This document summarizes a pilot program to retrofit the buildings and homes of Greenbelt Homes, Inc, a housing cooperative with 1,600 units. Baseline monitoring was conducted of 7 pilot buildings before retrofits. Recommended retrofits included attic and wall insulation, air sealing, high-performance windows and doors, and crawlspace repairs. Energy modeling was used to evaluate retrofit packages. Long-term monitoring will track energy use and performance. The goal is to demonstrate cost-effective solutions that increase comfort, health, efficiency and property value.

1. BA High Performance
Retrofits
Amber Wood
Manager, Energy Programs
EEBA Conference 2011
September 14, 2011
Driving Innovation in Housing Technology

2. Building America
 Private/public R&D
partnership sponsored by
DOE
 Energy-efficient solutions
for new and existing
housing
 Technologies/Systems
 Whole-House Test Homes
 Quality Processes

3. Greenbelt Homes, Inc.
 Privately-owned
co-op
 1,600 units
 4 units/building
 1930’s-40’s
 Roosevelt work-
force housing

4. 1970’s Energy Upgrade
 Insulation  Install 52 gal
 Attic electric water
 Crawlspaces heaters
 Exterior walls  Upgrade electrical
 Replace steel
frame windows
 Remove oil-fired
boilers
 Install electric
baseboard
4

5. GHI Pilot Program
 Community  Goals:
Upgrade in 2015  Health & safety
 Comfort
 7 buildings, 28  Increased IEQ
units  Durability
 3 block
 2 frame  Affordability
 2 brick

6. Why?
Motivations for pilot program:
 Lower utility bills
 Comfort
 Lower life-cycle costs
 Maintenance & replacement
Photo by Doriann Asch courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

7. Pilot Program
 Baseline Monitoring (2010-2011)
 Pre-Retrofit baseline
 Install Monitoring Equipment
 Air infiltration
 Temperature/Humidity/Energy Use
 Humidity
 Building Envelope Upgrades (2011-2012)
 Retrofit building envelopes
 Monitor envelope upgrade
 HVAC Upgrades (2012-2013)
 Retrofit HVAC
 Monitor upgrade package

8. Pilot House Assessment
 Walk-Through Evaluation
 Visual Inspection
 Homeowner Operation
 Utility Bills
 Short-term Testing
8
Photo by Celestine Ranney-Howes courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

9. Walk-Through Evaluation
 Dimensions
 Insulation
 Walls, ceilings, and foundations,
 Baseboard heaters
 Locations , calculating capacity
 Hot water system
 Appliances
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10. 10

11. Baseline Short-term
Testing
 Blower door test
 Multi-point house depressurization
 Simultaneous blower doors in
adjacent units
 Significant air leakage
 Attic access panels
 Air conditioners
 Penetrations
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12. Pre-Remodel Assessment
Summary

13. Simulation Parameters
 13 of the 28 homes  Frame w/Brick
 Painted block  End & inside units
 End & inside units  Frame w/Vinyl
 Block w/ Vinyl  End & inside units
 End & inside units  End, front addition
 End & inside units w/  End, side addition w/ large
basement glass area
 End, full rear addition
 Inside, full rear addition
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Artwork by Isabelle Gournay courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

14. Beopt Energy Simulation
Optimizations
 All electric
 Source savings = electricity savings
 Annualized cost of the upgrades + utility costs
 30 years at 7%
 Block unit example:
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15. Energy Simulation
Optimization
 Block unit example
 Costs & savings comparison
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16. Installation Costs for Building
Envelope Improvements
 Evaluated on a per-building
basis
 Do not include remediation
associated with environmental
hazards (such as lead paint,
radon, or asbestos)
 Costs are exclusive of
management fees
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17. 17

18. Durability & IAQ
 Mechanical ventilation
 Crawlspace moisture management
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19. GHI Reserve Funds

20. Cost Analysis
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21. Masonry Block Building
Recommendations
 Exterior Wall  Crawlspace Wall
Insulation Insulation Repair
 R-12 (2”-3”)  Continuous R-10
 Finishing  Porch Slab
 Siding Insulation
 Ext insulation finish
system (EIFS)
Installation
 R-12 (2” closed cell
 Window
spray foam)
 U=0.30 &SHGC=0.30
 Exterior Door
 U-value ≤ 0.23 21

22. Frame w/Brick Building
Recommendations
 Attic Sealing &  Crawlspace Wall
Insulation Insulation Repair
 R-38  Continuous R-10
 Storage?  Porch Slab
 Create space using Insulation
2” rigid foam and
OSB Installation
 Window  R-12 (2” closed cell
spray foam)
 U=0.30 &SHGC=0.30
 Exterior Door
 U-value ≤ 0.23 22
Photo courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

23. Frame w/Vinyl Building
Recommendations
 Exterior Wall  Window
Insulation  U=0.30
 Taped WRB &SHGC=0.30
 R-5 (1” rigid foam)  Exterior Door
 Replace siding  U-value ≤ 0.23
 Attic Sealing &  Crawlspace Wall
Insulation Insulation Repair
 R-38  R-19 (3” closed cell
 Storage? spray foam)
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24. Energy & Performance
Monitoring
 Indoor air temperature and relative
humidity in multiple locations;
 Crawlspace and outdoor temperature and
relative humidity;
 Heating energy use (where feasible);
 Hot water energy use;
 Dryer energy use (if applicable); and
 Total electric energy use.
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Photo courtesy of www.greenbelthomes.net

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26. Long-term Monitoring
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27. Energy Use Analysis
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28. Retrofit Solutions for
Enhancing Energy Efficiency
 Energy Savings: Household to National
 Comfort: Temperature swings to
consistency
 Moisture: Reduce potential problems
 Indoor Air: Controlled ventilation
 Technology: Options and performance
 Installation: Contractor training/QA
 Cost: Installation/operation/savings
 Value: Demonstrate values at sale

29. Questions?
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30. Thank You!
Amber Wood
NAHB Research Center
Manager, Energy Programs
400 Prince George’s Blvd  Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
(direct) 301.430.6309  (fax) 301.430.6180
www.nahbrc.com
Driving Innovation in Housing Technology