Thermal performance characteristics of an energy-efficient, healthy house

A collaborative effort between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Tuskegee University has resulted in an energy-efficient, healthy house that is built on Tuskegees experiment station farm to conduct various energy efficiency and indoor air quality studies. The house is well insulated and possesses other energy-efficient features, such as airtight construction, reflective roofing, and unventilated crawlspace. The energy efficiency and thermal performance of the house are investigated in view of electric power consumption as well as indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity data. The data were collected over three periods during the heating season of2002. The ventilation fan was continuously turned off for the first period and turned on at the rates of 60 cfm (28.3 L/s) and 115 cfm (54.3 L/s) during the second and third periods, respectively,to facilitate comparisons of indoor conditions and energy consumption at various ventilation levels. A blowerdoor test was performed to evaluate the airtightness of the house. A heating load analysis was employed to assess the thermal performance of the house. A heating load analysis was employed to assess the thermal performance of the house. Indoor relative humidity data indicated that forced air ventilation contributed to an improved indoor air quality. Independent house air leakage estimates obtained through infiltration load calculations and blower-door measurements agreed that the house was fairly airtight, requiring mechanical ventilation.