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AUSTIN ENERGY
REGISTERED COMPANY
Residential Energy
Efficiency Programs

   
              360 Energy Savers, LLC.

       
                   The 360 Approach 
              to Energy Savings

The following case studies PROVE that energy efficiency does not discriminate!  Energy efficient upgrades are needed for newer custom homes as well as older homes!  The following is very representative of the situations that we encounter everyday!


Helful terms:
                   ACHn – Natural Air Changes per Hour                   CFM –  Cubic feet of air movement per minute 

Case History #1
The house is a very nice and newer 2 story custom home in Central Austin with two HVAC systems.  The first system was fairly tight had a pre-duct leakage test of 14.9%.  However, the second system had a pre-duct leakage test of 39.4%.  In addition, the house had .454 air changes per hour ACHn, just outside of Austin Energy’s requirements of .35 to .45 ACHn to balance health and energy efficiency.  After our work, we reduced the duct leakage on System 1 to 7.7%, and system 2 to 7.45%.  The ACHn was reduced to .385 

Recaptured CFM after energy efficient improvements: 
System 1 - 72 CFM
System 2 - 639 CFM.  Total recaptured CFM – 771 CFM (this is equivalent to conditioning almost 5 extra rooms delivering 160 CFM per room) 

House Square Footage – 5,187. 
Year Built – 2003.
 
Pre-Test Measurements 
HVAC System 1          149 CFM loss – 14.9%
HVAC System 2          788 CFM loss – 39.4%

Post-Test Measurement
HVAC System 1             77 CFM loss – 7.7%
HVAC System 2          149 CFM loss – 7.45% 


Case History #2
This 2 story house is located in NW Austin.  All bedrooms and the home office are upstairs and the owner complained that the upstairs area is too warm in the summer and too cool in the winter.  The system has a pre-test duct leakage of 60.7%.  The natural air changes per hour ACHn registered .483, exceeding the recommend level of .35 to .45 to optimize balancing health and energy efficiency.  After our work, we reduced the leakage to 7.07% and reduced the ACHn to .422. (natural air changes per hour) 

Recaptured CFM after energy efficeint improvements:
System 1 – 751 CFM

Total recaptured CFM 
751 CFM (this is equivalent to conditioning 4 ½  extra rooms delivering 160 CFM per room).  This is significant considering the size of the house and that all bedrooms are upstairs! 

House Square Footage – 1934
Year Built – 1989

Pre-Test Measurements   
HVAC System 1          850 CFM loss – 60.7%

Post-Test Measurement 
HVAC System 1          99 CFM loss – 7.07%

Case History #3
This house is located in South Austin in an established neighborhood.  The owners complained of high utility bills and air distribution problems.  The owners contacted us to install radiant barrier and attic insulation.  The attic insulation was just fine, and all they needed was more ventilation in the attic roof with no need for radiant barrier.  However, they did have significant air infiltration issues and duct leakage.  Initailly, they had duct leakage of 26.9% and their ACHn was .719, a staggering number!  We were able to tighten their house to where their ACHn was .39, a remarkable result!

Recaptured CFM after energy efficient improvements:

System 1 – 228 CFM

House square footage - 1957 
Year Built – 1987

                                               Pre-Test Measurements

                                   HVAC System 1          323 CFM loss – 26.9%

                                               Post-Test Measurement

                                   HVAC System 1          98 CFM loss – 7.9%