Peformance Evaluation of a New Construction Pilot Community: Fresno, California

摘要

To evaluate the success of implementing energy efficiency upgrades at the community scale using a whole-house systems integrated measures package (SIMP), IBACOS developed a field test plan for a new construction pilot community located in Fresno, California (mixed-dry climate). This pilot community project followed research conducted at the single occupied test house level with builder Wathen Castanos Hybrid Homes, Inc. (WCHH) to meet a 30% energy savings level with respect to Building America House Simulation Protocols (Hendron and Engebrecht 2010). The research was designed to evaluate and document the success of WCHH in applying the SIMP established in the single occupied test house to the production scale. Following the research results from the individual test house, the project evaluated the success of applying an energy-efficient SIMP at the community scale by addressing factors of implementation and scalability at the community scale. This evaluation included validation of modeled energy performance using collected utility bills for five actual houses, as well as short-term performance testing (whole-house infiltration testing and duct leakage testing) and self-reported assessments from the builder and trade partners regarding implementation challenges and successes. The team implemented a low-cost data logger solution that was capable of being installed by the builders staff adjacent to each houses thermostat. Using these data, the team was able to improve the accuracy of the models by up to 21% by creating set point schedules, which accounted for any anomalous occupant control behavior. The team performed a regression analysis on the utility bills to disaggregate heating and cooling energy usage from base load and compared the results to modeled heating and cooling energy consumption.