OAKTrust :: Browsing by Author "Parker, D. S."

Browsing by Author "Parker, D. S."

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Comparative Summer Thermal Performance of Finished and Unfinished Metal Roofing Products with Composition Shingles
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2004) Parker, D. S.; Sherwin, J.; Sonne, J.
This paper presents an overview of results from experimental research conducted at FSEC's Flexible Roofing Facility in the summer of 2002. The Flexible Roof Facility (FRF) is a test facility in Cocoa, Florida designed to evaluate a combination of five roofing systems against a control roof using dark shingles. The intent of the testing is to evaluate how roofing systems impact residential cooling energy use. Recent testing emphasizes evaluation of how increasingly popular metal roofing systems, both finished and unfinished, might compare with other more traditional roofing types. All of the test cells had R-19 insulation installed on the attic floor except in the double roof configuration which had R-19 of open cell foam blown onto the underside of the roof decking. The test results were used to determine relative thermal performance of various roofing systems under typical Florida summer conditions. Measured impacts included changes to ceiling heat flux and attic air temperature which influences loads from unintended attic air leakage and duct heat gain. We also develop an analysis method to estimate total cooling energy benefits of different roofing systems considering the various impacts. The results show that all the options perform better than dark composition shingles. White metal performs best with an estimated cooling energy reduction of about 15%, but the spectrally selective metal shingles (12%) and unfinished Galvalume roofs (11%) do surprisingly well. Galvanized roofing did less well than Galvalume (7% reduction) and worse performance in the second year of exposure was observed due to corrosion of the zinc surface. The sealed attic with a double roof produced an estimated cooling energy reduction of only 2% -- largely due to increases in ceiling flux.
Daylighting: Measuring the Performance of Light Shelves and Occupant-Controlled Blinds on a Dimmed Lighting Systems
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1998) Floyd, D. B.; Parker, D. S.; Florida Solar Energy Center
The design of a day lighted space is both an art and a science. The biggest challenge facing the lighting designer is to admit only as much light as necessary and distribute it evenly throughout the space without introducing glare or heat. In warm climates such as Florida, it has become common practice in windowed spaces to specify blinds and glazing with high shading coefficients to control glare and minimize heat gain. However, this practice reduces the effectiveness of lighting systems that dim automatically. Improved systems are needed to capture natural daylight and distribute it uniformly throughout a space while controlling heat gain and glare. One such system is the light shelf. Light shelves shade the space from direct sunlight and reflect this sunlight onto the ceiling for a deeper and more uniform distribution. While this is not a new idea, little unbiased empirical data has been collected, outside the laboratory, that compares the performance (energy savings, uniformity, and level) of an automatic daylighting system. This study measures the effectiveness of light shelves and manually controlled horizontal blinds in an automatic daylighting system. Power consumption and interior work-plane lighting levels were compared in four essentially identical private offices. Two offices were configured with an interior light shelf, one with a white diffuse top surface and the other with a specular surface. The third office had no window treatment and the fourth office had horizontal blinds, which were manually adjusted by the user. All offices had two lamp fluorescent luminaires with dimming ballasts (min. 20%) controlled by a ceiling mounted photosensor. The study showed that daytime savings ranged from 29% to 46%, with the largest savings from the office with the light shelves. The office with horizontal blinds showed the poor savings (32%) and also the poorest light uniformity and level.
Development of a High Efficiency Ceiling Fan
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2000) Parker, D. S.; Callahan, M. P.; Sonne, J. K.; Su, G. H.; Hibbs, B. D.; Florida Solar Energy Center; AeroVironment, Inc.
The potential of ceiling fans to improve comfort during the cooling season is well documented (Rohles et al.. 1983; Fairey et al.. 1986). There are at least two cases: In the first where air conditioning is unavailable, adding ceiling fans may significantly improve building comfort and health although actually increasing energy use. However, the more common circumstance is where ceiling fans are used with the objective of providing a higher cooling system thermostat set point with acceptable comfort. Fans can also potentially avoid the use of air conditioning during "swing" seasons. Although studies commonly suggest a 2-6OF increase in the thermostat set point, data from 386 surveyed Central Florida households suggests that although fans are used an average of 13.4 hours per day, no statistically valid difference can be observed in thermostat settings between households using fans and those without them (James et al., 1996). Part of this may be due to the lack of sufficiently wide air distribution coverage within rooms (Rohles et al, 1983; Sonne and Parker, 1998). Studies touting potential cooling savings of up to 40% have usually been sponsored by fan manufacturers (eg. A.D. Little, 1981). These often make unrealistic assumptions such as presuming that occupants are within four feet of a fan with only one fan in use and a 6°F elevation of the thermostat setting. An environmental chamber study by Consumer Reports showed that the long-reported de-stratification benefits when heating are largely unsubstantiated (Consumer Reports. 1993). Thus. benefits from ceiling fans are only to reduce cooling needs and this is completely contingent on sufficient changes in interior comfort to warrant raising of the cooling thermostat. Two other factors must be taken into account in assessing the benefits of fans: their actual energy use and the added internal heat gains produced by the fans during operation. The measured electrical demand of ceiling fans varies between 5 and 115 Watts depending on model and speed selection. A power demand of 40 W at medium speed is probably typical (Chandra, 1985). Thus, a fan used for six months of the year would use 175 kwh. With 4.3 ceiling fans in an average Florida home, this amounts to about 800 kwh of fan energy consumption --about 5% of total electricity use. Also, all of the energy use of fans is eventually converted to heat within the home which must eventually be removed by ventilation air or the cooling system.
EnergyGauge USA: A Residential Building Energy Simulation Design Tool
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2002) Fairey, P.; Vieira, R. K.; Parker, D. S.; Hanson, B.; Broman, P. A.; Grant, J. B.; Fuehrlein, B.; Gu, L.
The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) has developed new software (EnergyGauge USA) which allows simple calculation and rating of energy use of residential buildings around the United States. In the past, most residential analysis and rating software have used simplified methods for calculation of residential building energy performance due to limitations on computing speed. However, EnergyGauge USA, takes advantage of current generation personal computers that perform an hourly annual computer simulation in less than 20 seconds. A simplified user interface allows buildings to be quickly defined while bringing the computing power and accuracy of an hourly computer simulation to builders, designers and raters.
Factors Influencing Water Heating Energy Use and Peak Demand in a Large Scale Residential Monitoring Study
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2000) Bouchelle, M. P.; Parker, D. S.; Anello, M. T.; Florida Power Corporation; Florida Solar Energy Center
A load research project by the Florida Power Corporation (FPC) is monitoring 200 residences in Central Florida, collecting detailed end-use load data. The monitoring is being performed to better estimate the impact of FPC's load control program, as well as obtain improved appliance energy consumption indexes and load profiles. A portion of the monitoring measures water heater energy use and demand in each home on a 15-minute basis.
FLASTAR: Measured Savings of a Comprehensive Energy Retrofit in a Florida Elementary School
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1998) Sherwin, J. R.; Parker, D. S.; Florida Solar Energy Center
This paper describes the final results for the pilot demonstration of the Florida Public Building Loan Concept. This loan program was intended to provide low cost funds to eligible public entities for upgrade of building energy systems. The site was an elementary school in Central Florida which served as the pilot project to demonstrate energy savings in public buildings similar to that achieved by the Texas LOANSTAR program (Verdict et.al., 1990). Termed FLASTAR (Florida Alliance for Saving Taxes and Resources), the study entailed the comprehensive metering of a test site to demonstrate energy savings potential. Over twenty channels of weather and submetered energy data have been collected since April 12.1995. Annual billed energy consumption for the 41.000 square foot facility was approximately 775,000 kWh (60 kBtu/ft^2) or $55,200 in the base year (1994). During the summer of 1995, replacement of aging chillers resulted in 30% reduction to cooling energy use. The second retrofit was occupancy sensor controls for classroom and office lighting which were installed in December 1995. However, post retrofit data showed that metered lighting energy use actually increased after the occupancy sensors were installed. Our data, and that of other projects. suggests that the occupancy sensor retrofit may have increased lighting on-times. Previously school personnel practiced responsible manual switching. but then came to depend on automatic control after the retrofit. The final project retrofit saw an energy management system (EMS) added in the summer of 1996. The system provided direct digital control @DC) of the school chiller, air handlers and packaged direct expansion (DX) roof-top cooling systems. The EMS equipment reduced chiller energy use by a further 16% and air handling and DX system energy consumption by 30%. The project retrofits were found to reduce overall school energy use by approximately 15% or 120.000 kWh per year. The annual energy savings totaled $4,600 at current energy prices, although the retrofits did not significantly impact facility peak load.
Impact of Reflective Roofing on Cooling Electrical Use and Peak Demand in a Florida Retail Mall
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2002) Parker, D. S.; Sonne, J. K.; Sherwin, J. R.
Architects in hot climates have long recognized that reflective roof colors can reduce building cooling load. Experimentation spanning nearly three decades has shown that white roofing surfaces can significantly reduce surface temperatures and cooling loads (Givoni and Hoffmann, 1968; Reagan and Acklam, 1979; Griggs and Shipp, 1988; Anderson, 1989; Anderson et al., 1991 and Bansal et al., 1992). More importantly, measured cooling energy savings of white surfaces have been significant in California's climate (Akbari et al., 1991, 1992, 1997). In Florida, field research by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) since 1993 has quantified the impact of reflective roof coatings on sub-metered air conditioning (AC) consumption in tests in a dozen occupied homes (Parker et al., 1993; 1994; 1995; 1997). The coatings were applied to the roofs of each home in mid-summer after a month-long period of monitoring during which meteorological conditions, building temperatures and AC energy use were recorded. Using weather periods with similar temperatures and solar insolation, air conditioning energy use was reduced by 10% - 43% in the homes. The average drop in space cooling energy use was about 7.4 kWh/day or 19% of the pre-application air conditioning consumption. Unfortunately, until this project there has been little objective testing of the impact of roof whitening on the AC load of commercial buildings in Florida. Two demonstration sites have been monitored. The first was an elementary school in Cocoa Beach, Florida, which was monitored for a year before and after a white roof coating was applied. A final report on this project was published in the CADDET Newsletter (Parker et al., 1996a, b). The project demonstrated a 10% annual savings in chiller energy with a 30% reduction in peak cooling electrical demand. This paper summarizes the findings from the second demonstration at a commercial strip mall.
Influence of Attic Radiant Barrier Systems on Air Conditioning Demand in an Utility Pilot Project
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2002) Parker, D. S.; Sherwin, J. R.
A utility monitoring project has evaluated radiant barrier systems (RBS) as a new potential demand site management (DSM) program. The study examined how the retrofit of attic radiant barriers can be expected to alter utility residential space conditioning loads. An RBS consists of a layer of aluminum foil fastened to roof decking or roof trusses to block radiant heat transfer between the hot roof surface and the attic below. The radiant barrier can significantly lower summer heat transfer to the attic insulation and to the cooling duct system. Both of these mechanisms have strong potential impacts on cooling energy use as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The pilot project involved installation of RBS in nine homes that had been extensively monitored over the preceding year. The houses varied in conditioned floor area from 939 to 2,440 square feet; attic insulation varied from R-9 to R-30. The homes had shingle roofs with varying degrees of attic ventilation. The radiant barriers were installed during the summer of 2000. Data analysis on the pre and post cooling and heating consumption was used to determine impacts on energy use and peak demand for the utility. The average cooling energy savings from the RBS retrofit was 3.6 kWh/day, or about 9%. The average reduction in summer afternoon peak demand was 420 watts (or about 16%).
Measured Energy Savings from Retrofits Installed in Low-Income Housing in a Hot and Humid Climate
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1998) Parker, D. S.; Sherwin, J. R.; Floyd, D. B.; Florida Solar Energy Center
The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is metering energy use in a Habitat for Humanity housing development. The objective is to understand the way in which energy is used in low income housing and how it can be effectively reduced. The ten homes come from a conventional housing project built by in 1993 Habitat for Humanity in Homestead, Florida. The instrumentation was installed in the homes in July of 1994 with over three years of 15-minute data collected on all sites. Data were obtained on seven electrical end-uses (air conditioning, heating, hot water, dryer, range, refrigerator, washer/freezer) as well as total. Weather conditions were also monitored as well as interior comfort conditions (temperature and humidity) and hot water consumption and window ventilation status. Baseline field data from a year of monitoring from the ten homes allowed unique insight into how energy is used in low income housing and suggested where consumption might be reduced. In April of 1997, a series of detailed retrofits were applied to eight of the ten Habitat homes. These included solar water heaters installed in seven homes. In eight homes we retrofit light features to compact fluorescent types, repaired and sealed duct air distribution systems, cleaned refrigerator coils and installed low-flow showerheads. Since each of he associated energy end-uses (including hot water consumption) is metered, we are able to assess the relative performance of each of the retrofits. We also measured of air conditioner performance and house tightness. These audits revealed numerous problems, but low-evaporator coil air flow was discovered in all homes. The paper describes the retrofit installation, audit data collected and the impact on measured energy consumption. Preliminary economics are explored.
Measured Impacts of Air Conditioner Condenser Shading
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1996) Parker, D. S.; Barkaszi, S. F.; Sonne, J. K.; Florida Solar Energy Center
A study has been conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to examine if space cooling energy savings can be achieved from shading of residential air conditioning (AC) condenser units. The investigation consisted of before-and-after experiments conducted on three homes over a two year period. A recent EPA study recommends shading of exterior AC condensers, using landscaping or other means, as a method to reduce space cooling energy use (Akbari et al., 1992).
Measured Natural Cooling Enhancement of a While House Fan
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1994) Parker, D. S.; Florida Solar Energy Center
An experimental study was carried out in the summer of 1991 to investigate the natural cooling potential of use of a whole house fan in Central Florida's hot and humid climate. The residential building, in Cocoa Beach, FL, is typical of much of the existing housing stock in Florida: a concrete block structure with R-11 ceiling insulation. The building was ventilated with all windows open during the three month summer test period (June- August). Air temperatures and relative humidity inside the home interior along with exterior meteorological conditions (insolation, wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity) were scanned every five seconds with integrated averages recorded on a multi-channel data logger every 15- minutes. The house was naturally ventilated during the first half of summer. After a significant period of pre-retrofit summer data had been collected characterizing the building's thermal response, a 24" whole house fan was installed. The house was then force ventilated during evening hours for the remainder of the summer to establish potential of whole-house fans to improve interior comfort conditions. The electrical consumption of the fan was measured at both available fan speeds. Measurements revealed that the building interior was 3 - 6°F cooler during the evening hours after the whole house fan was operated. However, data also showed that nighttime humidity levels rose: relative humidity increased from 74% to 83% during the nighttime period where fan-powered ventilation was used. Using the data results, an analysis was performed using Orlando, Florida TMY data to see how limits to whole house ventilation based on humidity and temperature conditions would affect the potential of such a cooling strategy.
Measured Performance of Energy-Efficient Computer Systems
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1996) Floyd, D. B.; Parker, D. S.; Florida Solar Energy Center
The intent of this study is to explore the potential performance of both Energy Star computers/printers and add-on control devices individually, and their expected savings if collectively applied in a typical office building in a hot and humid climate. Recent surveys have shown that the use of personal computer systems in commercial office buildings is expanding rapidly. The energy consumption of such a growing end-use also has a significant impact on the total building power demand. In warmer climates, office equipment energy use has important implications for building cooling loads as well as those directly associated with computing tasks. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed an Energy Star (ES) rating system intended to endorse more efficient equipment. To research the comparative performance of conventional and low-energy computer systems, four Energy Star computer systems and two computer systems equipped with energy saving devices were monitored for power demand. Comparative data on the test results are summarized. In addition, a brief analysis uses the DOE-2.1E computer simulation to examine the impact of the test results and HVAC interactions if generically applied to computer systems in a modern office building in Florida's climate.
Monitored Energy Use Patterns in Low-Income Housing in a Hot and Humid Climate
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1996) Parker, D. S.; Mazzara, M. D.; Sherwin, J. R.; Florida Solar Energy Center
The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is metering energy use in two Habitat for Humanity developments. The objective is to understand how energy is used in low income housing and how it can be effectively reduced. The ten "control homes" come from a conventional housing project built by in 1993 Habitat for Humanity in Homestead, Florida. Another ten "experimental homes" have been recruited from the 190 home Jordan Commons development in the same vicinity. These houses, which are soon to be metered, are designed to be energy efficient with high SEER air conditioners, reflective roofing, solar water heaters and energy efficient lighting and appliances.' The instrumentation was installed in the control homes in July of 1994 with a year of 15-minute data now collected on all sites. Data are obtained on seven electrical end-uses (air conditioning, heating, hot water, dryer, range, refrigerator, washer/freezer) as well as total. Weather conditions are also monitored as well as interior comfort conditions (temperature and humidity) and hot water consumption and window ventilation status. The field data allow unique insight into how energy is used in low income housing in a hot and humid climate.
NightCool: An Innovative Residential Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2006) Parker, D. S.
Optimizing Manufactured Housing Energy Use
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2004) McGinley, W. M.; Jones, A.; Turner, C.; Chandra, S.; Beal, D.; Parker, D. S.; Moyer, N.; McIlvaine, J.
In partnership with the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), two manufactured homes were located on North Carolina A&T State University's campus in Greensboro, NC and used in a side-by-side energy consumption comparison. One of the homes was built to the basic HUD code standard and the other was constructed with features expected to produce a home that was 50% more energy efficient. FSEC and NCATSU began monitoring energy performance in both homes. In addition, the performance of each unit was evaluated using a DOE2 based computer energy analysis program developed by FSEC. A comparison of the performance of the units shows a measured energy savings in the more energy efficient unit of 52% for the Heating, cooling, and DHW energy use. This compares well with the energy savings predicted by the FSEC Energy Gauge program of 57%, even when accounting for the warmer than usual winter experienced during the testing period.
Performance Assessment of Photovoltaic Attic Ventilator Fans
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2000) Parker, D. S.; Sherwin, J. R.; Florida Solar Energy Center
Controlling summer attic heat gain is important to reducing air conditioning energy use in homes in hot-humid climates. Both heat transfer through ceilings and t attic duct systems can make up a large part of peak cooling demand, Attic ventilation has long been identified as a method to abate such heat gains. We present test results from using the photovoltaic (PV) attic ventilator fans in a test home to assess impact on attic and cooling energy performance.
Side-by-Side Testing of Commercial Office Lighting Systems: Two-lamp Fluorescent Fixtures
(Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1996) Parker, D. S.; Schrum, L.; Sonne, J. K.; Stedman, T. C.; Florida Solar Energy Center
Lighting systems in commercial office buildings are primary determinants of building energy use. In warmer climates, lighting energy use has important implications for building cooling loads as well as those directly associated with illumination tasks. To research the comparative performance of conventional and advanced office lighting systems, Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) set up the Lighting Flexible Test Facility (LFTF) which allows side-by-side comparison of lighting options in two otherwise identical 2.7 m x 3.7 m (9' x 12') south facing offices. The ceiling of the LFTF contains 0.61 m x 1.2 m (2' x 4') recessed fluorescent fixtures designed to be easily changed. Differing lighting systems were comparatively tested against each other over weeklong periods. Data on power consumption (watts), power quality (power factor), work-plane interior lighting levels (lux), bulb-wall, fixture and plenum temperatures were recorded every 15 minutes on a multi-channel data logger. This data allows realistic analysis of comparative lighting system performance including interactions with daylighting.

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