commentSimulated Occupants Test Efficiency in Model Homes
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in cooperation with the Tennessee Valley Authority, is building three houses in Tennessee to different energy-efficiency specifications in order to test their performance for up to seven years.
The homes range in size from 2,400 to 2,512 square feet and have HERS ratings of 85, 64, and 30 (the lower the number, the better the energy performance). Each house incorporates some energy-efficient features; the highest-performance house will feature triple-glazed windows from Serious Materials and a roof that is expected to perform 55 percent better than a roof built to code.
Researchers will use mechanical devices and control systems to consistently simulate occupants in the house—including opening the refrigerator, running the clothes washer and dryer, and taking showers. Each home will be tested with the equivalent of low-energy-use and high-energy-use families based on national averages.
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