High-Performance Ducts in Hot-Dry Climates

Timothy Merrigan, Marc Hoeschele, Alea German, Elizabeth Weitzel, Rick Chitwood, Stacey Rothgeb (NREL Technical Monitor)

Research output: NRELSubcontract Report

Abstract

Ducts in conditioned space (DCS) represent a high priority measure for moving the next generation of new homes to the Zero Net Energy performance level. Various strategies exist for incorporating ducts within the conditioned thermal envelope. To support this activity, in 2013 the Pacific Gas & Electric Company initiated a project with Davis Energy Group (lead for the Building America team, Alliance for Residential Building Innovation) to solicit builder involvement in California to participate in field demonstrations of various DCS strategies. Builders were given incentives and design support in exchange for providing site access for construction observation, diagnostic testing, and builder survey feedback. Information from the project was designed to feed into California's 2016 Title 24 process, but also to serve as an initial mechanism to engage builders in more high performance construction strategies. This Building America project complemented information collected in the California project with BEopt simulations of DCS performance in hot/dry climate regions.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages114
StatePublished - 2015

Bibliographical note

Work performed by Alliance for Residential Building Innovation, Davis, California

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/SR-5500-64366

Other Report Number

  • DOE/GO-102015-4695

Keywords

  • arbi
  • BEopt building energy optimization software
  • Building America
  • California
  • DCS
  • ducts in conditioned space
  • high performance attic
  • high performance distribution system
  • HVAC
  • residential
  • residential buildings
  • Title 24
  • ZERH
  • zero energy ready new homes
  • zero net energy
  • ZnSe

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