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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Residential Attic Performance Comparison Research, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.
Residential Attic Performance Comparison Research, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.
FSEC Energy Research Center®
This research project evaluated cooling energy and moisture-related impacts between conventional attic venting and sealed attic vents in a lab home located in central Florida. All tests had R30 insulation on the ceiling and the roof deck uninsulated. A total of four different test configurations were tested. The four tested configurations were: Attic Vented with Attic Ducts, Attic Vents Sealed with Attic Ducts, Attic Vented with Indoor Ducts, and Attic Vents Sealed with Indoor Ducts. On average the impact from sealing attic vents will increase annual cooling energy use in a Florida home between 5%-10%. For a 1620 square foot …
Evaluating Moisture Control Of Variable-Capacity Heat Pumps In Mechanically Ventilated, Low-Load Homes In Climate Zone 2a, Florida Solar Energy Center, Eric Martin
Evaluating Moisture Control Of Variable-Capacity Heat Pumps In Mechanically Ventilated, Low-Load Homes In Climate Zone 2a, Florida Solar Energy Center, Eric Martin
FSEC Energy Research Center®
The well-sealed, highly insulated building enclosures constructed by today's home building industry coupled with efficient lighting and appliances are achieving significantly reduced heating and cooling loads. These low-load homes can present a challenge when selecting appropriate space-conditioning equipment. Conventional, fixed-capacity heating and cooling equipment is often oversized for small homes, causing increased first costs and operating costs. Even if fixed-capacity equipment can be properly specified for peak loads, it remains oversized for use during much of the year. During these part-load cooling hours, oversized equipment meets the target dry-bulb temperatures very quickly, often without sufficient opportunity for moisture control. The …