U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Building Technologies Office
Guides and Case Studies for Mixed-Humid Climates
The Department of Energy (DOE) has developed a series of best practices and case studies to help builders improve whole-house energy performance in buildings found in mixed-humid climates.
Best Practice Guides
New Construction Case Studies
Maryland
Project: Eco-Model Home - Arnold
Builder: Baldwin Homes
Profile: Eco-Model Home showcases 69 green features and five green certifications including DOE Builders Challenge.
New Jersey
Project: Legends at Mansfield — Columbus
Builder: Tindall Homes
Profile: Builders Challenge spotlight on community of energy-efficient homes with excellent insulation, high efficiency HVAC, tankless water heaters, and photovoltaics (PV) that achieve energy savings of 46% over the Building America benchmark.
Oklahoma
Project: Multiple Projects — Throughout Oklahoma
Builder: Ideal Homes
Profile: Builders Challenge spotlight on high efficiency homes featuring superior insulation, low-e windows, and high performance HVAC systems to achieve 50% energy savings over comparable homes.
District of Columbia
Project: Capitol Hill Row House Retrofit — Washington
Builder: Steven Winter Associates
Profile: The retrofit of this 145-year-old row house resulted in potential total energy savings of 43% while creating more useable space and meeting the neighborhood's historic requirements.
Maryland
Project: Baltimore Row House Retrofit — Baltimore
Builder: Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity
Profile: Using Building America best practices, this project renovated four historic row houses, resulting in energy savings of 32%.
Solutions that Work Across Climates
DOE has developed several building solutions that work across climate regions.
- Insulation: A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners identifies steps to take to increase insulation in homes, ensure healthy levels of ventilation, and prevent moisture problems.
- HVAC: A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners offers tips about energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and cooling options to help homeowners cut their energy use, reduce carbon footprint, and increase their homes' comfort, health, and safety.
- Energy Performance Techniques and Technologies: Preserving Historic Homes (Volume 13) focuses on being aware of and adhering to historic designation regulations, and addressing health and safety issues while preserving the features that make historic homes appealing.
- Air Sealing: A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners (Volume 10) provides information to help homeowners understand ways to seal unwanted air leaks in homes, while ensuring healthy levels of ventilation and avoiding indoor air pollution.
- Solar Thermal & Photovoltaic Systems (Volume 6) features current photovoltaic and solar thermal building practices by more than a dozen builders.
For additional, updated information on hundreds of building science topics that can help you build or retrofit to the most recent high-performance construction criteria, including the latest version of ENERGY STAR and the DOE Challenge Home requirements, see the Building America Solution Center.
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