State-Level Energy Efficiency Potential in the U.S. Single-Family Housing Stock

A homeowner needs to replace an HVAC system. What replacement equipment best meets the multiple goals of affordability, energy efficiency, and comfort? Is the upfront cost of a highly efficient variable-speed heat pump in the ...

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State-Level Energy Efficiency Potential in the U.S. Single-Family Housing Stock

Author: Erin Boyd and Eric Wilson

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October 29, 2017

Get Started Using BEopt

Author: Eric Wilson

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June 22, 2015

Download BEopt and EnergyPlus or DOE-2. Once they are installed, start BEopt and select either New Construction or Retrofit mode. Geometry screen. Click and drag to draw your building floor plan. Options screen. Select building ... [continue reading]

Using BEopt to Optimize Home Energy Performance

Author: Eric Wilson

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June 20, 2015

The story of BEopt starts in October 2000, when a seminal two-day workshop was held at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to explore the then-novel concept of zero net energy (ZNE) buildings. Representatives from the ... [continue reading]

Multifamily Blower Door Testing

Author: Steve Mann

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July 01, 2014

With the recent increase in multifamily housing construction, combined with some builders’ desire to seek green certifications, establishing a user-friendly blower door test protocol that achieves repeatable results would allow multifamily buildings to achieve ... [continue reading]

Calibrating Measurement Tools

Author: Paul Raymer

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April 28, 2013

To quote the wise Yogi Berra, “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.” In terms of ... [continue reading]

Virtual Combustion Testing

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February 25, 2013

As any BPI Building Analyst will tell you, it’s hard to become adept at combustion testing. It takes lots of practice, in real houses, with real mechanical equipment. No amount of classroom training ... [continue reading]

HomeGauge

Author: Steve Mann

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March 01, 2011

As a longtime writer about software for Home Energy, I get asked one question more often than any other: What software do you recommend for companies involved in energy auditing, weatherization, or residential retrofitting? The ... [continue reading]

Energy Modeling Versus Reality

Author: Steve Mann

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January 06, 2010

Modeling software can be very useful for helping you understand how a building works. As I’ve described in previous articles, you can calculate heating and cooling loads, HVAC air delivery requirements, and duct ... [continue reading]