Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy Challenge Home Program Certification of Production Builders - Chicago, IL and Devens, MA

TO4 Task 3.1 - K Hovnanian Chicago, IL
DOE Challenge Home Program Certified
Home Constructed and Verified
Specifications	
DOE Challenge Home

Building envelope	
Ceiling	R-49 blown fiberglass, Grade I
Walls	2x4 framing @ 16 o.c. with R-13 fiberglass batts, Grade I
and 1"" R-5 extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulating sheathing
Frame Floors	R-38 blown fiberglass, Grade I
Basement Walls	R-19 fiberglass batts draped full height, Grade I
Basement Slab	uninsulated
Windows	        Above Grade:  ENERGY STAR certified, U=0.29, SHGC=0.28
Basement:       Non ENERGY STAR certified, U=0.29, SHGC=0.24
Infiltration	 2 ACH 50
	
Mechanical systems	
Heat	95% AFUE sealed combustion natural gas furnace in conditioned space
Goodman GMH950703BXAF
Cooling  13 SEER split system Goodman GSX130301BC
DHW	AO Smith Vertex 100 0.96 EF natural gas tank water heater in 2nd floor utility closet
Hot Water Distribution	Redesigned trunk and branch Compliant with EPA WaterSense Efficient Distribution Requirements
Ducts	Located 100% in conditioned space via floor joists leak free to outside (5% or less)
Ventilation	Central Fan Integrated Supply (CFIS) ventilation with 6"" insulated outside air duct 
Fan Controller:  Air Cycler FRV, with 6"" motorized damper
50 CFM outside air flow, 33% duty cycle (10 minutes on, 20 minutes off);
ASHRAE 62.2-2010 compliance via an exhaust fan - Panasonic FV-08VQ5 WhisperCeiling
Rerturn Pathways	Active Return at Master Bedroom Transfer Grilles in Secondary Bedrooms
	
Appliances, Lighting, MELs	
Lights	80% ENERGY STAR certified CFL
Appliances	ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer; Natural gas range/oven and clothes dryer"

STRUCTURE - Test House Lot 145 - 2013 DOE Challenge Test House Task 3.1
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
House is constructed and is DOE Challenge Verified by Don Nelson, a local rater.


The purpose of this project was to evaluate integrated packages of advanced measures in individual test homes to assess their performance with respect to Building America Program goals, specifically compliance with the DOE Challenge Home Program. To that end, Building Science Corporation (BSC) consulted on the construction of five test houses by three cold climate production builders in three separate U.S. cities. (1) K. Hovnanian Homes, Chicago, Illinois (2) David Weekley Homes, Denver, Colorado (3) Transformations, Inc., Devens, Massachusetts. 

Overall, the builders have concluded that the energy related upgrades (either through the prescriptive or performance path) represent reasonable upgrades. The builders commented that while not every improvement in specification was cost effective (as in a reasonable payback period), many were improvements that could improve the marketability of the homes and serve to attract more energy efficiency discerning prospective homeowners. 
However, the builders did express reservations about the associated checklists and added certifications. An increase in administrative time was observed with all builders. The checklists and certifications also inherently increase cost due to: (1) Adding services to the scope of work for various trades, such as HERS Rater and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor. (2) Increased material costs related to the checklists, especially the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Indoor airPLUS and WaterSense Efficient Hot Water Distribution requirement.

Ceiling - 18" cellulose
Walls - 12" open cell spray foam in double stud walls
Foundation - R-10 under slab, 3 1/2" closed-cell spray foam at walls
Windows	- Harvey U=0.20, SHGC=0.22
Infiltration - 1.0 sq in per 100 sq ft	
Heating - Mini split heat pump, 10.6 HSPF, 23 SEER
Cooling	- Mini split heat pump, 10.6 HSPF, 23 SEER
DHW - 0.97 EF instantaneous propane water heater
Ventilation - bathroom exhaust fans as basic option, HRV upgrade option

Adams Circle Devens MA 01434
Cavite Street Devens, MA 01434

Tags: building-america, buildingamerica, cold, cost-effectiveness, doe-challenge-home, energy-star, epa-indoor-airplus, heat-recovery-ventilation, hers, hvac, new-construction, production-builders, residential, single-family
Organization: Department of Energy