NCJ Number
64369
Date Published
1978
Length
86 pages
Annotation
A TEST HOUSE, AN EARLY 1950'S WOOD-FRAME RAMBLER, WAS RETROFITTED FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL INFORMATION FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN EXISTING BUILDINGS.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WERE TO QUANTIFY THE WINTER HEATING AND SUMMER COOLING ENERGY SAVINGS ACHIEVED BY RETROFITTING A RESIDENCE WHICH HAD LIMITED INSULATION, TO COMPARE THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSULATING MATERIALS COMMONLY USED TO INSULATE EXISTING CAVITY WALLS, AND TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 'RECOMMENDED GOOD PRACTICES' FOR PREVENTING DAMAGING MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN ATTICS AND CRAWL SPACES. THE THREE RETROFIT STAGES COMPRISED (1) REDUCING AIR LEAKS, (2) ADDING STORM WINDOWS, AND (3) INSTALLING INSULATION IN THE FLOOR, CEILING, AND WALLS. THE WALLS OF THE TEST HOUSE WERE INSULATED WITH FIBROUS GLASS WOOL, CELLULOSIC FIBER, AND UREA-FORMALDEHYDE FOAM; THEIR THERMAL PERFORMANCE WAS MEASURED AND COMPARED IN THE FIELD AND LABORATORY. THE HOUSE WAS EXTENSIVELY INSTRUMENTED TO EVALUATE ENERGY SAVINGS AND OTHER PERFORMANCE FACTORS. AN ECONOMIC MODEL WAS USED TO EVALUATE THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RETROFIT OPTIONS AND THE NUMBER OF YEARS TO PAY BACK THEIR INITIAL INVESTMENT. FINALLY, THERMOGRAPHIC SURVEYS WERE PERFORMED BEFORE AND AFTER THE RETROFIT; FROM THEIR RESULTS, CRITERIA WERE DEVISED FOR DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN INSULATED AND UNINSULATED WOOD-FRAME CAVITY WALLS. THE ECONOMIC MODEL AND COSTS ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH DIAGRAMS, REFERENCES, AND APPENDIXES DESCRIBING THE THIRD RETROFIT STAGE AND SHOWING LOCATION OF HEAT LEAKS USING INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY AND OF AIR-LEAKAGE PATHS USING PYROTECHNIC SMOKE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MHP)