This project is developing low-cost, highly efficient comfort system designs to enable homes in two of the largest affordable housing market segments (manufactured housing and Habitat for Humanity) to use an affordable high-performance enclosure, ductless minisplit heat pump, transfer fans, and ventilation. For manufactured housing, this innovation will enable HVAC systems to be fully installed in the factory, avoiding problems associated with field setup.

The project scope includes developing alternatives for airflow system design, establishing a set of guidelines for design and construction, testing and refining, and studying how occupants influence performance and system operability. In order to do this, three test homes, occupied and unoccupied, will be monitored for at least one year.

This project is demonstrating the use of highly insulated envelopes and simplified high-efficiency HVAC systems, which can routinely achieve 50% energy savings over 2009 International Energy Code Commission requirements. This impact is especially important in affordable housing, where occupants need to consistently have low utility bills.

• Current data suggests 68% reduction of primary energy use in manufactured homes
• 95% hours within comfort compliance
• Ongoing data collection on two Habitat homes.

• Analysis and reporting of Habitat homes
• Complete industry guidelines
• Guidance in climate zone 4 and 5 homes
• Distinguish between central and end loaded ranch-home floor plans
• Support industry efforts to adopt and integrate this approach.

For more information, project presentations, and related publications, visit the Integrated Design: A High-Performance Solution for Affordable Housing web page.