1.1       FSEC Technical Assistance

FSEC staff provided technical assistance for building energy efficient, durable housing to industrialized homebuilders (HUD Code, modular, panelized, precut, etc.), Habitat for Humanity affiliates, site builders not served by other Building America (BA) teams, and manufacturers of innovative components and construction systems.  Technical assistance activities included Building America systems engineering design reviews, energy analysis for Energy Star compliance, diagnostic testing in the plant and in the field, line worker training, Energy Star homes sales training assistance, and related activities.  BAIHP collaborates extensively with the Manufactured Housing Research Alliance in energy and moisture related areas http://www.mhrahome.org.

• All America Homes

Figure 2. FSEC is monitoring solar water and pool heating systems and the photovoltaic system.

BAIHP researchers provided All America Homes with design assistance for their award-winning home in Gainesville, Florida.  Researchers also installed datalogger, watthour transducers, and associated instruments and wiring in this prototype home which incorporates photovoltaics, solar water and pool heating, and a hydronic heat system.  The home is the residence of owner/builder Allen Stine. (Please see Figure 2.) 

Stine received the National Association of Home Builders' 2003 silver medal for "hot climate custom home" for this featured residence.

• American Lung Association of Central Florida Health House

American Lung Association of Central Florida (ALACF) and FSEC continued to work on developing Health House guidelines and presenting short courses/seminars on healthy housing.  In both 2001 and 2002, ALACF conducted successful media events where tips on keeping a house healthy were broadcast by several Orlando area television stations.  

• Cambridge Homes

To implement Building America strategies outlined by FSEC researchers, Cambridge Homes constructed a "test house" to ensure that the strategies mate well with their current building practices.  A variety of home plans were reviewed to select an appropriate demonstration home, as well as a standard-practice counterpart.  Both homes were built and dataloggers installed in Baldwin Park, a new Orlando subdivision.  The demonstration home will give the builder firsthand experience with unfamiliar design elements, many of which they are considering incorporating into their standard practices.

The community of Baldwin Park is being developed on land that was once home to the Orlando Naval Training Center.  The development will be 30% larger than New York's Central Park, totaling approximately 1100 acres.  Four hundred acres have been set aside for parks and open space, while 700 acres will be used for the construction of 3,000 homes, one million square feet of office space, and 200,000 square feet of retail space.  Cambridge Homes is one of ten builders constructing homes in the community and plans to build 700 homes in Baldwin Park over the next five years. 

To assist Cambridge Homes with reducing callbacks and moisture reduction problems, FSEC researchers also conducted "total" and to "out" duct tests on six Cambridge homes to determine why the total duct leakage numbers were high (>10% of fan flow) despite low to "out" duct leakage.  "Out" is defined as outside the conditioned space, including buffer spaces like an attic or garage. Consistent leakage was found around the boot to register grill connections.  FSEC worked with Cambridge Homes and their HVAC contractor, DEL-AIR, to specify air tight register grills. Meetings also were held with the builder's HVAC contractor to discuss installation of a whole-house high efficiency dehumidification, filtration, and ventilation unit in the Building America model.

BAIHP performed training for Cambridge Homes' sales staff in March.  Training focused on the advanced features of the Building America showcase model which Cambridge Homes will begin offering in April 2003.

Along with visits to monitor progress, a special meeting was arranged with representatives from the American Lung Association of Central Florida to discuss achieving the ALA Health House designation on the showcase model. However, the builder decided not to pursue the health house designation at this time.