1. Dedicated to improving home building since 1964.
National Green Building Conference
Performing as Designed?
Real-World Analysis of Occupied
High-Performance Homes
Energy Estimations & Performance Data
Amber Wood

2. Summary
 K. Hovnanian, Monmouth HPH
 Energy Simulations
 Monitored Data
 LCCTC, Green Home 1
 Energy Simulations
 Monitored Data
p. 2

3. K. Hovnanian, NJ
Jockey Club Subdivision
Monmouth HPH
Oceanport, NJ
p. 3

4. K. Hov NJ • Monmouth HPH
Oceanport, NJ
 Jockey Club Subdivision  Performance Goal
 Ongoing Monitoring  40% over 15 year old home (BA
 Mixed Humid Climate Benchmark)
 2,498 sqft (single story)
 Increased insulation
 Air Sealing
 High Efficiency HVAC
 Simplified duct system
 saving 28% supply duct and 70%
return duct material
Courtesy of www.khov.com
p. 4

5. Energy Features • Monmouth HPH
System Description Specifications
Foundation Slab on Grade w/ 2’ Perimeter Insulation 2” XPS R-10
Panelized Walls
Exterior Rigid Foam (1” SIS) R-5
Walls
Batt Cavity Insulation R-13
Continuous Drywall
Roof / Attic Loose Fill Fiberglass R-49
Windows High Performance Windows U = 0.34 / SHGC = 0.26
Gas Furnace (2-stage, ECM blower)
Heating System 95% AFUE
Located in Conditioned Space
Central Unit
Cooling System 15 SEER
Located in Conditioned Space
Deeply Buried Supply Duct
Ducts Supply trunk/boots sealed w/ spray foam
Simplified Return Duct (conditioned space)
Tankless Navien Direct Vent Water Heater
Water Heater EF = 0.98
Centrally Located, Manifold Piping System
Lighting 90% fluorescent CFL and dimmable CFLs in recessed cans
Appliances Energy Star (where supplied)
Honeywell Fresh Air Ventilation System Ducted
Ventilation Control integrated with thermostat
to Return
Foam over top plates, SIS gaskets, framed
Air Sealing Enhanced Air Sealing Details
cavities & knee wall air barriers
PV PV System 4.9 kW p. 5

6. Looking for Low Cost Solutions
Monmouth HPH
Issue Solution
Detailed air sealing measures to achieve whole
Air sealing
house performance
Exterior structural insulation to increase thermal 12 ft.
Increased insulation
performance 9 ft.
HVAC equipment &
return duct system Located in conditioned space to reduce heat loss
efficiency
Deeply buried supply ducts to reduce heat loss &
Supply duct system
universal designed truss chase for multiple
efficiency
models
Quality control Choose details considering builder & trades
Quality assurance Construction Monitoring
Enhanced features to optimize performance and
Repeatable Home
cost p. 6

7. Monmouth HPH Performance
 Summary of major house characteristics and change from
standard practice
Feature Standard Practice HPH Prototype
Foundation Slab on grade Slab on grade
Wall Framing 2x4, 16” o.c. 2x4, 16” o.c.
Taped seams, top/bottom plate
Sheathing Air Sealing None
gaskets
Cavity Insulation R-13 batt, Class 1 R-13 batt, Class 1
Bottom plate caulked, penetrations,
Bottom plate caulked, penetrations,
Wall Air Sealing windows foamed, top plates
windows foamed
foamed from attic
Truss Top cord overhang Cantilevered overhang
Attic Insulation R-38, blown R-49, blown
Space Conditioning Equipment inside, ducts in truss
Equipment & ducts in attic
Equipment chase deeply buried
p. 7

8. Simulated Energy Savings
Monmouth HPH
 Savings from Typical Builder - 27%
 Savings from 15 yr Home - 46%
 HERS Index (no PV) - 60
p. 8

9. Performance Testing - Static
Monmouth HPH
Monmouth Model Monmouth Model
Performance Metric Change
Standard HPH
House Size (sq.ft.) 2,587 2,498
- 3%
House Volume (cu.ft.) 23,542 22,732
Infiltration (CFM50) 2,717 1,021
Infiltration (ACH50) 6.9 2.7
- 61%
Infiltration (ACHnat) 0.37 0.15
Normalized (CFM50/sq.ft.) 1.05 0.41
Total Duct Leakage (CFM25) 165 85 - 48%
Duct Leakage to Outside (CFM25) 74 0 - 100%
 Implementing HPH design features
p. 9

10. Performance Monitoring
Monmouth HPH
 For HPH and Standard Model:
 Indoor and Outdoor Temperatures
 Furnace plenum temperature
 Furnace electricity
 Estimated burner operation
 Compared with meter readings
 Calibrated with constant
temperature setting
p. 10

11. For 2-Month Period
p. 11

12. Summary of Heating Energy Use
Monmouth HPH
Performance Metric Monmouth Monmouth
Change
Dec ‘09 – Jan ’10 Model Standard Model HPH
Gas Heating Energy (therms) 286 137 - 52%
Furnace Electricity (kWh) 335 145 - 57%
p. 12

13. Building America Cost Analysis
Monmouth HPH
Amortized Annual Cost
Total Cost
Measure Upgrade Cost (30 yr mortgage, 7%
+ 10% markup
interest)
Total Energy Efficiency
$1,421 $1,563 $125
Investment
Site Generation $25,210 $27,731 $2,214
Total with Site Generation $26,631 $29,294 $2,339
Builder Tax Credit - $2,000 - $2,000 - $160
Federal Solar Tax Credit - $7,515 - $7,515 - $600
Total Incremental Cost to
$17,116 $19,779 $1,579
Buyer Including Incentives
p. 13

14. Building America Homeowner Cash Flow
Annual Electric Energy Annual Gas Energy
(Site) (Site)
Local
Annual Utility Marginal Local
Prototype Prototype Bill Reduction Electricity Marginal
Benchmark House Benchmark House vs Benchmark Price Gas Price
End Use (kWh/yr) (kWh/yr) (therms/yr) (therms/yr) ($/yr) ($/kWh) ($/therm)
Space Heating 851 335 1365 495 $1,180 $0.17 $1.26
Space Cooling 2,720 743 $326
DHW 0 0 211 111 $126
Lighting 2,801 2,168 $104
Appliances and MELs 4,572 4,884 66 53 ($35)
Ventilation 236 196 $7
Total Usage 11,180 8,326 1,642 659 $1,709
Site Generation 4,897 $808
Net Energy Use 11,180 3,429 1,642 659 $2,517
Added Annual Mortgage Cost
$125 Neutral Cost Criteria Met?
w/o Site Gen.
Net Cash Flow to Consumer
$1,584 Yes
w/o Site Gen.
Added Annual Mortgage Cost
$2,339 Neutral Cost Criteria Met?
with Site Gen.
Net Cash Flow to Consumer
$178 Yes
with Site Gen. w/o Incentives
Added Annual Mortgage Cost
$1,579 Neutral Cost Criteria Met?
with Site Gen. & Incentives
Net Cash Flow to Consumer
$937 Yes
with Site Gen. & Incentives
p. 14

15. Builders Challenge for Monmouth HPH
p. 15

16. Monmouth HPH Research
 Evaluate performance of duct system
 Duct surface temperatures
 Attic air temperatures and relative humidity
 Ambient temperatures and relative humidity
 Energy use of high efficiency cooling system
p. 16

17. Lancaster County Career &
Technology Center (LCCTC)
Green Home 1
Mt. Joy, PA
p. 17

18. LCCTC • Green Home 1
Mt. Joy, PA
 Ongoing Monitoring
 Cold Climate
 4,055 sqft
 2,696 above grade
 First of 4 homes at this
campus
 Built by Students
 Green features
 Designed Gold on NAHB
Guidelines
p. 18

19. Energy Features • Green Home 1
System Description Specifications
Foundation Full basement R-22 ICF basement
2x4 framing R-15
Walls Spray Cellulose Insulation R-5.5
Exterior Rigid Foam
Roof / Attic Blown Cellulose R-49
Windows High Performance Low-E Windows U = 0.30 / SHGC = 0.29
GSHP
Heating System 4.0 COP (Manufacturer full load)
Located in Conditioned Space
GSHP
Cooling System 18.2 EER (Manufacturer full load)
Located in Conditioned Space
Well sealed ducts
Ducts Sealed with Butyl Tape
Located in Conditioned Space
Solar Water Heating System Flat Plate, Closed loop, 42 sqft system
Water Heater Electric Tankless Backup 80 gallon solar storage tank
Manifold Piping Design
LED and fluorescent lamps
Lighting High Efficiency Lighting
Tubular skylights
Appliances Energy Star (where supplied)
Ventilation ERV Fresh Air Ventilation Ducted to Return Control integrated with thermostat
Foamed band areas, top plates, and
Air Sealing Air Sealing
thermal bypass p. 19

20. Simulated Energy Savings
Green Home 1
 Savings from Typical Regional - 43%
 Savings from 15 yr Home - 54%
 HERS Index - 57
p. 20

21. Energy Savings
Green Home 1
p. 21

22. Energy Savings
Green Home 1
p. 22

23. LCCTC Performance Data
 Significant air-sealing details
 Taped exterior foam and drainage
plane
 Air sealed top plates
 2.35 ACH50 (< 0.15 ACHnat)
 Duct system sealed using butyl
mastic tape
 0 duct loss to exterior
p. 23

24. GSHP Performance Summary
Green Home 1
Ground Source Heat Pump Energy Use and HDD
70 18
16
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Heating Degree Days (Base 65) GSHP Energy, kWh
Min of Tgrlp_Ent Min Daily COP Avg COP during steady-state operation: 6.0
Delta Tgrlp (daily average) Avg system COP for period: 5.17
p. 24

25. Preliminary Heating Performance Data
p. 25

26. Water Heating System Performance
Green Home 1
Hybrid Water Heating Performance
(10/6/09 to 5/12/2010)
Total Hot Water Supplied 1792 kWh
Solar supply 1020 kWh
Electric supply 996 kWh
Losses
Tank 153 kWh
System (piping) 71 kWh
Solar Contribution to Hot Water
Energy Use 51%
p. 26

27. Building America Cost Analysis
Green Home 1
Amortized Annual Cost
Total Cost
Measure Upgrade Cost (30 yr mortgage, 7%
+ 10% markup
interest)
Total Energy Efficiency
$28,343 $31,177 $2,489
Investment
Site Generation $0 $0 $0
Total with Site Generation $28,343 $31,177 $2,489
Builder Tax Credit - $2,000 - $2,000 - $160
Solar Water Heating,
- $2,393 - $2,393 - $191
Federal Tax Credit
Geothermal System,
- $3,022 - $3,022 - $241
Federal Tax Credit
Total Incremental Cost to
$20,929 $23,763 $1,897
Buyer Including Incentives
p. 27

28. Building America Homeowner Cash Flow
Annual Electric Energy
(Site)
Local
Annual Utility Marginal Local
Prototype Bill Reduction Electricity Marginal
Benchmark House vs Benchmark Price Gas Price
End Use (kWh/yr) (kWh/yr) ($/yr) ($/kWh) ($/therm)
Space Heating 12,647 3,264 $1,220 $0.13 $1.19
Space Cooling 3,024 533 $324
DHW 4,467 1,893 $335
Lighting 2,867 1,380 $193
Appliances and MELs 6,396 6,102 $38
Ventilation 242 484 ($31)
Total Usage 29,643 13,656 $2,078
Site Generation $0
Net Energy Use 29,643 13,656 $2,078
Added Annual Mortgage Cost
$2,489 Neutral Cost Criteria Met?
w/o Site Gen.
Net Cash Flow to Consumer
($411) No
w/o Site Gen.
Added Annual Mortgage Cost
$1,897 Neutral Cost Criteria Met?
with Site Gen. & Incentives
Net Cash Flow to Consumer
$181 Yes
with Site Gen. & Incentives
p. 28

29. Rainwater System Performance
Green Home 1
 Water supplied to toilets, laundry, and outdoors by
rainwater: 89%
 Household water supplied by rain*: 43.8%
 Utility water supply, gallons per day: 85
 Rainwater supply to house, gallons per day: 66
 Potable water saved due to rainwater collection,
gallons (since 10/6/2009): approximately 14,500
*approximate for period from January to mid-May, 2010
p. 29

30. Dedicated to improving home building since 1964.
Amber Wood
Program Manger Energy Efficiency
301-430-6309 awood@nahbrc.com

NAHB Research Center
400 Prince George’s Blvd Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

(toll-free) 800-638-8556 (fax) 301-430-6180

www.nahbrc.com