Sealed duct penetrations. Photo courtesy of the Gas Technology Institute.

Sealed duct penetrations. Photo courtesy of the Gas Technology Institute.

Lead Performer: Gas Technology Institute—Des Plaines, IL
Partners:
-- University of Illinois—Urbana, IL
-- Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance—Chicago, IL
DOE Total Funding: $750,000
Cost Share: $250,000
Project Term: October 1, 2015 – March 30, 2018
Funding Opportunity: Building America Industry Partnerships for High Performance Housing Innovation

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

This project will develop a systems approach for managing air sealing, ventilation, and air distribution to improve a retrofitted home's energy use while maintaining acceptable indoor air quality. This project will primarily focus on the cold climate zone.

Key success factors include:

  • Minimizing fan-driven ventilation air volume through taking advantage of buoyancy and other driving forces
  • Controlling infiltration from undesirable sources
  • Reducing duct system losses from areas that produce no indoor air quality benefit

PROJECT IMPACT

This project will research and develop an air flow control system that will produce ventilation energy savings of up to 30%. Approximately 20% of the savings will be associated with temperature-based ventilation and 10% will be associated with infiltration and duct leakage control.

CONTACTS

DOE Technology Manager: Eric Werling
Principal Investigator: Ryan Kerr

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Low-Cost Radon Reduction Pilot Study (September 2015)