Simplified Space Conditioning in Low-Load Homes: Results from the Fresno, California, Retrofit Unoccupied Test House

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1220988· OSTI ID:1220988

Stecher, Dave ^[1]; Poerschke, Andrew ^[1]

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1. IBACOS, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

In this study, the Building America team, IBACOS, sought to determine cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions for heating and cooling houses. To this end, the team performed field testing in a retrofit unoccupied test house in Fresno, California, to evaluate three air-based heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) distribution systems during heating, cooling, and midseason conditions. These included a typical airflow ducted system to the bedrooms, a low airflow ducted system to the bedrooms, and a system with no ductwork to the bedrooms. The relative ability of each of the three systems was assessed with respect to relevant Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and ASHRAE standards for house temperature uniformity and stability, respectively. Computational fluid dynamics modeling also was performed and refined based on comparison to field test results to determine the air flow rate into the bedrooms of over-door and bottom-of-door air transfer grilles.

• Research Organization: IBACOS, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
• OSTI ID: 1220988
• Report Number(s): DOE/GO-102014-4299; 6703
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

residential
Residential Buildings
IBACOS
Building America
field test results
computational fluid dynamics
CFD
room-to-room uniformity
mini-split
single point
HVAC
Fresno
California
retrofit unoccupied test house
model validation
ACCA Manual RS
ASHRAE Standard 55
occupant comfort
space conditioning
50% Building America Benchmark
hot mixed-dry
low airflow