Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Preliminary Report On Integration Of Florida's Code Energy Efficiencies Using The 2009 Iecc As The Foundation Code, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Building Commission is in the initial phase of it triennial revision of the Florida Building Code. The Florida Building Code has included specific energy provisions since its inception in 2001. Those provisions are the Florida Energy Code (FEC), which was initiated in 1979. In 2008, the Florida legislature enacted HB 7135, requiring the 2010 FEC to provide 20% energy savings compared with the 2007 FEC. HB 7135 also requires that the energy provisions of the Florida Building Code use the 2009 IECC as the foundation and that the IECC shall be modified to maintain the efficiencies of the …

Puerto Rico - Pv Training Program Study - Final Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This Final Report summarizes the work preformed on the program entitled "Puerto Rico PV Training Program Study" for the period April 14, 2008 to June 30, 2009. The program was a contract effort between Mech-Tech College, Caguas, Puerto Rico and the Florida Solar Energy Center/University of Central Florida, Cocoa, Florida. Mech-Tech College was interested in learning about and applying renewable energy technologies and providing college level courses for the future workforce of a renewable energy industry in Puerto Rico. This report documents the activities of Florida Solar Energy Center to assist Mech-Tech College in the design, development and implementation of …

Analysis Of The Energy Star Reference Home Concept As Proposed For Epa's 2011 National Program Requirements, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Using EnergyGauge® USA v.2.8.02, the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) has conducted an analysis of EPA’s proposed ENERGY STAR Reference Design Home specification. A single-story, 2344 ft², slab-on-grade, 3-bedroom, frame home is evaluated in each of the seven contiguous U.S. climate zones. The ENERGY STAR Reference Design Home was evaluated using three metrics: 1) EPS’s threshold qualifying HERS Index (including the Size Adjustment Factor – 0.984 for this home), 2) the 2006 IECC Standard Reference Design and 3) the 2009 IECC Standard Reference Design. Evaluations using the IECC Standard Reference Design were computed using source energy, where the source energy …

Top 10 Checklist - Energy-Efficient Buildings For The Southern United States, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The following Top Ten Checklist provides recommendations for creating energy efficient commercial buildings in areas with hot and humid summers. Commercial and institutional buildings vary greatly, from one to another, in size, use, and type of construction. For purposes of this Top Ten Checklist we are assuming a medium-sized (20,000 to 50,000 ft²) office building located in areas with hot and humid summers. The issues that are raised here may equally apply to schools, churches, theaters, and some retail buildings.

Effectiveness Of Florida's Residential Energy Code: 1979-2009 (Revision Of 1979-2007 Report), Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The 2007 Florida Legislature authorized the Florida Building Commission (FBC) and Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to evaluate cost effectiveness of energy conservation measures including appliance efficiencies that could be implemented through the Florida Energy Code for certain buildings. Additionally, Governor Crist's Executive Order #07-127 requires the Secretary of DCA to convene the Florida Building Commission for the purposes of revising the Florida Energy Code for Building Construction to increase the energy performance of new construction in Florida by at least 15% from the 2007 Energy Code. The Commission should consider incorporating standards for appliances and standard lighting in the …

Interim Report On Iso Tc163 Working Group 3, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report covers the initial year efforts of the International Standards Organization (ISO) to develop international standards for rating the energy performance of buildings. The author of this report is a participant in this effort. This report summarizes the activities of the ISO Working Group charged with development of these standards and makes recommendations to the sponsors for future U.S. involvement in this ISO effort.

Energy Efficiency Cost-Effectiveness Tests For Residential Energy Code Update Processes, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The 2008 Florida Energy Act directed the Florida Building Commission (FBC) to develop an administrative rule for determining the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency updates to the Florida Building Code. This report addresses the economics of building energy efficiency, standard economic cost-effectiveness indicators that could be used for code update purposes and makes specific recommendations on economic assessment standards to be included in the cost-effectiveness test administrative rule.

Gulf Coast High Performance Affordable Housing Demonstration Project, Florida Solar Energy Center, Janet Mcilvaine

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In 2007 and 2008, the Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership worked with five partners in region of the Gulf Coast recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The High Performance Affordable Housing Demonstration Home was conceived to give builders in the region a cost-effective model of high performance to emulate. This report summarizes the status of work with the five partners, including the proposed energy efficiency package to reach the goal of 30% whole house energy source savings calculated under the 2008 Building America Benchmarking Procedure, standard construction practices, and implementation challenges. Four Demonstration houses were completed in 2008. Three met the 30% …

Preliminary Performance Evaluation Of A Near Zero Energy Home In Gainesville, Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The U.S. Department of Energy's Building America (BA) program is working to increase the energy efficiency of new and existing homes while increasing comfort, and durability and reducing resource use. As part of this program we pursue opportunities to research highly efficient homes with the goal of understanding what works, what doesn't work, and the most economic ways to reach very high efficiency targets. The program aims to create cost neutral zero energy homes by 2020. In pursuit of this goal, this home and other research homes around the country designed to approach or achieve the zero energy goal are …

Preliminary Performance Evaluation Of A Near Zero Energy Home In Callaway, Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, Eric Martin

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The U.S. Department of Energy's Building America (BA) program is working to increase the energy efficiency of new and existing homes while increasing comfort, and durability and reducing resource use. As part of this program we pursue opportunities to research highly efficient homes with the goal of understanding what works, what doesn't work, and the most economic ways to reach very high efficiency targets. The program aims to create cost neutral zero energy homes by 2020. In pursuit of this goal, this home and other research homes around the country designed to approach or achieve the zero energy goal are …

Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership, Annual Report - Budget Period 3, 02/01/08-12/31/0, Florida Solar Energy Center, Subrato Chandra

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This annual report summarizes the work conducted by the Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership (www.baihp.org) for the period 2/1/08 to 12/31/08. BAIHP is led by the Florida Solar Energy Center of the University of Central Florida. In partnership with over 50 factory and site builders, work was performed in two main areas: research and technical assistance.

In the research area we continued laboratory and field testing of interior duct systems to document their expected energy savings of about 20% in heating and cooling. Worked with Building Science Corp. to test an innovative air-conditioner with an extra dehumidification coil in the …

Energy Conservation In The Trinidad Tourist Industry Training Program, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This Final Report summarizes the work performed by the Florida Solar Energy Center/University of Central Florida on the contract entitled "Energy Conservation in the Trinidad Tourist Industry Training Program". This program was performed for the Ministry of Tourism, Trinidad and Tobago, WI. (MoTTT) for the period September 1 to November 1, 2008. The MoTTT established a program for the tourist industry to facilitate learning about energy conservation and renewable energy technologies appropriate for resort applications on the Island of Trinidad. The Florida Solar Energy Center provided assistance through consulting, in education about energy technologies. FSEC modified existing energy training courses …

Green And High Performance Factory Crafted Housing, Florida Solar Energy Center, Stephanie Thomas-Rees

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In the U.S., factory-built housing greater than 400 square feet is built either to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code for mobile homes or site-built codes for modular housing. During the last few years, as the production of HUD code housing has dwindled, many leading edge factory builders have started building modular homes to compete with site-built housing and stay in business. As part of the Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership (BAIHP) we have assisted in the design and construction of several 'green' and high performance modular homes that Palm Harbor Homes, Florida Division (PHH) has …

Energy Impacts Of Various Residential Mechanical Ventilation Strategies, Florida Solar Energy Center, Robin Vieira

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Building America program has been working with home builders for more than a decade using a variety of strategies for bringing fresh air into the homes. Many of these strategies utilize the central air handler fan from the HVAC system to ventilate when the system runs. Controllers can be purchased to force the air to enter for minimum periods of time or to shut off outside air dampers after some period of runtime. EnergyGauge USA, a detailed hourly residential simulation program, has been modified to simulate the various runtime strategies, as well as supply- or exhaust-only ventilation strategies and …

An Overview Of Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership (Baihp) Activities In Hot-Humid Climates, Florida Solar Energy Center, Subrato Chandra

FSEC Energy Research Center®

BAIHP (www.baihp.org ) conducts systems research and technical assistance activities for new housing. Hot-humid climate efforts described here include:

Systems research: NightCool – A hybrid cooling and dehumidification strategy employing radiative cooling and desiccant materials. Interior Duct Systems in Manufactured Houses – Tests are ongoing in an occupied prototype home in Alabama and the FSEC manufactured housing lab. Ventilation and Dehumidification – A new strategy has been developed to hook up a whole-house dehumidifier so that it only runs when the air conditioning compressor is off. Plug Load Reduction – Whole house feedback devices and security system based plug load …

Research Results From A Few Alternate Methods Of Interior Duct Systems In Factory Built Housing Located In The Hot Humid Climate, Florida Solar Energy Center, Neil Moyer

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership (BAIHP) has collaborated with two of its industry partners to work on a portion of the project that relates to the construction and evaluation of prototype interior duct systems. In 2006, work began on a duct system design that would locate the entire length of duct work within the air and thermal barriers of the envelope. One of these designs incorporated a high-side supply register that connects to the conventional floor duct. The other design utilized a single soffit located within the conditioned space at the marriage line. The …

Assessment Of The Effectiveness And Energy Efficiency Of Humidity Control Approaches In Vacant Florida Homes, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In a hot and humid climate such as Florida, 'snowbirds' that leave their homes for extended summer periods need guidance on effective and energy efficient methods of humidity control. Experiments were performed in seven residences to evaluate various approaches to humidity control, including providing no mechanical system control. A humidity target was identified to maintain indoor relative humidity (RH) at 65% or lower most of the time. Providing no mechanical conditioning (letting the building 'float') yields relative humidity at 65% or below during hot and sunny weather in some homes, but not during cloudy weather. Setting the AC system thermostat …

Case Study Of An Innovative Hvac System With Integral Dehumidifier, Florida Solar Energy Center, Richard Raustad

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In most applications, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment is controlled to maintain an indoor dry-bulb set point temperature. Moisture removal by the HVAC system is considered to be an operational byproduct. During summer months, the operation of the HVAC system is usually sufficient to meet both the sensible and latent cooling loads. However, during other times of the year when sensible loads are reduced, the moisture load can be significantly higher than the available moisture removal capacity of the air conditioning system. This can lead to elevated indoor relative humidity levels and an uncomfortable indoor environment. In many …

Energy Performance Aspects Of A Florida Green Roof, Part 2, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jeffrey Sonne

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This monitored study is an evaluation of summer and winter energy performance aspects of a green roof on a 2-story central Florida university building addition that was completed in 2005. An earlier report on this study was published through the 2006 Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates. This report reviews these earlier results and provides second-summer results which show significant performance improvements for the green roof compared with the first summer results.

Ac System Equipment Specification, Installation And Operational Options For Improved Indoor Humidity Control, Florida Solar Energy Center, Don B. Shirey Iii

FSEC Energy Research Center®

High-efficiency home designs have significantly reduced sensible cooling loads, and some building codes and IAQ standards have begun requiring continuous outdoor ventilation air. These trends have led to an increased prevalence of high indoor humidity conditions (Rudd and Henderson 2007). This paper presents a summary of low-cost or no-cost equipment selection and operation options for conventional residential air-conditioning equipment than can result in lower indoor humidity levels. These options should be evaluated and employed to the extent possible prior to considering the added first cost and operating costs of separate dehumidification equipment.

Drilling, Alternative Fuels And Efficiency: Can The United States Wean Itself From Imported Oil?, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Perhaps the most daunting challenge the next generation of Americans will face is what President Bush called our "addiction to oil." The challenge is to find the means to provide for our transportation needs in the face of declining world oil production. Perhaps the central question is whether we will export the great wealth of America to foreign countries in payment for oil before we tackle the grand challenge of creating a new transportation future that does not rely completely on oil.

This article presents the historical facts relative to America's oil demand and domestic and world oil production resources. …

Overview And Summary Of Design Ideas From The High Performance Green Relocatable Classroom Charrette, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Past research has shown that energy use can be reduced by 81% in improved new portable classrooms in Florida. On June 2-3, 2008 a design charrette was held in Palm Beach Gardens with the goal of developing qualities that should be considered for a High-Performance Green Relocatable Classroom (HPGRC) standard for Florida or other regions in hot and humid climates. This charrette is just one of many steps that would be involved in development and acceptance of a HPGRC standard. It is hoped that the results of this can be shared with others and used to build on the development …

Furnace Blower Electricity: National And Regional Savings Potential, Florida Solar Energy Center, Victor Franco

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Currently, total electricity consumption of furnaces is unregulated, tested at laboratory conditions using the DOE test procedure, and is reported in the GAMA directory as varying from 76 kWh/year to 1,953 kWh/year. Furnace blowers account for about 80% of the total furnace electricity consumption and are primarily used to distribute warm air throughout the home during furnace operation as well as distribute cold air during air conditioning operation. Yet the furnace test procedure does not provide a means to calculate the electricity consumption during cooling operation or standby, which account for a large fraction of the total electricity consumption. Furthermore, …

Nightcool: A Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

An experimental evaluation has been conducted on a night sky cooling system designed to substantially reduce space cooling needs in homes in North American climates. The system uses a sealed attic covered by a highly conductive metal roof (a roof integrated radiator) which is selectively linked by air flow to the main zone with the attic zone to provide cooling - largely during nighttime hours. Available house mass is used to store sensible cooling. Currently, the system's capability for solar dehumidification with minimal electricity input is demonstrated.

How Energy Efficient Are Modern Dishwashers?, Florida Solar Energy Center, David Hoak

FSEC Energy Research Center®

We present measurements of three recent vintage dishwashers of very different efficiencies showing that while they are substantially more efficient than older dishwashers, those tested will still use electric resistance elements for supplemental heat, even when supplied by solar water heating systems producing very hot water. We did find the DOE test results provide a reasonable guide to comparative performance, but suggest improvements that will make them more representative. We also identify a variety of influences on efficiency and performance to reduce dishwasher energy use.

Very Low Energy Homes In The United States: Perspectives On Performance From Measured Data, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

We present measured annual performance data from a dozen recent-vintage very low energy homes in North America. Many of the designs combine greater energy efficiency with solar electric photovoltaic power in an attempt to create Zero Energy Homes (ZEH). We also provide measured data from the first home constructed to the German Passivhaus standard in the United States. Several projects either exceeded or come very close to true net zero energy when evaluated over a year.

The data indicate that very low energy use buildings can very readily be achieved in North America. Annual energy use half that or less …

Ac System Equipment Specification, Installation And Operational Issues That Can Enhance Indoor Humidity Control, Florida Solar Energy Center, Don B. Shirey Iii

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report presents summary of research on equipment selection and operation issues with conventional air conditioning equipment that can be employed prior to seeking the added first cost and operating cost of separate dehumidifiers.

Reducing Energy Use In Florida Buildings, Florida Solar Energy Center, Richard Raustad

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The 2007 Florida Building Code requires building designers and architects to achieve a minimum energy efficiency rating for buildings located throughout Florida. Although the Florida Building Code is strict in the minimum requirements for new construction, several aspects of building construction can be further improved through careful thought and design. This report outlines several energy saving features that can be used to ensure that new buildings meet a new target goal of 85% energy use compared to the current code requirements.

Solar 2007: Renewable Energy Disaster Relief Fund Gives A Helping Hand, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In a disaster, support and utility services are damaged or destroyed leaving people without electricity, water, sanitation, and communication. Thousands of people from emergency management agencies and volunteer organizations are deployed to help after a disaster to provide life support and basic services. In this response effort, energy resources and services are lacking, making recovery efforts difficult in our high-tech world. In response to this problem, the National Energy Foundation and the Florida Solar Energy Center have formed the Renewable Energy Disaster Relief Fund (REDRF).

REDRF will collect donations from the general public, businesses, and various organizations through a variety …

Ahata Solar Energy Resort Training Program, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center/University of Central Florida developed a Solar Energy Resort Training Program at the request of Aruba Bucuti Beach Resort Association, Aruba (AHATA) in the Caribbean Islands. The Aruba Resort Association has been interested in learning about and applying renewable energy technologies to their resorts to reduce energy consumption and cost. This report describes the activities and implementation of Florida Solar Energy Center's support to the Association to assist in the consulting, education and implementation of solar energy technologies into the resort industry in the country.