Unit 39: Residential Energy Auditing

Briefly describe & write the equation for perfect (complete) combustion

Incomplete combustion occurs when a combustion reaction occurs without a sufficient supply of oxygen.

Name seven base loads, or LAMEL loads, as they apply to a residential energy audit

1. Lights 2. refrigerators 3. freezers 4. water heaters 5. clothes dryers 6. computers 7. printers 8. copiers 9. cell phone chargers

Performing a home energy audit starts with a visual inspection of a home & its energy systems which include: _________, _________, ___________, _________

- building envelope - HVAC systems - base load inspections - indoor air quality

One Pascal (Pa) is equal to how many inches of water column (in. WC)?

.004 in. WC

Name four nationally recognized energy certifications for home auditors & contractors

1. Association for Energy Engineers (AEE) 2. Building Performance Institute (BPI) 3. Green Mechanical Council 4. Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET)

Name & briefly explain the five most common diagnostic tests performed during a residential energy audit

1. Blower door testing: - It gives the auditor insight on how tight or leaky the home's building envelope is overall 2. Infrared scanning testing (thermal imaging camera): - in conjunction with a blower door test for best results for testing infiltration & exfiltration 3. duct leakage testing: - 25% of the total energy losses can be blamed on air leakage in forced-air duct systems - leakage to the outside of the conditioned space has a much larger impact on HVAC system performance than duct leakage inside the space 4. combustion efficiency & safety testing: - digital flue-gas analysis instrumentation measures CO, O2, draft, & flue-gas tempt 5. HVAC/R system testing: - ?

Name & briefly explain the three broad categories of a residential energy audit

1. Screening, visual inspections, & measurements: - walk-through visual inspection - record the square footages & volumes of all rooms (interior/ exterior) - asbestos, fiberglass, radon, mold, venting, or ventilation: Indoor Air Quality - Moisture levels, ventilation rates, & indoor air quality within a residence can be altered if proposed changes or Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) recommended by the auditor's report are adopted. 2. Diagnostic testing & Evaluation: - building envelope, lighting, indoor air quality, water heating, & HVAC systems - reputable expert involved - blower door test on the entire structure in conjunction with an infrared inspection using a thermal imaging camera - check leaky air ducts - combustion efficiency tests - HVAC/R diagnostics: refrigerant charge checks, duct airflow & pressure measurements, & specific temperature measurements 3. Numerical analysis with reporting: - home's energy consumption history including: electrical; heating fuel bills - compare the energy-consumption history to similar sized homes

One inch of water column (un. WC) is equal to how many Pascals (Pa)?

250 Pa

Briefly describe what a duct blower's function is as it applies to residential energy audits

A duct blowers function is used to measure the airtightness of forced air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) ductwork during residential energy audits.

What can an infrared scanning camera do for an auditor that the blower door test cannot?

An infrared scanning camera can show the exact location of leaks which is something the blower door test cannot do.

Briefly describe a blower door test

The blower door test is used to measure the air leakage into and out of a home. The blower door blows air out of the house bringing it to a standard pressure. The the air flowing through the blower door is measured which determines the severity of your home's air leaks and your home's energy efficiency.

Briefly describe how to check for duct leakage to the outdoors using a duct blower & a blower door

The following procedures are describe how to check for duct leakage to the outdoors using a duct blower and a blower door. • Close all windows and outside doors, all interior doors remain open. • Install blower door in a configuration to pressurize the home. • Connect duct blower to air handler or air register. • Pressurize duct system to 25 Pascals. • Pressurize the house with blower door until the pressure difference between the house and duct work is 0.0 pascals. • The Duct Blaster is set up and attached to the duct system (usually near the furnace). • The blower door is turned on and the house is pressurized to 25 Pascals. • The airflow indicated on the Duct Blaster's manometer (in cfm) quantifies duct leakage to the outdoors.

Define a residential energy audit:

They're steps taken to increase the homeowner's comfort, safety, & health & the life of the home, while conserving energy & saving the homeowner money. Audits also are environmentally beneficial because they decrease environmental pollution.