Visit the Energy Systems Laboratory Homepage.
Measured Energy Savings from Retrofits Installed in Low-Income Housing in a Hot and Humid Climate
Abstract
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.
Citation
Parker, D. S.; Sherwin, J. R.; Floyd, D. B. (1998). Measured Energy Savings from Retrofits Installed in Low-Income Housing in a Hot and Humid Climate. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /6712.