Evaluation of Missed Energy Saving Opportunity Based on Illinois Home Performance Program Field Data: Homeowner Selected Upgrades Versus Cost-Optimized Solutions

Yee, S.; M., Milby,; Baker, J.

doi:10.2172/1136231

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Second, the results herein are limited to the assumptions for upfront costs of individual retrofits and retrofit packages. Although this could present a limitation to our findings, recent work has shown that while cost discrepancies often exist between actual retrofit packages and the same retrofit packages modeled in BEopt, BEopt cost assumptions actually tend to overestimate market costs and thus can be considered conservative pricing estimates [35]. Moreover, while any discrepancies in assumptions for upfront costs will affect output variables such as AERC, payback periods, and MIRR, they do not affect the predicted potential energy savings for any of the groups.…”

Section: Limitations and Uncertaintymentioning

confidence: 83%

Optimizing Whole House Deep Energy Retrofit Packages: A Case Study of Existing Chicago-Area Homes

Leinartas

Stephens

2015

Buildings

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Improving the energy efficiency of the residential building stock plays a key role in mitigating global climate change. New guidelines are targeting widespread application of deep energy retrofits to existing homes that reduce their annual energy use by 50%, but questions remain as to how to identify and prioritize the most cost-effective retrofit measures. This work demonstrates the utility of whole building energy simulation and optimization software to construct a "tool-box" of prescriptive deep energy retrofits that can be applied to large portions of the existing housing stock. We consider 10 generally representative typology groups of existing single-family detached homes built prior to 1978 in the Chicago area for identifying cost-optimal deep energy retrofit packages. Simulations were conducted in BEopt and EnergyPlus operating on a cloud-computing platform to first identify cost-optimal enclosure retrofits and then identify cost-optimal upgrades to heating, ventilation, and airconditioning (HVAC) systems. Results reveal that prescriptive retrofit packages achieving at least 50% site energy savings can be defined for most homes through a combination of envelope retrofits, lighting upgrades, and upgrades to existing HVAC system efficiency or conversion to mini-split heat pumps. The average upfront cost of retrofits is estimated to be ~$14,400, resulting in average annual site energy savings of ~54% and an average simple payback period of ~25 years. Widespread application of these prescriptive retrofit packages across the existing Chicago-area residential building stock is predicted to reduce annual site energy use by 3.7 × 10 16 J and yield approximately $280 million USD in annual energy savings.

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Section: Limitations and Uncertaintymentioning

confidence: 83%