1. BA High Performance
Retrofits
Amber Wood
Manager, Energy Programs
EEBA Conference 2011
September 14, 2011
Driving Innovation in Housing Technology

2. Building America
 Private/public R&D
partnership sponsored by
DOE
 Energy-efficient solutions
for new and existing
housing
 Technologies/Systems
 Whole-House Test Homes
 Quality Processes

3. Greenbelt Homes, Inc.
 Privately-owned
co-op
 1,600 units
 4 units/building
 1930’s-40’s
 Roosevelt work-
force housing

4. 1970’s Energy Upgrade
 Insulation  Install 52 gal
 Attic electric water
 Crawlspaces heaters
 Exterior walls  Upgrade electrical
 Replace steel
frame windows
 Remove oil-fired
boilers
 Install electric
baseboard
4

5. GHI Pilot Program
 Community  Goals:
Upgrade in 2015  Health & safety
 Comfort
 7 buildings, 28  Increased IEQ
units  Durability
 3 block
 2 frame  Affordability
 2 brick

6. Why?
Motivations for pilot program:
 Lower utility bills
 Comfort
 Lower life-cycle costs
 Maintenance & replacement
Photo by Doriann Asch courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

7. Pilot Program
 Baseline Monitoring (2010-2011)
 Pre-Retrofit baseline
 Install Monitoring Equipment
 Air infiltration
 Temperature/Humidity/Energy Use
 Humidity
 Building Envelope Upgrades (2011-2012)
 Retrofit building envelopes
 Monitor envelope upgrade
 HVAC Upgrades (2012-2013)
 Retrofit HVAC
 Monitor upgrade package

8. Pilot House Assessment
 Walk-Through Evaluation
 Visual Inspection
 Homeowner Operation
 Utility Bills
 Short-term Testing
8
Photo by Celestine Ranney-Howes courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

9. Walk-Through Evaluation
 Dimensions
 Insulation
 Walls, ceilings, and foundations,
 Baseboard heaters
 Locations , calculating capacity
 Hot water system
 Appliances
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10. 10

11. Baseline Short-term
Testing
 Blower door test
 Multi-point house depressurization
 Simultaneous blower doors in
adjacent units
 Significant air leakage
 Attic access panels
 Air conditioners
 Penetrations
11

12. Pre-Remodel Assessment
Summary

13. Simulation Parameters
 13 of the 28 homes  Frame w/Brick
 Painted block  End & inside units
 End & inside units  Frame w/Vinyl
 Block w/ Vinyl  End & inside units
 End & inside units  End, front addition
 End & inside units w/  End, side addition w/ large
basement glass area
 End, full rear addition
 Inside, full rear addition
13
Artwork by Isabelle Gournay courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

14. Beopt Energy Simulation
Optimizations
 All electric
 Source savings = electricity savings
 Annualized cost of the upgrades + utility costs
 30 years at 7%
 Block unit example:
14

15. Energy Simulation
Optimization
 Block unit example
 Costs & savings comparison
15

16. Installation Costs for Building
Envelope Improvements
 Evaluated on a per-building
basis
 Do not include remediation
associated with environmental
hazards (such as lead paint,
radon, or asbestos)
 Costs are exclusive of
management fees
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17. 17

18. Durability & IAQ
 Mechanical ventilation
 Crawlspace moisture management
18

19. GHI Reserve Funds

20. Cost Analysis
20

21. Masonry Block Building
Recommendations
 Exterior Wall  Crawlspace Wall
Insulation Insulation Repair
 R-12 (2”-3”)  Continuous R-10
 Finishing  Porch Slab
 Siding Insulation
 Ext insulation finish
system (EIFS)
Installation
 R-12 (2” closed cell
 Window
spray foam)
 U=0.30 &SHGC=0.30
 Exterior Door
 U-value ≤ 0.23 21

22. Frame w/Brick Building
Recommendations
 Attic Sealing &  Crawlspace Wall
Insulation Insulation Repair
 R-38  Continuous R-10
 Storage?  Porch Slab
 Create space using Insulation
2” rigid foam and
OSB Installation
 Window  R-12 (2” closed cell
spray foam)
 U=0.30 &SHGC=0.30
 Exterior Door
 U-value ≤ 0.23 22
Photo courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

23. Frame w/Vinyl Building
Recommendations
 Exterior Wall  Window
Insulation  U=0.30
 Taped WRB &SHGC=0.30
 R-5 (1” rigid foam)  Exterior Door
 Replace siding  U-value ≤ 0.23
 Attic Sealing &  Crawlspace Wall
Insulation Insulation Repair
 R-38  R-19 (3” closed cell
 Storage? spray foam)
23

24. Energy & Performance
Monitoring
 Indoor air temperature and relative
humidity in multiple locations;
 Crawlspace and outdoor temperature and
relative humidity;
 Heating energy use (where feasible);
 Hot water energy use;
 Dryer energy use (if applicable); and
 Total electric energy use.
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Photo courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

25. 25

26. Long-term Monitoring
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27. Energy Use Analysis
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28. Retrofit Solutions for
Enhancing Energy Efficiency
 Energy Savings: Household to National
 Comfort: Temperature swings to
consistency
 Moisture: Reduce potential problems
 Indoor Air: Controlled ventilation
 Technology: Options and performance
 Installation: Contractor training/QA
 Cost: Installation/operation/savings
 Value: Demonstrate values at sale

29. Questions?
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30. Thank You!
Amber Wood
NAHB Research Center
Manager, Energy Programs
400 Prince George’s Blvd  Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
(direct) 301.430.6309  (fax) 301.430.6180
www.nahbrc.com
Driving Innovation in Housing Technology