Evaluation of a High-Performance Solar Home in Loveland, Colorado: Preprint
Building America (BA) partner McStain Neighborhoods built the Discovery House in Loveland, Colorado, with an extensive package of energy-efficient features, including a high-performance envelope, efficient mechanical systems, a solar water heater integrated with the space-heating system, a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV), and ENERGY STAR appliances. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Building Science Consortium (BSC) conducted short-term field-testing and building energy simulations to evaluate the performance of the house. These evaluations are utilized by BA to improve future prototype designs and to identify critical research needs. The Discovery House building envelope and ducts were very tight under normal operating conditions. The HRV provided fresh air at a rate of about 35 l/s (75 cfm), consistent with the recommendations of ASHRAE Standard 62.2. The solar hot water system is expected to meet the bulk of the domestic hot water (DHW) load (>83%), but only about 12% of the space-heating load. DOE-2.2 simulations predict whole-house source energy savings of 54% compared to the BA Benchmark. The largest contributors to energy savings beyond McStain's standard practice are the solar water heater, HRV, improved air distribution, high-efficiency boiler, and compact fluorescent lighting package.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-99-GO10337
- OSTI ID:
- 892999
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-550-40374; TRN: US200623%%739
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
APPLIANCES
DISTRIBUTION
DUCTS
EVALUATION
HEAT RECOVERY
HOT WATER
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
PERFORMANCE
RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOFS
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
SPACE HEATING
STARS
WALLS
BUILDING AMERICA
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DISCOVERY HOUSE
RESIDENTIAL HOMES
ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES
HIGH-PERFORMANCE ENVELOPE
SOLAR WATER HEATER
HEAT-RECOVERY VENTILATOR
Buildings