Instrumentation for side-by-side testing of the energy attributes of mobile homes. Residential Conservation Demonstration Program. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5454292

Cromer, C J

Two 14 x 70 ft (nominal) mobile homes located at Tallahassee, Florida have been monitored for energy use on a side-by-side basis. One home had typical HUD approved insulation values: (1) R-7 in the walls, (2) R-11 in the floor, (3) R-14 in the roof and, (4) insulated doors. The second home had: (1) R-13 in the walls (increase of R-6), (2), R-18 in the floor, (3) R-22 in the roof, (4) insulated door, (5) storm windows (increase of R-16), (6) air infiltration barrier in the walls, and (7) an additional R-7 hot water tank insulating jacket. The second home had a smaller capacity refrigerator (14.1 cu. ft.), while the first home had a refrigerator of 15 cubic feet. Each home's energy use was monitored by individual kWh meters on four power consumption circuits: (1) heat/AC, (2) refrigerator, (3) hot water and, (4) lights/range. The power usage of all instrumentation was separately monitored by a kWh meter. The homes were unoccupied, but occupancy is simulated in each home by a microcomputer system that switched the lights and range and drew hot water such that occupancy usage is identical for both homes. Internal loads similar to those created by a family of four were simulated. The microcomputer also monitored kWh, Btu and gallon use and the seconds the exterior doors are open. Results after one year indicate a measured reduction in energy consumption of approximately 10% in the extra-insulated mobile home. This provides a straight payback for the total energy package of 4.1 years. However, no reduction in air infiltration was provided by the additional infiltration barrier in the walls. If this costly and apparently ineffective option is removed from the energy package, the straight payback becomes about 2.5 years. Actual consumption data, separate component analysis, and a complete description of instrumentation and method are provided along with the software developed for the microprocessor.

• Research Organization: Florida Solar Energy Center, Cape Canaveral (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5454292
• Report Number(s): FSEC-CR-84-83(RD); ON: DE84900008
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
AIR INFILTRATION
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLORIDA
HEATERS
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
MOBILE HOMES
NORTH AMERICA
REFRIGERATORS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SIMULATION
SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS
STOVES
THERMAL INSULATION
USA
WATER HEATERS