Free 5-Part Integrated Design and Construction Series: Rebuilding for Comfort, Durability and Energy Efficiency
Date: May 18, 2018
Time: 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Registration Required: No
Session Four on May 18: Residential HVAC: High Efficiency Heat Pumps and Furnaces
This session is for all audiences: home owners, construction veterans, and all other building professionals. Residential HVAC systems can deliver excellent energy efficiency and greatly improved comfort when air infiltration through the building enclosure is confirmed to be low, equipment is properly sized and the performance of the whole system is tested and measured during and after installation. However, currently this rarely happens! The only thing we definitely know about most new HVAC systems is theoretical performance and installation cost.
Energy modeling can provide very useful guidance for low-energy design. However, energy models include assumptions about the quality of construction and equipment installation. Research has shown that without testing and measurement there can be tremendous differences between modeled and actual performance. Rick Chitwood will explain why setting an air tightness goal for the enclosure and confirming it has been achieved via blower door testing is essential and makes it possible to select small heat pumps and furnaces that cost less than a ‘standard’ furnace. Rick will discuss how properly installed and sealed air distribution systems located inside the home’s thermal and air barriers greatly improve performance without the need for new, complex technologies. He will also describe the strengths and weaknesses of visual inspections and how the only way to assure proper HVAC installation on a new home is with building performance testing equipment.