Abstract
The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research institute of the University of Central Florida, has investigated low-cost space-conditioning upgrade solutions for existing homes since 2014. The retrofits involve installing a modest-capacity, centrally located, high-efficiency, ductless, minisplit heat pump (MSHP) for use in conjunction with the home’s existing central space-conditioning system (CSCS). A retrofit targets homes with older but not obsolete CSCSs that have not reached end of life, and presents a more cost-effective option to achieve space-conditioning energy savings than outright CSCS replacement. Energy savings are achieved by using the high-efficiency MSHP to offset runtime of the lower-efficiency CSCS, which also achieves reductions in associated duct losses and duct-leakage-induced infiltration.
Original language | American English |
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Number of pages | 63 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2021 |
NREL Publication Number
- NREL/TP-5500-78353
Other Report Number
- DOE/GO-102021-5492
Keywords
- air infiltration
- Building America
- buildings
- central space conditioning system
- duct losses
- ductless mini-split heat pump
- integrated residential controls
- Nest smart thermostat
- Sensibo wireless smart thermostat