Comparison of two techniques for identifying energy conservation measures in low-income homes
The District of Columbia Energy Office (DCEO) operates the Residential Conservation Assistance Program (RCAP), which provides for the installation of energy conservation measures (ECMs) in the homes of low-income families in the District of Columbia. The primary objectives of the program are to lower customers` utility bills and/or increase their comfort level by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. Measures selected are identified by the local electric and natural gas utilities either by a walk-thru survey based on the Residential Conservation Service (RCS) energy audit, or the walk-thru supplemented by a blower door. In either case, a checklist-type work order is generated, which is forwarded to participating subgrantees for the purchase and installation of the measures up to a pre-set funding limit. DCEO conducted a study to determine which technique -- RCS/walk-thru or blower door -- is more effective in identifying energy saving opportunities in single-family low-income homes. Included in this study are one hundred thirty-two houses which received a mix of ECMs as selected by the former approach, and seventy-four by the latter. The project was designed in a before and after mode to compare the two procedure for identifying energy retrofits. The pre-installation period was October 1, 1990 through March 31, 1991, with the installation of measures occurring from April 1 through September 30, 1991. The post-installation period was October 1, 1991 through March 31, 1992. Energy consumption for the pre- and post-installation periods was weather-corrected to take into account variations in heating degree days. FASER energy accounting software was used as the primary analytical tool. Additional analysis was performed taking into account the average cost per home for labor and materials for the walk-thru group and the blower door group.
- Research Organization:
- Urban Consortium for Technology Initiatives (United States). Energy Task Force; District of Columbia Government, Washington, DC (United States); District of Columbia Energy Office, Washington, DC (United States); Public Technology, Inc., Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-78IR05106
- OSTI ID:
- 10140656
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/IR/05106-9; ON: DE94009556; BR: 400405000/CE0000000; TRN: AHC29408%%41
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Nov 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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