June 2004
The New American Home® 2005 is on track to achieve a HERS score of 90.
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The New American Home® 2005 is taking shape to demonstrate a superior level of energy efficiency and performance, as well as the newest home technologies. For five years running, the The New American Home project has been supported by the Department of Energy's Building America Program to make the homes not only a showcase of innovative new technologies, but also an exceptional example of energy efficiency.
The New American Home® 2005 is part of an initiative to test new concepts, materials, and techniques that improve efficiency and home performance and can be used in homes of any price range. It serves as both a showcase of new home features and a living laboratory where partners in the homebuilding industry can test their latest methods. This year's home is located in Orlando, Florida and will be done by the end of the year. The architect is Bloodgood Sharp Buster and the builder is Goehring and Morgan.
While the 7,000 square foot home will be architecturally attractive, it will emphasize performance. The home will address key areas of home performance such as energy efficiency and the health, comfort, and safety of occupants. An example is the use of solar power for most of water heating in this year's home.
Energy-saving features of the home will include high efficiency (94% AFUE) air handling units and all ductwork will be contained within conditioned space. The air handling units will use zone control to maintain proper temperature in eight areas of the house. Additionally, specially coated windows will help preserve a comfortable indoor climate. The home will reach a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 90, exceeding the ENERGY STAR® mark of 86.
For the health and comfort of occupants, a whole-house dehumidifier/ventilator will draw outdoor air and dehumidify it before directing it into the home, which improves the home's air quality. The home's first floor exterior walls consist of concrete block, typical of its hurricane-prone region, and are insulated on the interior with R-3 foam board insulation. Second floor exterior walls are 2x8 wood framed and contain spray foam insulation (minimum R-19).
IBACOS, a Building America Team located in Pittsburgh, is providing design and engineering services, on-site support, and performance testing and monitoring, in partnership with Florida Solar Energy Center, National Association of Home Builders, and National Council of the Housing Industry. Some questions that IBACOS and its partners hope to answer include: What is the impact of natural ventilation inside the home? Does the dehumidification and mechanical ventilation system work as predicted? Does the home provide good lighting quality? How were energy savings achieved?
As summer rolls along, the home is looking less like a construction site and more like a nice place to live. Find out more about The New American Home 2005®, track its progress, and view more photos on the IBACOS web site. More research highlights.
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