IHBE Faculty Research

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Open Access
An Approach to Teaching Calculation Procedures for Passive Design
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1981) Brown, G. Z.; Ubbelohde, M. Susan; Reynolds, John S.
This paper describes the development, testing and revision of a workbook, Passive Procedures for Daylighting, Passive Solar Heating and Cooling", which emphasize the integration of a set of calculation procedures with the building design process. The work was carried out in the University of Oregon Department of Architecture in 1980-81 and funded through the U.S.D.O.E. Passive Solar Curriculum Development Project, administered by the University of Pennsylvania.
Open Access
Architectural Response to Climatic Patterns
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1997) Brown, G. Z.; Novitski, B. J.
We have analysed several climates in terms of some basic recurring weather patterns, and then classified these patterns in terms of direct architectural response. This analysis allows the designer to organize and prioritize the vast array of architectural responses in a way that is appropriate for a particular climate.
Open Access
Barriers to Increasing the Market Share of Wood-Framed Closed Panels
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1996-05) Brown, G. Z.; Larocque, Paul; Peffer, Therese
The University of Oregon completed diagnostic testing of six units of housing which used open and closed panels. Open panels are built with wood studs and shipped to the site with sheathing, and sometimes windows and siding installed, but without insulation, vapor barriers, drywall, or wiring. Closed panels by contrast usually arrive at the site with insulation, vapor barriers, and electrical chases installed. The testing indicated that the units constructed of wood-framed closed panels performed better thermally than open framed panels. Despite the increased energy efficiency and value added, panel manufacturers are reluctant to produce wood-framed closed panels due to many perceived barriers. This report identifies those barriers as well as strategies to overcome those barriers. Strategies to reduce barriers include educating builders and the public to the benefits of wood-framed closed panels, educating builders to new construction techniques, revising of the code approval process at the federal, state, and local levels, and establishing manufacturing consortiums to share costs of code approval and marketing.
Open Access
Calibration of the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1990-12) Ryan, Patrick; Brown, G. Z.; Berg, Rudy
Open Access
Calibration of the boundary layer wind tunnel : progress report
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1990-12) Ryan, C. P.; Berg, Rudy; Brown, G. Z.
Since 1989 the U. S. Department of Energy has sponsored a research program organized to improve energy efficiency in industrialized housing. Two research centers share responsibility for the Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing (BEIH) program: the Center for Housing Innovation at the University of Oregon and the Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute of the University of Central Florida. Additional funding for the program is provided by non-DOE participants from private industry, state governments and utilities. The program is guided by a steering committee composed of industry and government representatives. Industrialization of U.S. housing production varies from mobile home builders who ship furnished houses to the site, to production builders who assemble factory produced components on the site. Such housing can be divided into four major categories: HUD code (mobile) homes, modular houses, panelized houses, and production built houses. There are many hybrids of these categories. The goal of the Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing research project is to develop techniques to produce marketable industrialized housing that is 25% more energy efficient than required by today's most stringent U.S. residential codes, yet less costly than present homes. One aspect of the EEIH project is testing the energy performance of houses at several stages from design through occupancy. The activity described here comprises part of Task 2.6, "Tests of Construction Methods, Products, and Materials," a process which involves both field and laboratory studies. Toward this end the project will use the low speed boundary layer wind tunnel to study building ventilation and microclimates. This report describes progress toward the calibration of this instrument. First is a description of the tunnel itself -- a duct roughly 60 feet long, coupled to a variable speed fan, and shaped to provide a smooth air flow with minimum background turbulence. During calibration this level of turbulence was examined using the tunnel's three-part set of instruments: anemometry sensors (TSI Model 1066) and electronics, data acquisition system (IDAC-1000 plus custom communication program), and controlling Macintosh computer.
Open Access
City Form: The Creation of Comfortable Urban Microclimates
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1981) Brown, G. Z.; Novitski, B. J.; Kleczynski, H.
This paper describes a method for analyzing the climate of exterior spaces in terms of human thermal comfort. Hypothetical city configurations are compared in two U.S. climate zones.
Open Access
Climate Responsive Earth-Sheltered Buildings
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1981-03) Brown, G. Z.; Novitski, B. J.
An understanding of the impact of climate on the built environment can lead to the' design of more fuel-efficient buildings. The authors present a methodology for analyzing climate conditions in terms of the architectural response required for thermal comfort. They used hourly climate data for several locations, and from these data determined diurnal and seasonal climate patterns. Although climate varies widely in different locations, several patterns - such as cold morning, comfortable midday, cold night - are common throughout North America in different seasons. Through proper architectural and site treatment, buildings can be designed to accommodate these patterns, effectively increasing the amount of thermally comfortable time. The authors find that earth-sheltered buildings can be designed in response to dynamic climate conditions. In this way, the outside spaces associated with underground buildings as well as the inside spaces can also be designed for thermal comfort, thereby increasing the livable space of the buildings.
Open Access
Comparison of Residential Energy Codes
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1992-01) Pierce, Sam; Brown, G. Z.
The objective of this investigation is to gain an understanding of the code requirements in order to gauge the task of developing an energy code compliance tool for use by industrialized housing producers. Although this pilot study was limited to 5 states we expect it is representative of other regions of the U.S. This document reduces the various code material to a format facilitating direct comparison and analysis. Included are tabulations of code requirements by component or code issue, a tabulation of code jurisdictions and a direct comparison of the codes. All identifiable regional, state, and local codes for the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and California are included in this investigation with exception of Missoula, Montana which uses the Model Energy Code.
Open Access
Computer Use in Industrialized Housing Sales, Design and Manufacturing Processes
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1991) Brown, G. Z.; McDonald, Margot; Meacham, Matt
This paper summarizes a study on the extent of computer use by industrialized housing producers in the U.S., Japan, Sweden and Norway. The study was directed at understanding industrialized housing production and energy decision making processes used by producers in order to set general criteria for new energy software tools and to make projections for future computer use in the industry. Computers' first penetrations into the U.S. housing industry were in component design and manufacture. U.S. manufacturers continue to computerize an increasing number of discrete tasks such as drafting and material resource planning, aware of the difficulties in sharing data between individually automated tasks. Use ofcomputerized energy tools by U.S. industrialized housing producers is low, though manufacturers recognize the need to automate as a means to increase productivity, improve quality control, and speed up communications between the various phases of production and management. As the number of software tools developed for the industry grows, so Will the industries' willingness to accept computerization. Japanese and Scandinavian companies are more sophisticated in their use of computers than U.S. companies-Sweden in the control ofproduction and links between production and design, and Japan in the computerization of the sales process and its links to design. Our analysis of the activities required to make a house and the nature of energy decisions revealed how critical it .is to identify the correct audience to increase acceptance of computerized tools. This study concluded that energy calculations should be computerized and that the computer tools developed should be integrated with hardware and software systems expected to be used in the future by industrialized housing companies. Energy tools must be an integral part ofany other computerized design and sales aids designed to be used with customers. New computerized energy tools should help link manufacturers of energy efficient products and homeowners. Energy tools should be part of expert systems which assist non-professional personnel in housing design.
Open Access
Conceptual Design Subdomain Model
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1990-12) Brown, G. Z.; McDonald, Margot
The Advanced Energy Design and Operation Technologies (AEDOT) Research Project was created to develop a scientific and technical basis for improved energy-related decision making early in the design process and in ways that impact operational efficiencies. AEDOT research will develop intelligent computer-based tools to provide the technological basis for presenting and testing energy options. A multiyear plan has been developed by Pacific Northwest Laboratories with the Department of Energy to administer and coordinate research activities on the AEDOT project Additionally, three research teams share responsibility for completing individual research tasks: California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL), and the University of Oregon. At the University of Oregon, AEDOT will draw upon building design process experience and developmental work with conceptual energy design software tools. This report addresses work done on the modeling of the conceptual design subdomain.
Open Access
Cost Analysis for a Stressed Skin Insulating Core Panel Demonstration House, Springfield, Oregon
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1995) Aires, Kevin; Berg, Rudy; Brown, G. Z.; Kline, Jeff; Kumar, Pawan
This paper summarizes a detailed cost study performed to evaluate the first cost of the building system innovations in a stressed skin insulation core (SSIC) panel demonstration house built in Springfield, Oregon. The objective was to compare this building envelope system to a conventionally built, architecturally equivalent Reference House designed with the same energy performance that the Demonstration House provides. The demonstration House proved to have a lower first cost and to be more profitable to the builder than the Reference House.. The primary cost benefit of the Demonstration House is the reduced amount of on-site labor required through the use of SSIC panels. In addition to providing high insulation values and a very tight building envelope, using these panels reduced the use of framing lumber by almost 50%.
Open Access
Demonstration House Project for: St. Vincent De Paul Society
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1992) Brown, G. Z.; University of Oregon. Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory
Open Access
Design and Evaluation of Energy Efficient Modular Classroom Structures
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1996) Bernhard, Sarah; Brown, G. Z.; Briscoe, John; Kline, Jeff; Kumar, Pawan; Wang, Zhunqin; Rasmussen, Donald; Rasmussen, Kenneth; Stanard, James
The objective of our investigations was to develop innovations that would enable modular builders to improve the energy performance of their classrooms without increasing their first cost. The Modem Building Systems' classroom building conforms to the stringent Oregon and Washington energy codes, and at $18/S.F. (FOB the factory) it is at the low end of the cost range for modular classrooms. Therefore the objective we set for ourselves was challenging. We proposed to investigate daylighting, crossventilation, solar preheat of ventilation air, and thermal storage as ways to reduce energy use. Simple paybacks range from 1.3 years in Honolulu to 23.8 years in Astoria, OR. Therefore in the five climates we investigated in Phase I we came closest to achieving our objective of increasing energy performance without increasing the first cost of the unit in the Honolulu climate. We were able to do this in Honolulu because a preheater was not required, and we were able to save money by eliminating the economizer unit, using cross-ventilation, and reducing insulation in the envelope. Our second best performing climate was Fairbanks with a simple payback of 7.7 years. In this case we were able to eliminate the heat pump and economizer by using crossventilation, thereby reducing cost. Our third best performing climate was Bakersfield, California, which had a simple payback of 10.3 years. Spokane had a simple payback period of 17.2 years. The major cost increases in Spokane are in the preheater and lights, with a modest increase in windows. Astoria had the worst payback period of almost 24 years with most of the increased cost being in the preheater, windows, and lighting. The savings from the preheater are modest. In Phase II of this project, by combining the strategies of improved electrical light-switching, perimeter insulation, shading, window sizing, preheater configuration and location and HV AC locations, we expect to reduce simple payback periods to 0 years in Honolulu, Hawaii; less than 2 years in Bakersfield, California; 3 years in Astoria, Oregon; 4 years in Fairbanks, Alaska; and 8 years in Spokane, Washington.
Open Access
Design and Evaluation of Energy-Efficient Modular Classroom Structures, Phase II
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1997) Brown, G. Z.; Bjornson, Dana; Briscoe, John; Fremouw, Sean; Kline, Jeff; Kumar, Pawan; Larocque, Paul; Northcutt, Dale; Wang, Zhunqin
We are developing innovations to enable modular builders to improve the energy performance of their classrooms with a minimum increase in first cost. The Modern Building Systems' (MBS) classroom building conforms to the stringent Oregon and Washington energy codes, and at $18/S.F. (FOB the factory) it is at the low end of the cost range for modular classrooms. We are investigating daylighting, cross-ventilation, solar preheat of ventilation air, electric lighting controls, and down-sizing HV AC systems. The work described in this paper is from the second phase of the project. In the first phase we redesigned the basic modular classroom to include energy efficiency features tailored to five distinct climates. Energy savings ranged from 6% to 49% with an average of 23%. Paybacks ranged from 1.3 yrs to 23.8 yrs, an average of 12.1. The initial work in Phase II (which added two more climates) has been to refine the designs for each of the seven climates and reduce payback periods. In Phase II the number of baseline buildings was expanded by simulating buildings that would be typical of those produced by MBS for each of the seven locations/climates. A number of parametric simulations were performed for each energy strategy. Additionally we refined our previous algorithm for a solar ventilation air wall preheater and developed an algorithm for a roof preheater configuration. These algorithms were coded as functions in DOE 2. lE. We were aiming for occupant comfort as well as energy savings. We performed computer analyses to verify adequate illumination on vertical surfaces and acceptable glare levels when using daylighting. We also used computational fluid dynamics software to determine air distribution from crossventilation and used the resulting interior wind speeds to calculate occupant comfort and allowable outside air temperatures for cross-ventilation. To choose the final mix of energy strategies, we developed a method to compare incremental costs versus energy savings for all strategies at once. The results of parametric energy simulations were graphed against detailed cost information. This allowed us not only to easily see which broad strategies were most cost effective but also to choose the best configurations of the strategy. Final results were obtained by simulating the strategies chosen from the cost/energy graphs. In some cases adjustments were made in the chosen strategies since the final performance is not readily predictable from parametrics of many systems.
Open Access
Design and Technology for Energy Efficiency in Housing - 2030
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1992) Berg, Rudy; Brown, G. Z.; DeKay, Mark; Kellett, Ronald; Muller, Brook; Peting, Donald; Rose, Jordan
This paper reports on method and results of 'Design for Energy Efficiency', a design and technology task area of the Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing research program - a project jointly based in institutions of architecture, energy research and industrial engineering. The paper presents a research method through which design studies were systematically developed to establish a vision and quantifiable goals for energy efficient housing in the year 2030. Problem definition, design, and performance specification phases of this task are summarized, emphasizing areas where principles of design and technology have converged to realize high standards of economy, energy performance and quality in housing. Goals of 'zero net energy use' and 'zero net cost increase' were established for specification phases of the task.
Open Access
The Effect of Panelized Single Family Residential Construction on the Environment
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1997-12-18) Brown, G. Z.; Peffer, T. E.
The construction of single family housing in the U.S. is growing increasingly industrialized with panelization emerging as the dominant form of industrialization. Will this trend mean that housing construction, operation, and demolition will have a greater or a reduced impact on the environment? This paper analyzes the differences between low levels of industrialization, such as site built wood framing or open wood-frame panels, with higher levels of industrialization, such as closed wood-frame or stressed skin insulating core panels, in terms of material use, waste generation in construction, and energy use in operation. One experiment measured the energy consumption of six units of housing built using various forms of factory fabrication-· open wood-frame panels, closed wood-frame panels, and stressed skin insulating core panels. The tests indicated that the more completely components are factory fabricated, the less energy a house built from these components will consume, resulting in reduced CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. The units built with more industrialized panels had a more complete insulation envelope and half the air changes per hour. Another test compared conventional on site construction (wood frame) to stressed skin insulating core panel construction. Stressed skin insulating core panel construction used 5% less total wood and 50% less framing lumber, indicating the consumption of fewer trees. A similar experiment comparing the side by side construction of a wood frame house to a panelized house showed less solid sawn lumber used and less waste generated on site by the panelized house construction. A recent prototype panelized floor/foundation system showed promise as a lower cost alternative to concrete slab construction with its high embodied energy. The on-grade panel floor system has a better thermal performance than a typical slab floor, and the panels can be reused upon demolition. These examples show that high levels of industrialization can potentially result in less environmental impact from construction, operation, and demolition.
Open Access
Energy Conserving Housing for the Federal University of Technology Yola, Nigeria
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1997-03-18) Brown, G. Z.
This study was part of a larger campus planning project for the new Federal University of Technology at Yola, Nigeria. Yola, a town of 100,000, is located in eastern Niqeria on the Benue River approximately 300 miles southwest of Lake Chad. Energy is of primary importance in new facilities design because of persistent electricity shortages and the high cost of diesel-generated electrical power. Mechanica1 cooling is typically the major consumer of energy, probably more than 80%, in university housing. Therefore strategies which reduce the energy used for cooling were the primary focus of this study. Daylighting and solar water heating were proposed as means of reducing the remaining 20% of the energy use. The proposed cooling method is stack assisted night ventilation of thermal mass. This cooling system can meet 100% of the average cooling load from June to February. During the three remaining months, the passive system must be augmented by mechanical refrigeration or evaporative cooling. The night ventilation of mass is a major departure from the cross ventilation system usually recommended for composite hot-humid, hot-arid climates such as Yola's. The cooling system has major implications for housing design and campus planning. Night ventilation of mass can utilize courtyards and compact site planning which is quite different than the dispersed schemes required by cross ventilation cooling schemes. Compact planning results in substantially lower costs due to the sharing of walls within the building clusters and reduced length of utilities, sewers, and roads.
Open Access
Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing Research Program from the Consortium for Industrialized Housing Research
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1988-04) Brown, G. Z.; Moseley, John; Chandra, Subrato; Block, David
Open Access
Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing Research Program: Summary FY 1989 Research Activities
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1990-02) Berg, Rudy; Brown, G. Z.; Finrow, Jerry; Kellett, Ron; McDonald, Margot; McGinn, Barry; Ryan, Pat; Sekiguchi, Tomoko; Chandra, Subrato; Elshennawy, Ahmad K.; Fairey, Philip; Harrison, John; Maxwell, Lawrence; Roland, Jim; Swart, William
This report summarizes three documents: Multiyear Research Plan, Volume I FY 1989 Task Reports, and Volume II Appendices. These documents describe tasks that were undertaken from November 1988 to December 1989, the first year of the project. Those tasks were: 1) the formation of a steering committee, 2) the development of a multiyear research plan, 3) analysis of the U.S. industrialized housing industry, 4) assessment of foreign technology, 5) assessment of industrial applications, 6) analysis of computerized design and evaluation tools, and 7) assessment of energy performance of baseline and advanced industrialized housing concepts. While this document summarizes information developed in each task area, it doesn't review task by task, as Volume I FY 1989 Task Reports does, but rather treats the subject of energy efficient industrialized housing as a whole to give the reader a more coherent view.
Open Access
Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing Research Program: Summary FY 1990 Research Activities
(Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon, 1991-07) Berg, Rudy; Brown, G. Z.; Kellett, Ronald; McDonald, Margot; Meacham, Matt; Paz, Artemio; Ryan, Pat; Sekiguchi, Tomoko; Cai, Bing; Chandra, Subrato; Elshennawy, Ahmad K.; Fairey, Philip; Gumbs, Elvis; Mcilvaine, Janet E. R.; Maxwell, Lawrence; Melody, Ingrid; Moalla, Sofien; Mullens, Michael; Roland, Jim; Tooley, John; Swart, William; Young, Lorenzo
This report summarizes research results from eight projects conducted from November, 1989 to March, 1991, the second year of the Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing research program. Detailed individual reports are available for each of the sections described in this report. The titles of these reports are: An Analysis of U.S. Industrialized Housing, A Review of Computer Use in Industrialized Housing, Design for Energy Efficiency, Energy Design Software, Manufacturing Process Innovation, Toward the Development of a Dimensional Coordinating Hierarchy for Housing Applications, Calibration of the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel, and Cooling Season Tests for Industrialized Housing Systems.