Optimizing the Installed Performance of Residential HVAC Systems

Lead Performer: National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Golden, CO
Partners:
-- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Washington, DC
-- RESNET and HERS Raters
DOE Total Funding: $900,000
FY18 DOE Funding: $300,000
Project Term: October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2021
Funding Type: Lab Award

Project Objective

Studies estimate that more than 65% of residential heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems have been improperly installed resulting in equipment consuming approximately 20%–30% more energy than necessary¹ and wasting up to 1.6 quadrillion BTU annually.² This project help will address this problem through two concurrent activities:

1. Develop field test methods and analytical techniques to assess HVAC fault impacts. Field test methods and measurement techniques are needed to accurately assess the severity of installation-related faults in installed HVAC equipment. NREL will develop needed test methods and techniques, in addition to building stock simulation capability for determining the national impact of HVAC installation faults, and savings potential of eliminating these faults.
2. Develop a simplified commissioning method. Develop novel tools and methods to simplify and automate commissioning of residential HVAC equipment. This activity will advance the science of automated commissioning tools by reducing sensor requirements, developing new sensors, and creating automated test sequences to assess installation quality.

Project Impact

HVAC Fault Research and Analysis Tools: Prior to establishing large-scale research programs aimed at improving installation quality, it is critical to understand the prevalence and severity of residential HVAC system faults and the factors contributing to those faults. This activity will develop the research and analytical tools and techniques necessary to understand and target HVAC installation quality problems throughout the United States.

Automated Commissioning Tools: Current commissioning tools are costly and time-intensive. Minimizing sensor requirements and developing automated approaches will significantly advance the state of the art, reducing the prevalence of HVAC faults.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Eric Werling
Lead Performer: Jon Winkler, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Related Publications

Building America Program Research-to-Market Plan. /eere/buildings/downloads/building-america-program-research-market-plan

Domanski P.A., Henderson, H.I., and Payne, W.V. 2014. “Sensitivity Analysis of Installation Faults on Heat Pump Performance.” NIST Technical Note 1848:9-16. U.S. Department of Commerce: Washington, D.C. September 2014. http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/TechnicalNotes/ NIST.TN.1848.pdf

Residential Central Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Installation–Workshop Outcomes. W. Goetzler, R. Zogg, J. Young, and Y. Bargach. November 2016. /sites/prod/files/2016/11/f34/CAC-CHP%20Installation%20Workshop%20Report%20-%2011-30-16.pdf

Residential HVAC Installation Practices: A Review of Research Findings /sites/prod/files/2018/06/f53/bto-ResidentialHVACLitReview-06-2018.pdf

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¹ Domanski et al. 2014. Sensitivity analysis of installation faults on heat pump performance. http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.1848

² BTU savings estimate based on BTO internal analysis of the technical potential from correcting known HVAC system faults in U.S. houses.