Multifamily Individual Heating and Ventilation Systems, Lawrence, Massachusetts (Fact Sheet)

Technical Report · Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1105091· OSTI ID:1105091

The conversion of an older Massachusetts building into condominiums illustrates a safe, durable, and cost-effective solution for heating and ventilation systems that can potentially benefit millions of multifamily buildings. Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity (MVHfH) partnered with U.S. Department of Energy Building America team Building Science Corporation (BSC) to provide high performance affordable housing for 10 families in the retrofit of an existing mass masonry building (a former convent). The original ventilation design for the project was provided by a local engineer and consisted of a single large heat recovery ventilator (HRV) located in a mechanical room in the basement with a centralized duct system providing supply air to the main living space and exhausting stale air from the single bathroom in each apartment. This design was deemed to be far too costly to install and operate for several reasons: the large central HRV was oversized and the specified flows to each apartment were much higher than the ASHRAE 62.2 rate; an extensive system of ductwork, smoke and fire dampers, and duct chases were specified; ductwork required a significant area of dropped ceilings; and the system lacked individual ventilation control in the apartments

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1105091
• Report Number(s): DOE/GO-102013-4094; KNDJ-0-40337-00
• Resource Relation: Related Information: Building America Case Study: Whole-House Solutions for Existing Homes, Building Technologies Office (BTO)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
RESIDENTIAL
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
BSC
BUILDING AMERICA
RETROFIT
BUDGET CONSTRAIN
MULTI-FAMILY
MASS MASONRY BUILDING
ENCLOSURE
SPACE CONDITIONING
WATER HEATING
FREEZE-THAW
REBATES
INCENTIVES
WALL RETROFIT
AIR BARRIER
AIRTIGHNESS
AIR SEALING
COMPARTMENTALIZATION
WINDOW SELECTION
ROOF INSULATION
COMBINED HYDRONIC AND SPACE HEATING SYSTEM
HYDRONIC DISTRIBUTION
VEN