- Author
-
Petersen, S. R.
- Title
- Economics and Energy Conservation in the Design of New Single-Family Housing.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Sponsor
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC
- Report
-
NBSIR 81-2380
August 1981
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- AI01-76PR06010
- Keywords
-
houses; design; energy conservation; economic analysis; life-cycle cost; thermal analysis; modifications; climates; heating load; cooling load; geographical variations; computerized simulation; thermal insulation; windows; sizing; orientation; doors; optimization
|
thermal analysis
- Identifiers
- erda/320101; erda/291000
- Abstract
- The extent is investigated to which certain energy conservation modifications to the envelope design of a new, single-family house are economically justified for a wide range of climates and projected energy costs. Background information on those factors that give rise to space heating and cooling loads in buildings is given and the thermal interdependencies within and among envelope components that can greatly affect heating and cooling loads are examined. Economic criteria for determining a minimum life-cycle cost building envelope design are formulated and a priority-ranking method is developed to assist in the calculation of these designs. An expanded version of the NBS Load Determination program is used to calculate the annual heating and cooling requirements and maximum heating and cooling loads for a 1200 square foot, wood-frame house having a wide range of thermal improvements in 14 geographic locations. A methodology is provided for interpolating these results to climatic conditions other than the 14 analyzed. The analysis demonstrates that the optimal envelope design configuration varies over a wide range depending on climate, energy costs, and modification costs. (ERA citation 07:047195)