EEBA Academy

In order to earn the EEBA High Performance Building Professional Designation, one must take and pass:

• Houses That Work
• High Performance Mechanicals
• HERS Associate

Tightly air-sealed, well-insulated buildings combined with energy efficient HVAC systems and increased ventilation rates are key components of a comfortable and healthy high performance home. But, unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished. We will discuss the building science perspective on the "new normal" and the challenges that architects and builders now must face in order to deal with these effectively.

Most builders think of window attachments like shades and blinds as nothing more than decorative features that the homeowner will add when they move in. Think again. New research from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that insulated shades can cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 10% to 25%, respectively, especially if they are raised and lowered at the right times of the day and season. In addition to lowering utility bills, window attachments can also cut glare, improve indoor comfort, and occupant well-being.

This presentation first discusses the ASHP research, including performance and capacity results, lessons learned, and experiences from over five years of detailed data monitoring from ASHP field installs.