House thermal envelope conservation optimization with respect to performance/economics

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6512619

Zehr, F J

The performance and economics of various residential thermal envelope energy conserving features are analyzed employing computer methods. Variations in external wall construction such as 2 x 4, 2 x 6, double-wall, and strapped-wall are treated. Variations in ceiling insulation, floor insulation, air/vapor sealing, number of window glazings, and window orientation are included. The house thermal envelopes vary from present average construction to the extremes in super-insulation. The analysis is done for eight US cities with a range of climate from International Falls to Atlanta. The space heating, space cooling, and water heating loads are determined for a particular thermal envelope for a certain city. Energy requirements are calculated for four space conditioning and water heating systems which include electrical resistance, electric heat pump, natural gas, and fuel oil. Life cycle costs (LCC) for a 25-year period are computed according to energy requirement, fuel price, fuel price escalation value, system installed capital and maintenance costs, and a 3% discount rate. Total LCCs take into account the incremental construction costs for the various thermal envelope conservation features. Simple payback periods and benefit/cost ratios for the 25-year period for five selected houses with respect to a reference house are also calculated.

• Research Organization: Westminster Coll., New Wilmington, PA (USA); Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6512619
• Report Number(s): CONF-840954-7; ON: DE85001547
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
BUILDINGS
COST
ECONOMICS
FLOORS
HEATING LOAD
LIFE-CYCLE COST
OPENINGS
OPTIMIZATION
PAYBACK PERIOD
PERFORMANCE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
ROOFS
THERMAL INSULATION
WALLS
WINDOWS