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Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy Challenge Home Program Certification of Production Builders - Chicago, IL and Devens, MA

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TO4 Task 3.1 - K Hovnanian Chicago, IL
DOE Challenge Home Program Certified
Home Constructed and Verified
Specifications
DOE Challenge Home

Building envelope
Ceiling R-49 blown fiberglass, Grade I
Walls 2x4 framing @ 16 o.c. with R-13 fiberglass batts, Grade I
and 1"" R-5 extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulating sheathing
Frame Floors R-38 blown fiberglass, Grade I
Basement Walls R-19 fiberglass batts draped full height, Grade I
Basement Slab uninsulated
Windows Above Grade: ENERGY STAR certified, U=0.29, SHGC=0.28
Basement: Non ENERGY STAR certified, U=0.29, SHGC=0.24
Infiltration 2 ACH 50

Mechanical systems
Heat 95% AFUE sealed combustion natural gas furnace in conditioned space
Goodman GMH950703BXAF
Cooling 13 SEER split system Goodman GSX130301BC
DHW AO Smith Vertex 100 0.96 EF natural gas tank water heater in 2nd floor utility closet
Hot Water Distribution Redesigned trunk and branch Compliant with EPA WaterSense Efficient Distribution Requirements
Ducts Located 100% in conditioned space via floor joists leak free to outside (5% or less)
Ventilation Central Fan Integrated Supply (CFIS) ventilation with 6"" insulated outside air duct
Fan Controller: Air Cycler FRV, with 6"" motorized damper
50 CFM outside air flow, 33% duty cycle (10 minutes on, 20 minutes off);
ASHRAE 62.2-2010 compliance via an exhaust fan - Panasonic FV-08VQ5 WhisperCeiling
Rerturn Pathways Active Return at Master Bedroom Transfer Grilles in Secondary Bedrooms

Appliances, Lighting, MELs
Lights 80% ENERGY STAR certified CFL
Appliances ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer; Natural gas range/oven and clothes dryer"

STRUCTURE - Test House Lot 145 - 2013 DOE Challenge Test House Task 3.1
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
House is constructed and is DOE Challenge Verified by Don Nelson, a local rater.


The purpose of this project was to evaluate integrated packages of advanced measures in individual test homes to assess their performance with respect to Building America Program goals, specifically compliance with the DOE Challenge Home Program. To that end, Building Science Corporation (BSC) consulted on the construction of five test houses by three cold climate production builders in three separate U.S. cities. (1) K. Hovnanian Homes, Chicago, Illinois (2) David Weekley Homes, Denver, Colorado (3) Transformations, Inc., Devens, Massachusetts.

Overall, the builders have concluded that the energy related upgrades (either through the prescriptive or performance path) represent reasonable upgrades. The builders commented that while not every improvement in specification was cost effective (as in a reasonable payback period), many were improvements that could improve the marketability of the homes and serve to attract more energy efficiency discerning prospective homeowners.
However, the builders did express reservations about the associated checklists and added certifications. An increase in administrative time was observed with all builders. The checklists and certifications also inherently increase cost due to: (1) Adding services to the scope of work for various trades, such as HERS Rater and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor. (2) Increased material costs related to the checklists, especially the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Indoor airPLUS and WaterSense Efficient Hot Water Distribution requirement.

Ceiling - 18" cellulose
Walls - 12" open cell spray foam in double stud walls
Foundation - R-10 under slab, 3 1/2" closed-cell spray foam at walls
Windows - Harvey U=0.20, SHGC=0.22
Infiltration - 1.0 sq in per 100 sq ft
Heating - Mini split heat pump, 10.6 HSPF, 23 SEER
Cooling - Mini split heat pump, 10.6 HSPF, 23 SEER
DHW - 0.97 EF instantaneous propane water heater
Ventilation - bathroom exhaust fans as basic option, HRV upgrade option

Adams Circle Devens MA 01434
Cavite Street Devens, MA 01434

Citation Formats

TY - DATA AB - TO4 Task 3.1 - K Hovnanian Chicago, IL DOE Challenge Home Program Certified Home Constructed and Verified Specifications DOE Challenge Home Building envelope Ceiling R-49 blown fiberglass, Grade I Walls 2x4 framing @ 16 o.c. with R-13 fiberglass batts, Grade I and 1"" R-5 extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulating sheathing Frame Floors R-38 blown fiberglass, Grade I Basement Walls R-19 fiberglass batts draped full height, Grade I Basement Slab uninsulated Windows Above Grade: ENERGY STAR certified, U=0.29, SHGC=0.28 Basement: Non ENERGY STAR certified, U=0.29, SHGC=0.24 Infiltration 2 ACH 50 Mechanical systems Heat 95% AFUE sealed combustion natural gas furnace in conditioned space Goodman GMH950703BXAF Cooling 13 SEER split system Goodman GSX130301BC DHW AO Smith Vertex 100 0.96 EF natural gas tank water heater in 2nd floor utility closet Hot Water Distribution Redesigned trunk and branch Compliant with EPA WaterSense Efficient Distribution Requirements Ducts Located 100% in conditioned space via floor joists leak free to outside (5% or less) Ventilation Central Fan Integrated Supply (CFIS) ventilation with 6"" insulated outside air duct Fan Controller: Air Cycler FRV, with 6"" motorized damper 50 CFM outside air flow, 33% duty cycle (10 minutes on, 20 minutes off); ASHRAE 62.2-2010 compliance via an exhaust fan - Panasonic FV-08VQ5 WhisperCeiling Rerturn Pathways Active Return at Master Bedroom Transfer Grilles in Secondary Bedrooms Appliances, Lighting, MELs Lights 80% ENERGY STAR certified CFL Appliances ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer; Natural gas range/oven and clothes dryer" STRUCTURE - Test House Lot 145 - 2013 DOE Challenge Test House Task 3.1 Bolingbrook, IL 60490 House is constructed and is DOE Challenge Verified by Don Nelson, a local rater. The purpose of this project was to evaluate integrated packages of advanced measures in individual test homes to assess their performance with respect to Building America Program goals, specifically compliance with the DOE Challenge Home Program. To that end, Building Science Corporation (BSC) consulted on the construction of five test houses by three cold climate production builders in three separate U.S. cities. (1) K. Hovnanian Homes, Chicago, Illinois (2) David Weekley Homes, Denver, Colorado (3) Transformations, Inc., Devens, Massachusetts. Overall, the builders have concluded that the energy related upgrades (either through the prescriptive or performance path) represent reasonable upgrades. The builders commented that while not every improvement in specification was cost effective (as in a reasonable payback period), many were improvements that could improve the marketability of the homes and serve to attract more energy efficiency discerning prospective homeowners. However, the builders did express reservations about the associated checklists and added certifications. An increase in administrative time was observed with all builders. The checklists and certifications also inherently increase cost due to: (1) Adding services to the scope of work for various trades, such as HERS Rater and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor. (2) Increased material costs related to the checklists, especially the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Indoor airPLUS and WaterSense Efficient Hot Water Distribution requirement. Ceiling - 18" cellulose Walls - 12" open cell spray foam in double stud walls Foundation - R-10 under slab, 3 1/2" closed-cell spray foam at walls Windows - Harvey U=0.20, SHGC=0.22 Infiltration - 1.0 sq in per 100 sq ft Heating - Mini split heat pump, 10.6 HSPF, 23 SEER Cooling - Mini split heat pump, 10.6 HSPF, 23 SEER DHW - 0.97 EF instantaneous propane water heater Ventilation - bathroom exhaust fans as basic option, HRV upgrade option Adams Circle Devens MA 01434 Cavite Street Devens, MA 01434 AU - Loomis, Honorata A2 - Kerrigan, Phil DB - Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI) DP - Open EI | National Renewable Energy Laboratory DO - 10.25984/2204224 KW - building america KW - EPA Indoor airPLUS KW - new construction KW - production builders KW - residential KW - HERS KW - cold KW - cost effectiveness KW - HVAC KW - heat recovery ventilation KW - BuildingAmerica KW - DOE Challenge Home KW - ENERGY STAR KW - single family LA - English DA - 2016/04/27 PY - 2016 PB - Building Science Corporation T1 - Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy Challenge Home Program Certification of Production Builders - Chicago, IL and Devens, MA UR - https://doi.org/10.25984/2204224 ER -
Export Citation to RIS
Loomis, Honorata, and Phil Kerrigan. Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy Challenge Home Program Certification of Production Builders - Chicago, IL and Devens, MA. Building Science Corporation, 27 April, 2016, Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI). https://doi.org/10.25984/2204224.
Loomis, H., & Kerrigan, P. (2016). Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy Challenge Home Program Certification of Production Builders - Chicago, IL and Devens, MA. [Data set]. Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI). Building Science Corporation. https://doi.org/10.25984/2204224
Loomis, Honorata and Phil Kerrigan. Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy Challenge Home Program Certification of Production Builders - Chicago, IL and Devens, MA. Building Science Corporation, April, 27, 2016. Distributed by Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI). https://doi.org/10.25984/2204224
@misc{OEDI_Dataset_5501, title = {Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy Challenge Home Program Certification of Production Builders - Chicago, IL and Devens, MA}, author = {Loomis, Honorata and Kerrigan, Phil}, abstractNote = {TO4 Task 3.1 - K Hovnanian Chicago, IL
DOE Challenge Home Program Certified
Home Constructed and Verified
Specifications
DOE Challenge Home

Building envelope
Ceiling R-49 blown fiberglass, Grade I
Walls 2x4 framing @ 16 o.c. with R-13 fiberglass batts, Grade I
and 1"" R-5 extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulating sheathing
Frame Floors R-38 blown fiberglass, Grade I
Basement Walls R-19 fiberglass batts draped full height, Grade I
Basement Slab uninsulated
Windows Above Grade: ENERGY STAR certified, U=0.29, SHGC=0.28
Basement: Non ENERGY STAR certified, U=0.29, SHGC=0.24
Infiltration 2 ACH 50

Mechanical systems
Heat 95\% AFUE sealed combustion natural gas furnace in conditioned space
Goodman GMH950703BXAF
Cooling 13 SEER split system Goodman GSX130301BC
DHW AO Smith Vertex 100 0.96 EF natural gas tank water heater in 2nd floor utility closet
Hot Water Distribution Redesigned trunk and branch Compliant with EPA WaterSense Efficient Distribution Requirements
Ducts Located 100\% in conditioned space via floor joists leak free to outside (5\% or less)
Ventilation Central Fan Integrated Supply (CFIS) ventilation with 6"" insulated outside air duct
Fan Controller: Air Cycler FRV, with 6"" motorized damper
50 CFM outside air flow, 33\% duty cycle (10 minutes on, 20 minutes off);
ASHRAE 62.2-2010 compliance via an exhaust fan - Panasonic FV-08VQ5 WhisperCeiling
Rerturn Pathways Active Return at Master Bedroom Transfer Grilles in Secondary Bedrooms

Appliances, Lighting, MELs
Lights 80\% ENERGY STAR certified CFL
Appliances ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer; Natural gas range/oven and clothes dryer"

STRUCTURE - Test House Lot 145 - 2013 DOE Challenge Test House Task 3.1
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
House is constructed and is DOE Challenge Verified by Don Nelson, a local rater.


The purpose of this project was to evaluate integrated packages of advanced measures in individual test homes to assess their performance with respect to Building America Program goals, specifically compliance with the DOE Challenge Home Program. To that end, Building Science Corporation (BSC) consulted on the construction of five test houses by three cold climate production builders in three separate U.S. cities. (1) K. Hovnanian Homes, Chicago, Illinois (2) David Weekley Homes, Denver, Colorado (3) Transformations, Inc., Devens, Massachusetts.

Overall, the builders have concluded that the energy related upgrades (either through the prescriptive or performance path) represent reasonable upgrades. The builders commented that while not every improvement in specification was cost effective (as in a reasonable payback period), many were improvements that could improve the marketability of the homes and serve to attract more energy efficiency discerning prospective homeowners.
However, the builders did express reservations about the associated checklists and added certifications. An increase in administrative time was observed with all builders. The checklists and certifications also inherently increase cost due to: (1) Adding services to the scope of work for various trades, such as HERS Rater and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor. (2) Increased material costs related to the checklists, especially the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Indoor airPLUS and WaterSense Efficient Hot Water Distribution requirement.

Ceiling - 18" cellulose
Walls - 12" open cell spray foam in double stud walls
Foundation - R-10 under slab, 3 1/2" closed-cell spray foam at walls
Windows - Harvey U=0.20, SHGC=0.22
Infiltration - 1.0 sq in per 100 sq ft
Heating - Mini split heat pump, 10.6 HSPF, 23 SEER
Cooling - Mini split heat pump, 10.6 HSPF, 23 SEER
DHW - 0.97 EF instantaneous propane water heater
Ventilation - bathroom exhaust fans as basic option, HRV upgrade option

Adams Circle Devens MA 01434
Cavite Street Devens, MA 01434}, url = {https://data.openei.org/submissions/5501}, year = {2016}, howpublished = {Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI), Building Science Corporation, https://doi.org/10.25984/2204224}, note = {Accessed: 2025-05-06}, doi = {10.25984/2204224} }
https://dx.doi.org/10.25984/2204224

Details

Data from Apr 27, 2016

Last updated Nov 1, 2023

Submitted Apr 27, 2016

Organization

Building Science Corporation

Contact

Honorata Loomis

Authors

Honorata Loomis

Building Science Corporation

Phil Kerrigan

Building Science Corporation

Research Areas

DOE Project Details

Project Name Building America

Project Number FY14 AOP 1.9.1.19

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