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A Pioneer in Homebuilding Innovation
The March 2015 issue of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Update focuses on two long-standing Building America teams and includes FSEC's Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction (BA-PIRC) team. Since 1995, the BA-PIRC team has delivered market-ready energy solutions to the U.S. building industry, leading one builder partner to describe BA-PIRC as “the best possible example of what research universities and businesses can do together to help consumers and grow the economy.”
US DOE March Issue | BA-PIRC Website |
FSEC Work Recognized As Part of DOE Top Innovation Award
Research at FSEC led to a standardized testing method for testing the air leakage of HVAC air handlers and furnace cabinets. This research, sponsored by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and multiple industry research teams including FSEC's Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction (BA-PIRC), also led to the creation of ASHRAE Standard 193, “Method of Test for Determining the Airtightness of HVAC Equipment,” which was ready for adoption in 2010. The standard can be used as a reference in building energy codes.
More Information | FSEC Publication |
BA-PIRC Research Recognized in Green Builder Magazine and Energy Design Update
FSEC researchers presented the Retrofit Challenge, a guidance program for bringing existing homes up to new home performance levels, during Building America's 2014 Webinar Series and the 2014 HUD Healthy Homes conference. The Retrofit Challenge includes technical recommendations for energy efficiency, moisture management, combustion safety, and air flow control based field studies of over 100 whole-house renovations and rehab projects in central Florida. These webinar presentations were summarized in Green Builder Magazine in August and an overview with a focus on HVAC details were published in a series of articles in Energy Design Update.
Standardized Energy Retrofit Packages | Retrofit Challenge |
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Phased Retrofits in Existing Homes in Florida Phase I: Shallow and Deep Retrofits
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building America program, in collaboration with Florida Power & Light (FPL), is conducting a phased residential energy-efficiency retrofit program. This research seeks to establish impacts on annual energy and peak energy reductions from the technologies applied at two levels of retrofit – shallow and deep – with savings levels approaching the Building America program goals of reducing whole-house energy use by 40%. Under the Phased Deep Retrofit (PDR) project, phased, energy-efficiency retrofits in a sample of 56 existing, all-electric homes have been installed. End-use savings and economic evaluation results from the phased measure packages and single measures are summarized in this report.
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From Blueprints to Residential Energy Code Compliance
The course will provide students with detailed instructions and examples of how to go from a set of blueprints to calculating the residential energy code.
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EnergyGauge Pro Hands-On Training
Learn how to enter data and obtain Florida Energy Code, Energy Rating and system sizing results with the EnergyGauge USA FlaRes software.
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EnergyGauge Rater Training
Become a home energy rater. Next course in May 2015.
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Florida Green Home Certification Training
A two-day training offering green building techniques appropriate for Florida homes. Individuals who complete this course and associated exams may become an accredited Certifying Agent of the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
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