Design
Patterns and Recommendations
 13.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
–
Providing comfort at less cost
Buildings use about 30 percent of the total energy in the United
States, and estimates are that half of this energy goes to create an artificial climate. The potential for energy savings by employing
natural or passive forces to perform this task is significant. After
applying passive heating, cooling, and ventilation strategies, it may be possible to
install a smaller mechanical system. In any
case, choosing efficient mechanical systems and installing them to prevent conditioned air
loss offers great opportunity for energy savings.
Recommendations:
§ Use
energy modeling software to help plan and size the HVAC system appropriately.
§ Choose
HVAC equipment with the highest possible efficiency rating.
§ Install
ducts within conditioned space to prevent energy loss.
§ Seal ducts to avoid conditioned air
loss.
§ Choose insulation materials with the highest available recycled
content.
§ Direct-vent combustion appliances to promote healthy indoor air
quality.
Reference:
§ Home Energy Saver
§ Southface Energy Institute fact sheets on various energy
efficiency topics
§ Specification of Energy-Efficient Installation and Maintenance Practices for
Residential HVAC Systems
§ “Energy-Efficient Residential Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
(HVAC),” DOE Office of Building Technology
§ "Ventilation
Strategies for Energy-Efficient Production Homes,"
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (PDF)
§ PATH Technology Inventory for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
Applied in Case
Studies:
§
Casa
Verde
Builders
§
Erie-Ellington
Homes
§
Esperanza del Sol
§
GreenHOME I
§
Hawaii
BuiltGreen
Home
§
Home
Town – Neighborhood Development
§
Metro Denver HFH “Green” Program
§
Northside Strawbale Project
§
O’Brien – Cunningham Home
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