Energy Systems Commons^™

Monitored Energy Use Patterns In Low-Income Housing In A Hot And Humid Climate, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is metering energy use in two Habitat for Humanity developments. The objective is to understand how energy is used in low income housing and how it can be effectively reduced. The ten "control homes" come from a conventional housing project built by in 1993 Habitat for Humanity in Homestead, Florida. Another ten "experimental homes" have been recruited from the 190 home Jordan Commons development in the same vicinity. These houses, which are soon to be metered, are designed to be energy efficient with high SEER air conditioners, reflective roofing, solar water heaters and energy …

Measured Cooling Energy Savings From Reflective Roofing Systems In Florida: Field And Laboratory Research Results, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A series of field experiments in Florida have examined the impact of reflective roof coatings on air conditioning energy use in occupied homes. The tests were conducted on nine residential buildings from 1991 to 1994 using a before and after protocol where the roofs were whitened at mid-summer. Measured AC electrical savings in the buildings during similar pre- and post-retrofit periods averaged 19%, ranging from a low of 2% to a high of 43%. Utility peak coincident peak savings averaged 22%. Cooling energy reductions appear to depend on ceiling insulation level and roof solar reflectance, air duct system location and …

Solar Photovoltaic Air Conditioning Of Residential Buildings, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The use of photovoltaics (PV) for residential air conditioning (AC) represents an attractive application due to the close match between the diurnal cooling load and the availability of solar radiation. Conventional wisdom suggests that air conditioning is a process too energy intensive to be addressed by PV. Previous investigations have concentrated on the feasibility of matching PV output to vapor-compression machines, and the cost effectiveness of other solar cooling options. Recently, Japanese manufacturers have introduced small (8,000 Btu/hr) grid-connected solar assisted AC systems. These small room-sized systems are inadequately sized to meet air conditioning peak demands in larger U.S. homes …

Impacts Of Duct Leakage On Infiltration Rates, Space Conditioning Energy Use, And Peak Electrical Demand In Florida Homes, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Testing for duct leakage was done in 91 homes. Tracer gas tests found that infiltration rates were four times greater when the air handler was operating than when it was off. Return leaks were found to average 10.0% of air handler total flow. House airtightness, in 63 of these homes, determined by blower door testing, averaged 12.38 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50). When the duct registers were sealed, ACH50 decreased to 10.93, indicating that 11.7% of the house leaks were in the duct system.

Duct repairs were made on 25 homes. Blower door tests found 12.30 air …

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.

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.

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 …