Energy Audit and Blower door test   5/4/11

 

Energy Rater: Peter Harding uses thermal imagery camera to detect areas where heat is escaping.

 

One obvious location is the visible opening above the main door.

 

Tom prepares the blower door test apparatus at the exit from the children's library.

A second blower door fan ran upstairs.

This video shows the blower door test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMMsg30pVmw

 

The vaulted ceiling does not seem well insulated, but insulation is not planned above it.

Insulation weight might distort the paint.

 

Outside air is entering through the floor boards under one of 5 radiators.

A 5/3 proposal by Bill Jamieson of Advanced Energy Management is to replace light bulbs for a 30% rebate.

These housings should be tighter than the existing ones, which are letting air escape.

Note the spider web, an indicator of air movement.

A final report will be forthcoming from Peter Harding of Home Energy Technologies.

But here is a summary report discussed with Dan and emailed to John Edwards PE,

whose company is preparing the energy load calculations:

 

John,
            The energy audit went well today.  Please send this information to your engineer performing the load calculations.
            The majority of the building is of average tightness with a blower door cfm per sq. ft. of approximately 1.0 to 1.2 for 10.3’ average ceilings.
The old 1908 stone building portion upper floor of about 2000 sq. ft titled Multi purpose room, Foyer and Adult reading on page A-5 is leaking severely, with blower door for that area alone running16474 cfm or a factor of 8 at 10 pascals adjusted.
            This area is heated with 5 older radiators, not the heat pumps, plus a duct system heat pump for cooling.  Several remediation tasks will occur including replacement of old storm windows, probable replacement of recessed light fixtures, weather stripping of the old entrance door and sealing old floor boards and hidden portions of trim. The historically painted vaulted ceiling will not be changed, and insulation from above seems infeasible with no obvious access at this time.  
            So at the conclusion of weatherization, we anticipate a reduction of one half to 4.0 cfm/sf, but still to be considered loose due to the significant infiltration and apparent lack of ceiling insulation.  The single interior door to that space can perhaps be mostly kept closed to keep heat loss to a minimum.  Except for when an event is scheduled, a thermostat setting below the high 60’s might also be prudent.  The nearby skylight in the adjacent area to the east seems acceptable.
            We saw two intake ducts bringing in fresh outdoor air.  On Tuesday we will confirm if and where more exist.  One seems to be a heat recovery ventilator.  We will also ascertain duct leakage condition for you.
            The two bathrooms and electrical closet off the office work room on the main floor are heated with electric baseboard heaters.
            The Storage Floor of about 2400 sq ft below the children’s floor is not heated with gas as I previously understood.  There is one hot water heater there and no air circulation, but future expansion is anticipated, so heat loss should be determined here.  This hot water supply seems hotter than the hot water supplied to the 15 heat pumps within PVC piping.  The area is of average envelope tightness at cfm 3070 for 10’ ceiling.  The door to the lowest level mechanical room stays closed, so no heat loss is needed there.
            Thermal imaging showed some areas of poor or missing insulation even in the 1989 building, and bridging through the steel studs was apparent, but only minor improvements will be required.
            I have and can take photos of room and features if you like.
            I hope this helps with your work.  We anticipate a full report next week.
Best regards,
Pete T.

 

Back to Geothermal Retrofit Project home page