Efficient Multifamily Homes in a Hot-Humid Climate by Atlantic Housing Partners

Primary Author(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center
Dave Chasar, Florida Solar Energy CenterFollow

Report Number

FSEC-CR-1949-13

URL

http://publications.energyresearch.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FSEC-CR-1949-13.pdf

Keywords

Hot Humid Climates; Multifamily housing; Energy savings; Hot-humid climate; Utility allowance; Heat pump water heaters

Abstract

With assistance from the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and its Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction (BA-PIRC), Atlantic Housing Partners (AHP) has implemented a high performance, systems-engineered package of measures in the new construction multifamily housing sector in the hot-humid climate zone. This report demonstrates how the initiative achieves Building America (BA) goals of 30%-50% energy savings. In addition, the report discusses the role of utility allowance calculations, used as part of the low-income housing tax credit process, to value those energy savings.

Results of energy modeling are presented to demonstrate that the specification package achieves 40% energy savings in typical application. Results from Home Energy Rating System (HERS) ratings from more than 1,000 apartment units are included to show consistency of application on a large scale. A primary consistency has been communication of design intent via detailed schematics and step-by-step instructions in construction documents.

In addition, this report describes some successes and challenges with the use of heat pump water heaters (HPWH) on a widespread basis, a key measure toward achieving the documented efficiency. Overall, the information provided in this report is most useful to multifamily developers looking to duplicate success through incorporating energy efficient strategies, and methods to value that efficiency in a rental, rather than homeownership, setting.

Date Published

4-24-2013

Identifiers

212

Subjects

Energy conservation; Apartment houses; Energy consumption; Building laws

Local Subjects

Hot Humid Climates

Type

Text; Document

Creator (Linked Data)

Chasar, Dave [LC]

Collection

FSEC Energy Research Center® Collection

STARS Citation

Florida Solar Energy Center and Chasar, Dave, "Efficient Multifamily Homes in a Hot-Humid Climate by Atlantic Housing Partners" (2013). FSEC Energy Research Center®. 212.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fsec/212