
In addition to occupied test homes, research will be conducted in highly instrumented laboratories with simulated occupancy. Shown here are the two identical, side-by-side test homes that comprise FSEC’s Flexible Residential Test Facility. Photo courtesy of Florida Solar Energy Center.
Lead Performer: University of Central Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center—Cocoa, FL
Partners: Washington State University Energy Program—Olympia, WA
DOE Total Funding: $1,000,000
Cost Share: $250,000
Project Term: August 1, 2015 – July 31, 2017
Funding Opportunity: Building America Industry Partnerships for High Performance Housing Innovation
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
This project will work directly with leading production builders and product manufacturers to:
- Demonstrate and validate high efficiency, variable capacity, ducted and ductless space conditioning systems with optimized comfort distribution and latent control.
- Test a new "smart" ventilation system innovation aimed at saving space conditioning energy use while improving comfort, moisture and peak load impacts.
PROJECT IMPACT
This project will study advanced whole-house residential construction practices for production builders that enable 50% whole-house energy savings compared to houses built to code in hot/humid climates.
CONTACTS
DOE Technology Manager: Eric Werling
Principal Investigator: Eric Martin, Florida Solar Energy Center
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
- Energy Savings and Peak Demand Reduction of a SEER 21 Heat Pump vs. a SEER 13 Heat Pump with Attic and Indoor Duct Systems
- Cooling and Heating Season Impacts of Right-Sizing of Fixed- and Variable-Capacity Heat Pumps With Attic and Indoor Ductwork
- Flexible Residential Test Facility: Impact of Infiltration and Ventilation on Measured Cooling Season Energy and Moisture Levels (2014)
- Flexible Residential Test Facility: Impact of Infiltration and Ventilation on Measured Heating Season Energy and Moisture Levels (2013)
- Impact of Residential Mechanical Ventilation on Energy Cost and Humidity Control
- Achieving Challenge Home in Affordable Housing in the Hot-Humid Climate
- Approaches to 30% Energy Savings at the Community Scale in the Hot-Humid Climate