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Title: Retrofitting a 1960s Split-Level, Cold-Climate Home

Abstract

National programs such as Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® and numerous other utility air sealing programs have brought awareness to homeowners of the benefits of energy efficiency retrofits. Yet, these programs tend to focus on the low-hanging fruit: air-sealing the thermal envelope and ductwork where accessible, switch to efficient lighting, and low-flow fixtures. At the other end of the spectrum, deep-energy retrofit programs are also being encouraged by various utilities across the country. While deep energy retrofits typically seek 50% energy savings, they are often quite costly and most applicable to gut-rehab projects. A significant potential for lowering energy usage in existing homes lies between the low hanging fruit and deep energy retrofit approaches - retrofits that save approximately 30% in energy over the existing conditions. A key is to be non-intrusive with the efficiency measures so the retrofit projects can be accomplished in occupied homes. This cold climate retrofit project involved the design and optimization of a home in Connecticut that sought to improve energy savings by at least 30% (excluding solar PV) over the existing home's performance. This report documents the successful implementation of a cost-effective solution package that achieved performance greater than 30% over the pre-retrofit -more » what worked, what did not, and what improvements could be made.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings, Norwalk, CT (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings, Norwalk, CT (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1220508
Report Number(s):
DOE/GO-102015-4691
7123
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; CARB; Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings; SWA; Steven Winter Associates; residential; Residential Buildings; Building America; retrofit; 1960 split level; cold climate; non-intrusive; 30% energy savings; utility bill validation; dense-packed cellulose; closed-cell spray polyurethane foam; insulating from exterior; air barrier; moisture control layers; thermal barrier; improved comfort

Citation Formats

Puttagunta, Srikanth. Retrofitting a 1960s Split-Level, Cold-Climate Home. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.2172/1220508.
Puttagunta, Srikanth. Retrofitting a 1960s Split-Level, Cold-Climate Home. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1220508
Puttagunta, Srikanth. 2015. "Retrofitting a 1960s Split-Level, Cold-Climate Home". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1220508. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1220508.
@article{osti_1220508,
title = {Retrofitting a 1960s Split-Level, Cold-Climate Home},
author = {Puttagunta, Srikanth},
abstractNote = {National programs such as Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® and numerous other utility air sealing programs have brought awareness to homeowners of the benefits of energy efficiency retrofits. Yet, these programs tend to focus on the low-hanging fruit: air-sealing the thermal envelope and ductwork where accessible, switch to efficient lighting, and low-flow fixtures. At the other end of the spectrum, deep-energy retrofit programs are also being encouraged by various utilities across the country. While deep energy retrofits typically seek 50% energy savings, they are often quite costly and most applicable to gut-rehab projects. A significant potential for lowering energy usage in existing homes lies between the low hanging fruit and deep energy retrofit approaches - retrofits that save approximately 30% in energy over the existing conditions. A key is to be non-intrusive with the efficiency measures so the retrofit projects can be accomplished in occupied homes. This cold climate retrofit project involved the design and optimization of a home in Connecticut that sought to improve energy savings by at least 30% (excluding solar PV) over the existing home's performance. This report documents the successful implementation of a cost-effective solution package that achieved performance greater than 30% over the pre-retrofit - what worked, what did not, and what improvements could be made.},
doi = {10.2172/1220508},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1220508}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}