Engineering Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …