Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Retrofitting”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

Sonoma House: Monitoring of the First U.S. Passive House Retrofit

The Sonoma Deep Retrofit is a single-story deep retrofit project in the marine climate of Sonoma, California. The design was guided by Passive House principles which promote the use of very high levels of wall, ceiling, and floor insulation along with tight envelope construction to maintain a comfortable indoor environment with little or no need for conventional heating or cooling.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2013

Evaluation of a Multifamily Retrofit in Climate Zone 5, Boulder, Colorado (Fact Sheet)

In 2009, a 37-unit apartment complex located in Boulder, Colorado, underwent an energy retrofit to comply with Boulder SmartRegs Ordinance, a mandate that requires all rental properties to meet certain energy efficiency standards by 2018. The Consortium of Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB), a U.S. Department of Energy Building America team, worked with city planners and building owners to evaluate this program and recently completed a case study evaluating the effectiveness of a collection of retrofit measures.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2013

Multifamily Retrofit Project Manager Job/Task Analysis and Report: September 2013

The development of job/task analyses (JTAs) is one of three components of the Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals project and will allow industry to develop training resources, quality assurance protocols, accredited training programs, and professional certifications. The Multifamily Retrofit Project Manager JTA identifies and catalogs all of the tasks performed by multifamily retrofit project managers, as well as the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform the identified tasks.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2013

Advanced Energy Retrofit Guide: Practical Ways to Improve Energy Performance, K-12 Schools (Book)

The U.S. Department of Energy developed the Advanced Energy Retrofit Guides (AERGs) to provide specific methodologies, information, and guidance to help energy managers and other stakeholders plan and execute energy efficiency improvements. Detailed technical discussion is fairly limited. Instead, we emphasize actionable information, practical methodologies, diverse case studies, and unbiased evaluations of the most promising retrofit energy efficiency measures for each building type. A series of AERGs is under development, addressing key segments of the commercial building stock. K-12 schools were selected as one of the highest priority building sectors, because schools affect the lives of most Americans. They also represent approximately 8% of the energy use and 10% of the floor area in commercial buildings nationwide. U.S. K-12 school districts spend more than $8 billion each year on energy - more than they spend on computers and textbooks combined. Most occupy older buildings that often have poor operational performance - more than 30% of schools were built before 1960. The average age of a school is about 42 years - which is nearly the expected serviceable lifespan of the building. K-12 schools offer unique opportunities for deep, cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, and this guide provides convenient and practical guidance for exploiting these opportunities in the context of public, private, and parochial schools.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2013

Predicted Versus Actual Savings for a Low-Rise Multifamily Retrofit in Boulder, Colorado

To determine the most cost-effective methods of improving buildings, accurate analysis and prediction of the energy use of existing buildings is essential. However, multiple studies confirm that analysis methods tend to over-predict energy use in poorly insulated, leaky homes and thus, the savings associated with improving those homes. In NREL's report titled 'Assessing and Improving the Accuracy of Energy Analysis of Residential Buildings,' researchers propose a method for improving the accuracy of residential energy analysis methods. A key step in this process involves the comparisons of predicted versus metered energy use and savings. In support of this research need, CARB evaluated the retrofit of a multifamily building in Boulder, CO. The updated property is a 37 unit, 2 story apartment complex built in 1950, which underwent renovations in early 2009 to bring it into compliance with Boulder, CO's SmartRegs ordinance. Goals of the study were to: 1) evaluate predicted versus actual savings due to the improvements, 2) identify areas where the modeling assumptions may need to be changed, and 3) determine common changes made by renters that would negatively impact energy savings. In this study, CARB seeks to improve the accuracy of modeling software while assessing retrofit measures to specifically determine which are most effective for large multifamily complexes in the cold climate region. Other issues that were investigated include the effects of improving building efficiency on tenant comfort, the impact on tenant turnover rates, and the potential market barriers for this type of community scale project.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2014

Strengthening Building Retrofit Markets

The Business Energy Financing (BEF) program offered commercial businesses in Michigan affordable financing options and other incentives designed to support energy efficiency improvements. We worked through partnerships with Michigan utilities, lenders, building contractors, trade associations, and other community organizations to offer competitive interest rates and flexible financing terms to support energy efficiency projects that otherwise would not have happened. The BEF program targeted the retail food market, including restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, and wholesale food vendors, with the goal of achieving energy efficiency retrofits for 2 percent of the target market. We offered low interest rates, flexible payments, easy applications and approval processes, and access to other incentives and rebates. Through these efforts, we sought to help customers strive for energy savings retrofits that would save 20 percent or more on their energy use. This program helped Michigan businesses reduce costs by financing energy efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, insulation, refrigeration, equipment upgrades, and more. Businesses completed the upgrades with the help of our authorized contractors, and, through our lending partners, we provided affordable financing options.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2012

Sonoma House. Monitoring of the First U.S. Passive House Retrofit

The Sonoma Deep Retrofit is a single-story deep retrofit project in the marine climate of Sonoma, California. The design was guided by Passive House principles that promote the use of very high levels of wall, ceiling, and floor insulation along with tight envelope construction to maintain a comfortable indoor environment with little or no need for conventional heating or cooling.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2016

Retrofitting Garden-Style Apartments in Brooklyn, New York

This research effort sought to achieve a solution package that yields energy savings greater than 30% over the pre-existing conditions in a minimally intrusive multifamily retrofit project. The Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) partnered with L+M Development Partners, Inc. on a Mitchell-Lama Housing Program project, Marcus Garvey Village, in Brooklyn, NY (Climate Zone 4A). The Mitchell-Lama Housing Program is a form of housing subsidy in the state of New York that provides affordable rental and cooperative housing to moderate- and middle-income families. Marcus Garvey Village was founded in 1975 and contains 625 residential units (ranging from studios to 5-bedroom units) in thirty-two 4-story garden-style apartment structures built with concrete and faced in light brown brick. The single largest challenge for implementation of energy conservation measures at Marcus Garvey was working within occupied spaces. Measures are being implemented in phases to minimize disruption. As of August 2015, the retrofit work is over 50% complete. The wall insulation, sealing of the through wall AC vent, and installation of new oil-filled electric baseboards with advanced controls are conducted at one time, limiting disruption to the living room space. In a similar fashion, the kitchen work is done, then the bathroom. The final selection of energy conservation measures is projected to save 26.5% in source energy with a cost just under $3.7 million and utility bill savings of nearly $480,000 (of an average $1.8 million annual utility cost for the development).

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2016

Quantifying the Financial Benefits of Multifamily Retrofits

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America research team Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit analyzed building, energy, and financial program data as well as other public and private data to examine the relationship between energy-efficiency retrofits and financial performance on three levels: building, city, and community.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2017

What Fleets Need to Know About Alternative Fuel Vehicle Conversions, Retrofits, and Repowers

Many fleet managers have opted to incorporate alternative fuels and advanced vehicles into their lineup. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) offer a variety of choices, and there are additional options offered by aftermarket companies. There are also a myriad of ways that existing vehicles can be modified to utilize alternative fuels and other advanced technologies. Vehicle conversions and retrofit packages, along with engine repower options, can offer an ideal way to lower vehicle operating costs. This can result in long term return on investment, in addition to helping fleet managers achieve emissions and environmental goals. This report summarizes the various factors to consider when pursuing a conversion, retrofit, or repower option.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2018

Attic Retrofits Using Nail-Base Insulated Panels

This project developed and demonstrated a roof/attic energy retrofit solution using nail-base insulated panels for existing homes where traditional attic insulation approaches are not effective or feasible. Nail-base insulated panels (retrofit panels) consist of rigid foam insulation laminated to one face of a wood structural panel. The prefabricated panels are installed above the existing roof deck during a reroofing effort.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2018

Attic Retrofits Using Nail-Base Insulated Panels

This project developed and demonstrated a roof/attic energy retrofit solution using nail-base insulated panels for existing homes where traditional attic insulation approaches are not effective or feasible. Nail-base insulated panels (retrofit panels) consist of rigid foam insulation laminated to one face of a wood structural panel. The prefabricated panels are installed above the existing roof deck during a reroofing effort.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2019

Vacuum Sanitation Energy Efficiency Retrofits Project

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) is a non-profit Tribal health organization designed to meet the unique health needs of Alaska Native and American Indian people living in Alaska. In partnership with communities and health organizations across the state, ANTHC provides health services to over 175,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people. Part of ANTHC’s mission includes ensuring that Native Alaskan communities have access to clean and safe water and sewer services. ANTHC works with communities to provide safe drinking water and healthy wastewater services that directly supports the health of Alaska Native people. To ensure water and sewer facilities operate sustainably, ANTHC Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative (ARUC) and Tribal Utility Support (TUS) programs provide operations and maintenance services on rural sanitation facilities. A key component of many water and sanitation systems in rural Alaskan villages is the vacuum sewer system, which is typically installed in places where the topography is primarily flat, and the elevation differential is not enough for a gravity powered sewer system to function without freezing during the winter. The vacuum sewer system is also the most costly and energy intensive form of sewer system, due to many factors including: large horsepower vacuum pumps needed for operation, potential for frequent vacuum leaks which increase the pump’s run-times, manpower needed to maintain pipe grade throughout the system, and the amount of heat needed to be added to the above ground pipes to keep them from freezing. The Vacuum Sanitation Energy Efficiency Retrofits Project implemented strategies to reduce the operating costs for vacuum sewer systems located in the remote Alaskan communities of Alakanuk, Kotlik, and Noorvik. A variety of deep energy efficiency retrofits were installed to reduce the amount of diesel fuel and electricity required to operate these systems which use large amounts of energy to pump, heat, and collect sewage from the community.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Retrofit of Blown Attic Insulation in Existing HUD-Code Manufactured Homes: Needs Assessment Report

This needs assessment was conducted by the Washington State University (WSU) Energy Program and Building Science Corporation (BSC), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Building Technologies Office. The primary goal of this research was to identify moisture durability, energy savings, and savings-to-investment ratio (SIR) research needs related to the retrofit of attic insulation in the DOE Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Specifically, manufactured homes that comply with building codes established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) built after 1976 and sited in colder climates. This project assessed current practice of WAP insulation and/or roof venting solutions that improve attic insulation energy savings and durability. WSU and BSC conducted outreach to stakeholders via email, phone, one-on-one interviews, and group meetings designed to inquire about relevant issues that they may have observed. Needs assessment feedback was provided from stakeholders involved with attic insulation retrofits in existing HUD-code manufactured housing in the colder climates of the United States. The list of more than 50 stakeholders who provided input into this needs assessment is provided in Appendix A.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2019

Retrofit of Blown Attic Insulation in Existing HUD-Code Manufactured Homes: Needs Assessment Report

This needs assessment was conducted by the Washington State University (WSU) Energy Program and Building Science Corporation (BSC), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Building Technologies Office. The primary goal of this research was to identify moisture durability, energy savings, and savings-to-investment ratio (SIR) research needs related to the retrofit of attic insulation in the DOE Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Specifically, manufactured homes that comply with building codes established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) built after 1976 and sited in colder climates. This project assessed current practice of WAP insulation and/or roof venting solutions that improve attic insulation energy savings and durability. WSU and BSC conducted outreach to stakeholders via email, phone, one-on-one interviews, and group meetings designed to inquire about relevant issues that they may have observed. Needs assessment feedback was provided from stakeholders involved with attic insulation retrofits in existing HUD-code manufactured housing in the colder climates of the United States. The list of more than 50 stakeholders who provided input into this needs assessment is provided in Appendix A.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2019

On the Path to Energy Independence and a Clean Power Future – LED Lighting Retrofit and Solar Power Generation for the CTUIR Science and Engineering Laboratory and Public Transit Center (Rev.1)

This project supports the goals of the Energy Policy for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) through the implementation of an energy efficiency measure (LED lighting retrofit) and construction of a fixed rack (stationary) ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array energy generation system. The project objective was to eliminate the net demand for grid-based utility energy at two tribal facilities: the CTUIR Field Station and the Public Transit Center (consisting of bus barn and maintenance shop buildings). A total of 332 lighting fixtures were retrofitted with high efficiency LEDs at the three buildings within the project scope. The solar PV array constructed adjacent to the Field Station (46330 Timine Way, Pendleton, OR 97801) has a nameplate capacity of 97.98 kW DC . The project was managed by staff from the CTUIR Energy & Environmental Sciences Program within the Department of Natural Resources and the final budget was $\$ $288,206. Data was collected during a 12 month monitoring period following construction of the aptly named Ántukš–Tín̓qapapt Solar PV Array and assessed to determine project results. During this time, the solar PV system generated 125,580 kWh of energy according to SolrenView solar PV system monitoring service. In contrast, the total realized utility energy and cost savings due to the project were estimated by comparing 24 months of consecutive utility billing data. Results of this comparison indicate that grid-based utility energy demand was reduced by 121,280 kWh, or roughly 80% of the total electricity consumed by both facilities. The cost savings associated with this energy demand reduction were $\$ $11,104 and a payback period of 5.7 years was estimated for recovering the CTUIR’s investment. However, it should be noted that these figures are not representative of the savings that could be obtained under normal, error-free (i.e. faultless) conditions. Several undesirable events occurred during the 12 month monitoring and evaluation period, the effects of which were quantified using available data so that results under a “Faultless Scenario” could be estimated. Annual energy and cost savings estimated for the Faultless Scenario were approximately 166,289 kWh and $\$ $15,225, respectively. These figures should prove to be more representative of the long-term average annual results achieved in response to the project and suggest a payback period closer to 4.5 years for the CTUIR.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Advancing insulation retrofits from flexible inexpensive lucid materials (AIR FILMs) for single-pane windows

This project focused on Advancing Insulation Retrofits from Flexible Inexpensive Lucid Materials (AIR FILMs) for Single-Pane Windows. The team developed innovative porous materials that can improve the energy efficiency of existing single-pane windows in commercial and residential buildings in two technical product categories: (1) retrofits that can be applied onto existing windowpanes and (2) manufactured windowpanes that can be installed into the existing window sash.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

Colorado Residential Retrofit Energy District (CoRRED) Phase I: Final Modeling Results

Electrification of buildings and transportation coupled with increased deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) has been identified as a key step toward meeting emissions reduction goals across the U.S. Examples of pilot projects that feature innovative, 'smart' electric neighborhoods are largely focused on new construction projects, but there is a need to address the millions of existing homes so that they too may accommodate cleaner yet variable energy production in ways that benefit both the utility grid and the homes' residents. The Colorado Residential Retrofit Energy District (CoRRED) project used building and grid co-simulation tools to model an advanced energy district demonstration in an existing residential neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, and explored how existing building and utility infrastructures can be enhanced with combinations of traditional energy-efficiency retrofit measures and integration of solar panels and other DER technologies to provide better affordability and reliability. We analyzed which packages of DERs most reliably enable demand flexibility in response to a time-of-use (TOU) rate. Our results clearly indicate that incorporating DERs into efficient electrification produces much bigger utility bill savings on an annual basis than efficient electrification without DERs. While electrifying a neighborhood will increase the maximum load, batteries and solar panels can reduce load during peak hours so that the community can be a net producer during peak periods. A remaining challenge is to overcome first cost barriers to implementing energy-efficiency and DER technologies, as modest utility bill savings require long payback periods that are not practical for most homeowners.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗