method, the Normalized Modified Loads Method, is provided in detail and the issues and events leading up to the development of each of the succeeding methods are described.

Ever since the inclusion of Home Energy Rating Systems in the 1992 Energy Policy Act, the most contentious issue associated with them has been the development of a uniform rating method. To date, four succeeding methods have been proposed: …

Developing An Implementation Plan For The Montana Msri Coalition Workshop Summary - Final Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jennifer Szaro

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Workshop was conducted to develop and implementation plan for the Montana Million Solar Roofs Initiative.

Evaluation Of Resources And Energy Systems At Dry Tortugas National Park, Addendum Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Dunlop

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The objectives of this report are to identify opportunities for increasing efficiency, reducing costs and improving environmental quality by implementing conservation measures and renewable energy systems in park operations. Information in this report was derived from a site survey conducted on April 4-6, 2000 by personnel from the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC). It builds on earlier site assessments and reports developed in 1989 and 1997 by FSEC under contract to DOE and SNL

Energy Efficient Design For Florida Educational Facilities, Florida Solar Energy Center, Janet Mcilvaine

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This manual addresses energy efficiency options for new educational facilities in Florida. The recommendations may not be valid when considered outside Florida's hot humid climate or for purposes other than new construction.

Construction funds spent on new construction heavily outweigh (67%) those spent on retrofit, as reported in an annual statistical analysis published by American School and University (September 1992). The comprehensive survey showed that construction funds for new educational facilities nationwide have risen for eight consecutive years, and no region has experienced more growth than the Southeast. Currently, funds spent on energy services (excluding capital outlay, salaries, benefits, and …

Improving Doe-2'S Resys Routine: User Defined Functions To Provide More Accurate Part Load Energy Use And Humidity Predictions, Florida Solar Energy Center, Hugh Henderson, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In hourly energy simulations, it is important to properly predict the performance of air conditioning systems over a range of full and part load operating conditions. An important component of these calculations is to properly consider the performance of the cycling air conditioner and how it interacts with the building. This paper presents improved approaches to properly account for the part load performance of residential and light commercial air conditioning systems in DOE-2. First, more accurate correlations are given to predict the degradation of system efficiency at part load conditions. In addition, a user-defined function for RESYS is developed that …

Factors Influencing Space Heat And Heat Pump Efficiency From A Large-Scale Residential Monitoring Study, Florida Solar Energy Center, Matthew Bouchelle

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Since Florida utilities often experience their system peak during the state's few cold mornings, understanding influences on space heat performance is important to controlling demand. Analysis of heat pump impacts on system load in a large scale monitoring study have shown large levels of strip heat being used during the winter morning peak. The implied coefficient of performance of heat pumps during the system peak hour was only 1.30. Also, analysis of the total seasonal space heat has shown that the implied Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF) of heat pump homes is only 4.4 Btu/W rather than the 6-8 Btu/W …

Hidden Power Drains: Trends In Residential Heating And Cooling Fan Watt Power Demand, Florida Solar Energy Center, John Proctor

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This paper compiles power draw, air flow, and static pressure measurements of residential air handlers taken during nine separate field tests of space conditioning systems in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and Canada. The field tests show that air handler devices do not meet basic performance standards and that the interactions between components combine to further degrade overall system efficiency. The findings support conclusions from previous research in Canada that called for a systems approach to improving air handler efficiency. This study reports that fan power consumption in U.S. air conditioners is about 40% higher than estimates used in the DOE …

Measured Impact Of Advanced Windows On Cooling Energy Use, Florida Solar Energy Center, Michael Anello

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A significant portion of Florida's residential building stock consists of single-family homes with clear, single-pane, aluminum frame windows. Such windows can lead to considerable heat gain during the hot Florida summer. A side-by-side field test in two identical homes was conducted to evaluate the impact of high performance windows on space cooling demand under realistic conditions.

Cool Neighborhoods: The Measurement Of Small Scale Heat Islands, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jeffrey Sonne

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Rapid population influx in many Sunbelt cities has led to demands for converting natural areas to housing, many times by clear-cutting large tracts of land. This trend may be affecting the climate for existing and future residents and increasing energy bills. The heat island for large cities has been documented, however the impact of tree canopy on micro-climates in suburban environments has not been researched as much. Tree canopy in micro-climates has implications, both for preserving trees within recently constructed developments, as well as for tree-planting programs. To address this issue, temperature measurements were made over a one year period …

Evaluation Of Energygauge Usa, A Residential Energy Design Software, Against Monitored Data, Florida Solar Energy Center, Brian Fuehrlein

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A new software, EnergyGauge USA®, is being developed for calculation of energy use in residential buildings. A simplified user interface allows buildings to be quickly defined and evaluated. Utilization of the DOE-2.1E energy simulation engine brings the computing power of hourly simulation to designers and raters. The software has enhancements to better simulate duct systems, air infiltration, attic and foundation thermal performance, heat pump part load characteristics and internal moisture capacitance.

A recurring question with building energy software, regardless of the calculation rigor, is the relative accuracy of the estimates, particularly for cooling loads. To address this question, the software …

Performance Assessment Of Photovoltaic Attic Ventilator Fans, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Controlling summer attic heat gain is important to reducing air conditioning energy use in homes in hot-humid climates. Both heat transfer through ceilings and to attic duct systems can make up a large part of peak cooling demand. Attic ventilation has long been identified as a method to abate such heat gains. We present test results from using the photovoltaic (PV) attic ventilator fans in a test home to assess impact on attic and cooling energy performance.

Building Envelope Air Leakage Failure In Small Commercial Buildings Related To The Use Of Suspended Tile Ceilings, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Recent research over the last few years is providing a better understanding about the building envelope of small commercial buildings. These buildings have very similar construction to single-family residential buildings, but unlike residential buildings, they usually have a suspended tile ceiling between the conditioned space and ceiling or attic space. Testing indicates that the building envelope in small commercial buildings is substantially less airtight than residential buildings and the cause is associated with the suspended ceiling. Ceiling airtightness test results from two buildings are presented in this paper and show that they are very leaky. The pathways in the ceiling …

Factors Influencing Water Heating Energy Use And Peak Demand In A Large Scale Residential Monitoring Study, Florida Solar Energy Center, Matthew Bouchelle

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A load research project by the Florida Power Corporation (FPC) is monitoring 204 residences in Central Florida, collecting detailed end-use load data. The monitoring is being performed to better estimate the impact of FPC's load control program, as well as obtain improved appliance energy consumption indexes and load profiles. A portion of the monitoring measures water heater energy use and demand in each home on a 15-minute basis. The paper summarizes the various impacts identified on water heating energy use and demand.

Solar Swimming Pool Heating In Florida: Collector Sizing And Economics, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Cromer

FSEC Energy Research Center®

There are over 300,000 swimming pools in Florida, and most of them must be heated during winter months to maintain comfortable swimming conditions. For the average user, temperatures ranging from 78 °F to 80° F for spring and fall and 76° for winter are usually considered comfortable. This publication presents a simple method that can be used to determine the solar collector area (within ± 20 percent) needed to heat a swimming pool to comfort conditions assuming average weather patterns.

Best Practice For The Location Of The Air And Thermal Boundaries In Small Commercial Buildings, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Suspended t-bar ceilings are common in commercial buildings. Research has found that these ceilings are very leaky, and several problems arise from this. If the space above the ceiling is vented to outdoors, the entire building becomes leaky. Furthermore, if the insulation is located at the ceiling rather than the roof, then the ceiling space will be hot (summer), and if the ceiling space is also vented to outdoors, then the ceiling space will be hot and humid. The thermal and humidity conditions of the ceiling space have important implications for space conditioning loads, building ventilation rates, and indoor relative …

Florida Homeowner's Manual For Energy Efficiency, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Most homeowners would like to save on their monthly expenses. One of these expenses - the utility bill - costs the average Florida homeowner five percent of his/her total annual after-tax income. Currently, Floridians are paying about eight cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for electricity. Without close monitoring, electrical uses such as air conditioning can easily push utility costs over $150 per month. Effective conservation measures involve using household appliances less frequently and servicing them properly. These measures will improve their performance as well as their useful life - a real savings over the long run. Also, when you use …

Florida Photovoltaic Buildings Program: Status Report, Observations And Lessons Learned, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jennifer Szaro

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida PV Buildings Program is a collaborative effort among the Florida Energy Office of the Department of Community Affairs (FEO/DCA), Sandia National Laboratories, the photovoltaic industry, nine end-user groups, and the Florida Solar Energy Center. It complements the federal government's Million Solar Roofs Initiative (MSRI), which calls for one million solar installations in the U.S. by 2010. Based on the present level of activity and assuming a relatively small growth rate, it is estimated that approximately 140,000 solar pool and domestic water heating systems will be installed in Florida by 2010, as well as 20,000 utility-interactive rooftop photovoltaic systems.

Photovoltaic Applications For Disasters Course Manual, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This workshop training manual provides information for disaster relief and emergency management organization on using photovoltaic systems to supply electrical power for their every day operation in a disaster. The general public and the PV industry will also benefit from this information. Topics presented in the workshop manual will include emergency management operations, energy needs analysis, photovoltaic technology, system performance, reliability, maintenance, selection criteria, applications, and equipment specifications.