Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Xeriscape: Landscape That Saves, Florida Solar Energy Center, Carolyn King Burns

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Today's headlines trumpet urgent energy concerns. Still, there are ways in which individual effort cumulatively can slow, stop, and even reverse the negative impact of poor conservation habits.

Landscaping spends energy in a variety of ways: in the manufacture and use of fertilizers; in the manufacture, use, and fueling of landscaping equipment; in the production and distribution of our water supply; and in physical effort. But Xeriscaping saves energy.

With 800 - 900 people a day moving to the land of sunshine, water is increasingly precious. In Florida outdoor irrigation alone can consume up to 50 percent of the average …

Thermal Performance Monitoring Results From The Residential Standards Demonstration Program, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Model Conservation Standards (MCS) were developed by the Northwest Power Planning Council in 1983. These standards were designed to save large amounts of space heating energy in new U.S. residential construction in the Pacific Northwest. Creation of the MCS resulted in a desire to demonstrate the actual savings of such energy efficiency standards. The Bonneville Power Administration sponsored the Residential Standards Demonstration Program (RSDP) in 1984 which resulted in the construction of 410 energy-efficient single-family homes in the four-state region. Typically these buildings incorporated design features such as high levels of insulation for attic, walls and floors, triple-glazed windows …

Energy-Efficient Florida Home Building Manual (Revised 1992), Florida Solar Energy Center, Robin Vieira

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This manual presents practical, real-life recommendations on how to design and build homes in Florida. It contains information specific to our state's climate and lifestyles, rather than the overly general information found in most residential building publications. The book was developed in 1992 as an all-inclusive guide for anyone interested in constructing homes that are efficient. It is packed with information that will help you plan such homes, choose the best materials and products for the homes, and if you are a builder or developer - sell and profit from them. The files are all in PDF format. The file …

Radiant Barriers: A Question And Answer Primer, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Attic radiant barriers made of aluminum foil are becoming a popular way for homeowners to save energy and money in Southern states. They are increasing in popularity for two reasons. First, tests by the Florida Solar Energy Center and other groups show that they work. Second, manufacturers are improving the quality of radiant barrier materials.

To most homeowners, attic radiant barriers are a new energy conservation concept; many of them have questions about how radiant barriers work and how to use them. This Energy Note answers some of the most commonly asked questions. It also recommends ways to install radiant …

Heat Pipe Application Program, Florida Solar Energy Center, Mukesh Khattar

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center has begun a project to develop a high efficiency air conditioner/dehumidifier using heat pipes between the warm return and cold supply air streams. Such systems will save energy in hot, humid climates.

Cooling With Ventilation, Florida Solar Energy Center, Subrato Chandra

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In keeping with the national energy policy goal of fostering an adequate supply of energy at a reasonable cost, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) supports a variety of programs to promote a balanced and mixed energy resource system. The mission of the DOE Solar Building Research and Development Program is to support this goal by providing for the development of solar technology alternatives for the buildings sector. It is the goal of the Program to establish a proven technology base to allow industry to develop solar products and designs for buildings that are economically competitive and can contribute …

Latent And Sensible Load Distributions In Conventional And Energy Efficient Residences. Final Report, January 1983 - January 1986. 05-86., Florida Solar Energy Center, Alp Kerestecioglu

FSEC Energy Research Center®

To develop a method to characterize the cooling load distributions in conventional and energy efficient residences, specifically as related to building dehumidification loads, as they pertain to the potential for the use of gas-fired dehumidification and cooling equipment.

Air Conditioner Fan Speed Controller For Comfort And Dehumidification, Florida Solar Energy Center, Mukesh Khattar

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Air conditioners perform the dual functions of cooling and dehumidifying. Many air conditioner units do not adequately dehumidify the air in Florida's humid climate. The quest for higher energy efficiency ratings (EER) has produced units that perform poorly in moisture removal. What follows is a simple and cheap method to increase the moisture removal performance of any air conditioner.

Fans To Reduce Cooling Costs In The Southeast, Florida Solar Energy Center, Subrato Chandra

FSEC Energy Research Center®

During the hot, humid summer months in the southeastern U. S., air conditioning costs are a substantial part of the average home's utility bill. In Florida, for example, air conditioning accounts for about 30 percent of the annual utility bill for an all electric house. Fans can help lower air conditioning costs.

There are three generic types of fans to reduce summer air conditioning costs: air circulating fans to create air motion which increases comfort, whole house fans to promote fresh air exchange, and attic vent fans to lower attic temperatures.

Window Treatment For Energy Conservation, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ross Mccluney

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This Energy Note gives the non-technical reader a clear look at windows - how to get the most from them in cooling, heating, ventilating and illuminating the home. Although most of the points are applicable anywhere in the country, emphasis is on summer solar heat gain experienced in buildings in Florida. Two common features of Southern building style are large window areas to let the light and breezes in, and shading devices or window films to keep the hot sunshine out. This energy note addresses design guidelines and strategies as well as shading devices and window films for existing windows.

Designing And Installing Radiant Barrier Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A radiant barrier system is, in general, a layer of foil facing an airspace, installed in the envelope of a building. Such systems are very effective in impeding radiant heat transfer and consequent heat gain, especially in southern residences. Before designing and installing a radiant barrier system, you should become familiar with the concept of radiant energy transfer. Design Note 6, Radiant Energy Transfer and Radiant Barrier Systems in Buildings, is required reading if you are not familiar with this concept.

Passive Cooling Ideas For The Southeast, Florida Solar Energy Center, Chris Beck

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A passively cooled home is one which is kept relatively comfortable through natural means. Homeowners in the Southeast have been using passive building techniques in order to live more comfortably during hot, humid seasons since the early 1900's. The concept of designing for minimum use of artificial cooling and heating systems is not new, but with the advent of sophisticated mechanical air-conditioning and heating systems and the availability of inexpensive fossil fuels in the '40s and '50s, builders began bypassing passive techniques. Too many of today's homes are designed with more concern about accommodating a mechanical conditioning system than with …

Concepts In Passive Design #3 Passive Cooling Categorizations, Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Editor's Note: While passive solar heating is relatively well evolved, passive cooling is only on the threshold of development, and many of its terms are new to the practicing professional. At the Fourth Annual Passive Cooling Conference this problem was addressed by William W. Holmes of the University of Nebraska with the presentation of a 10-point categorization of cooling techniques. We are indebted to Mr. Holmes for this contribution to the emerging field of passive cooling and present it here as a point of departure and working vocabulary for the design professional.