This article continues our series of profiles about the Building America research teams—multidisciplinary industry partnerships that work to make high performance homes a reality for all Americans. This month’s article focuses on Partnership for Home Innovation and Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofits—leaders in research and practical resources for industry.

Partnership for Home Innovation
Home Innovation Research Labs logo.

The Partnership for Home Innovation (PHI) is led by Home Innovation Research Labs, a full-service research, testing, and consulting firm that focuses on improving the quality, durability, affordability, and performance of single- and multifamily homes and homebuilding products. Founded in 1964 as a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Home Innovation leverages its premier accredited product testing lab, market research facility, third-party testing and certification credentials, and longstanding relationship with industry to advance the performance, quality, and affordability of new and existing homes. Vladimir Kochkin, Director of Applied Research, says “Our team vision is to develop and field test practical solutions for high performance homes that builders can implement with confidence. Innovation that works today and adds long-term value to the consumer is the key focus of our efforts and the primary benchmark for success.”

Home Innovation’s technical capabilities bridge science and construction in the areas of energy, durability, structural performance, mechanical equipment, and sustainability. This often results in building code changes that remove barriers to industry-wide implementation of innovations. For example, the team’s laboratory studies of structurally safe and efficient high performance walls helped establish a design methodology for analysis of walls with exterior rigid foam sheathing under wind pressure loading to improve disaster resistance. This research led to a Building America Top Innovation award and provided a scientific basis for ANSI Standard FS 100-2012 for wind pressure resistance, which is now referenced in model building codes across the United States. The team won another Top Innovation award for its cost-effective advanced framing techniques that improve the thermal performance of an enclosure, reduce building costs, and simplify the construction process. This technology solution drove amendments to the 2015 International Residential Code and was adopted by production builders Winchester Homes and Camberley Homes to help meet the project goals of replicability on production scale and cut whole-house energy use by 30%.

In 2006, Building America set a goal to prove that cost-neutral energy savings of 40% over code were possible for builders of new homes in every U.S. climate zone. To achieve exceptional cost savings, Home Innovation worked with a wide range of production and custom builders to develop standardized and market-ready energy efficient solutions for building envelope and HVAC systems. PHI engaged Urbane Homes to develop its first home using advanced framing, frost-protected foundations, ducts in conditioned space, and exterior walls with extruded polystyrene rigid foam. This high performance home cost $36/ft2—well below the local average—and won three major building awards along with a Top Innovation for the team. Home Innovation has been collaborating with K-Hovnanian homes and its trade partners at several test sites across different climate zones on developing optimized HVAC solutions focusing on duct performance improvements. Currently, the team is working with Greenbelt Homes, Inc. on multiyear pilot energy efficiency retrofit project that will upgrade more than 1,500 circa-1930 to 1940 homes. This project features an unsubsidized, market-driven effort of a dedicated community of homeowners that strive to improve the performance of their residence and who see value in energy and durability upgrades. Through a unique vocational program at the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, the team helps students gain hands-on construction experience in building high performance homes. This collaboration resulted in the Green Home 3, which achieved a 44% whole-house energy savings and DOE Zero Energy Ready Home and National Green Building Standard Gold-level certifications. Clearly, the team is committed to developing the next generation of building science professionals—the team also serves as the technical lead for the U. S. Department of Energy’s Race to Zero Student Design Competition.

Because PHI speaks “builder language” on highly technical topics, it successfully communicates research results and develops strategic tools for the industry. The team won a Top Innovation award for its set of practical quality management resources that smooth the transition to high performance homes, minimize builder risks, and deliver a consistent message about the value of high performance homes. Home Innovation developed guidance for the construction quality process from its development for new homes to its application in retrofit of homes. As a tool for communicating best design and construction practices to builders in a short yet effective format, Home Innovation develops Tech Notes on specific issues or technologies. Visit the Home Innovation Research Labs website to learn more.

Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit
PARR logo.

The Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit (PARR), led by the Gas Technology Institute (GTI), represents a unique collaboration between leaders in building science research and energy efficiency program design and implementation. Since 2009, the team’s goal has been to increase the quality and uptake of residential retrofits by demonstrating innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that enable market transformation. Specifically, the team focuses on cold climates and a systems-based approach to integrating heating and cooling advancements with sound building shell principles. Thus, a significant share of PARR’s research has been devoted to the study of forced-air systems, duct distribution systems, ventilation, and combustion air.

In addition to GTI, PARR’s research and development capacity is amplified by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, Elevate Energy, and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Together they wield more than 100 years of combined experience in residential building energy efficiency, encompassing critical roles in regional weatherization training, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program coordination, multifamily building research, and heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems research. Larry Brand, PARR team lead, says "PARR brings together program expertise, building scientists, field implementation, laboratory testing, codes and standards, and an interconnected network of energy professionals in a unique way. The team has been pleased to collaborate with other Building America teams and numerous industry partners to address some of the larger questions in the retrofit community."

PARR conducts research, field evaluations, and monitoring of natural gas forced-air furnaces, radon mitigation techniques, combustion safety test procedures, and outdoor temperature-controlled ventilation—then develops practical guidance for industry. For example, PARR’s studies about boosting natural gas furnace efficiency resulted in a measure guideline for HVAC contractors and installers that outlines when to install a high-efficiency gas furnace as a retrofit measure; how to identify and address risks; and steps to take in the selection and installation process. In another study, the team examined the impact of installation practices and equipment degradation on the performance of natural gas furnaces and developed tips for installers to achieve optimal performance. As a leader in combustion safety, PARR developed guidance on how to assess and perform combustion safety procedures for appliances and heating equipment that uses indoor air for combustion. PARR also investigates ways to optimize performance of hydronic heating systems in multifamily buildings in the Chicago area. In one study, the team identified best practices, costs, and savings associated with balancing steam distribution systems through increased mainline air venting, radiator vent replacement, and boiler control system upgrades. Likewise, the team developed a best practice resource for contractors and building owners on ways to upgrade and balance multifamily hydronic systems to improve tenant comfort and lower operating costs. PARR has also developed novel methodologies for characterizing residential housing and evaluating the cost effectiveness of retrofit measure packages. The team assessed retrofit measure packages in 800 homes that participated in the Illinois Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program and determined the optimal measure mix for each housing archetype using Building Energy Optimization software. The study provides valuable feedback for the current IHP program and guidance into how similar whole-house retrofit programs can use large data sets to improve the cost effectiveness of installed measure packages. PARR’s research and support contributed to the adoption of ASHRAE 62.2, the residential ventilation standard; this effort won a Top Innovation award. Team members serve on ASHRAE technical committees related to forced-air heating and cooling systems, ventilation, and fuels and combustion. Learn more about the PARR team.

See the Building America Research Team page to view information about other teams.