Analyses to Verify and Improve the Accuracy of the Manufactured Home Energy Audit (MHEA)
- ORNL
A series of analyses were performed to determine the reasons that the Manufactured Home Energy Audit (MHEA) over predicted space-heating energy savings as measured in a recent field test and to develop appropriate corrections to improve its performance. The study used the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Building Energy Simulation Test (BESTEST) to verify that MHEA accurately calculates the UA-values of mobile home envelope components and space-heating energy loads as compared with other, well-accepted hourly energy simulation programs. The study also used the Procedures for Verification of RESNET Accredited HERS Software Tools to determine that MHEA accurately calculates space-heating energy consumptions for gas furnaces, heat pumps, and electric-resistance furnaces. Even though MHEA's calculations were shown to be correct from an engineering point of view, three modifications to MHEA's algorithms and use of a 0.6 correction factor were incorporated into MHEA to true-up its predicted savings to values measured in a recent field test. A simulated use of the revised version of MHEA in a weatherization program revealed that MHEA would likely still recommend a significant number of cost-effective weatherization measures in mobile homes (including ceiling, floor, and even wall insulation and far fewer storm windows). Based on the findings from this study, it was recommended that a revised version of MHEA with all the changes and modifications outlined in this report should be finalized and made available to the weatherization community as soon as possible, preferably in time for use within the 2009 Program Year.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 946490
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-2008/203; WI0702000; CEWI010; ORNL/CON-506; TRN: US200903%%962
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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