BASC Search

This “high static ducted cassette” heat pump system is similar to a traditional centrally ducted system, serving several areas of a home from one indoor unit

Image

This single-zone mini-split ductless heat pump has only one indoor wall-mounted unit and one outdoor unit.

Image

This multi-split heat pump system incorporates several indoor units connected to just one outdoor unit; the indoor units include a wall-mounted unit, floor-mounted, ceiling cassette, and mini-air handler.

Image

This plot shows a heat pump’s minimum and maximum heating capacities overlaid with a home’s heating load line, allowing a designer to assess how well-suited the equipment is for the specific home.

Image

This plot shows a heat pump’s minimum and maximum heating capacities overlaid with a home’s heating load line as well as the annual heating load hours for the home, allowing a designer to assess how well-suited the equipment is for the specific home.

Image

This plot shows a heat pump’s minimum and maximum cooling capacities overlaid with a home’s cooling load line, allowing a designer to assess how well-suited the equipment is for the specific home.

Image

By plotting the heating capacities at -4°F and 5°F and drawing a line between them, the capacity at 0°F can be estimated

Image

Right: Sized per Approach 3, this heat pump’s modulating zone has a large overlap with the home’s heating load line; it will require backup heating but could still contribute significant heating for all hours of the heating season

Image

Right: Sized per Approach 3 or 4, this heat pump’s modulating zone has a large overlap with the home’s heating load line, resulting in minimal short-cycling; the unit may require a small amount of backup heat during the very coldest hours of winter.

Image

Wrong: This heat pump is oversized even for Approach 4, and its modulating zone has a small overlap with the home’s heating load line, resulting in a large amount of short-cycling.

Image

Right: Sized per Approach 1, this heat pump will have minimal short-cycling; since sized using Approach 1, it will require backup heat when temp is below 30°F but could still contribute significant heating down to heating design temp (-6°F) and lower

Image

Wrong: Sized per Approach 1 or 2, this heat pump’s modulating zone has a small overlap with the home’s heating load line, resulting in a large amount of short-cycling; the unit will require backup heat when the temperature is below 25°F

Image

Wrong: Sized per Approach 3, there is small overlap between this heat pump’s modulating zone and the home’s heating load line, resulting in excessive short-cycling; it will require backup heat when the temperature is below 5°F

Image

Right (decent): For a relatively high-capacity ccASHP sized per Approach 3 or 4 to meet nearly 100% of the heating load, this heat pump’s modulating zone has a decent overlap with the home’s heating load line, reducing short-cycling.

Image

Wrong: Sized per Approach 3, there is minimal overlap between this heat pump’s modulating zone and the home’s heating load line, causing excessive short-cycling; it will require backup heat and may not contribute significantly at temperatures below 5°F

Image

Stucco that Works

Reference

Information sheet describing correct application of stucco.

RED Calc: Known Issues

Basic page

There are currently no known issues with RED Calc or RED Calc Pro as of DOE's acquisition. If you encounter issues in the future, you may want to check this page to see if it a known issue.

Estimating the Payback Period of Additional Insulation

Reference

Homebuilding’s simple payback estimator for an insulation upgrade – the type and amount of insulation, square footage of the area, recent utility bill, and a quote from insulation contractor.

FORTIFIED Home Homeowner Resources

Reference

Webpage describing homeowner resources program designed to strengthen homes and commercial buildings against severe weather such as high winds, hail, hurricanes, and even tornadoes.

Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations 2

Reference

Residential HVAC Installation Practices: A Review of Research Findings

Reference

U.S. DOE report summarizing findings from literature and research relevant to HVAC installation practices.

Impact of installation faults in air conditioners and heat pumps in single-family homes on U.S. energy usage

Reference

Journal article detailing laboratory and simulation studies quantifying the impact that heat pump and air conditioner installation faults have on system capacity and efficiency.

Sensitivity Analysis of Installation Faults on Heat Pump Performance

Reference

Technical study exploring the impact of different installation faults on heat pump performance in a single-family house.

ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program

Reference

ENERGY STAR factsheet describing the HVAC Quality Installation Program

Smart Tools for Efficient HVAC Performance Campaign

Reference

Webpage describing the STEP campaign encouraging the use of smart diagnostic tools to reduce installation faults.

Webpage describing the Quality Install Tool, an open-source web app designed to simplify, standardize, and expedite the creation of high-quality installation documentation for HVAC installations and efficiency upgrades.

Stop Pests in Housing - Rodents

Reference

Webpage providing information how to deal with rodents by knowing what they look like, where they live, and what they do.

This “high static ducted cassette” heat pump system is similar to a traditional centrally ducted system, serving several areas of a home from one indoor unit

This single-zone mini-split ductless heat pump has only one indoor wall-mounted unit and one outdoor unit.

This multi-split heat pump system incorporates several indoor units connected to just one outdoor unit; the indoor units include a wall-mounted unit, floor-mounted, ceiling cassette, and mini-air handler.

This plot shows a heat pump’s minimum and maximum heating capacities overlaid with a home’s heating load line, allowing a designer to assess how well-suited the equipment is for the specific home.

This plot shows a heat pump’s minimum and maximum heating capacities overlaid with a home’s heating load line as well as the annual heating load hours for the home, allowing a designer to assess how well-suited the equipment is for the specific home.

This plot shows a heat pump’s minimum and maximum cooling capacities overlaid with a home’s cooling load line, allowing a designer to assess how well-suited the equipment is for the specific home.

By plotting the heating capacities at -4°F and 5°F and drawing a line between them, the capacity at 0°F can be estimated

Capstone Homes

Right: Sized per Approach 3, this heat pump’s modulating zone has a large overlap with the home’s heating load line; it will require backup heating but could still contribute significant heating for all hours of the heating season

Right: Sized per Approach 3 or 4, this heat pump’s modulating zone has a large overlap with the home’s heating load line, resulting in minimal short-cycling; the unit may require a small amount of backup heat during the very coldest hours of winter.

Wrong: This heat pump is oversized even for Approach 4, and its modulating zone has a small overlap with the home’s heating load line, resulting in a large amount of short-cycling.

Right: Sized per Approach 1, this heat pump will have minimal short-cycling; since sized using Approach 1, it will require backup heat when temp is below 30°F but could still contribute significant heating down to heating design temp (-6°F) and lower

Wrong: Sized per Approach 1 or 2, this heat pump’s modulating zone has a small overlap with the home’s heating load line, resulting in a large amount of short-cycling; the unit will require backup heat when the temperature is below 25°F

Wrong: Sized per Approach 3, there is small overlap between this heat pump’s modulating zone and the home’s heating load line, resulting in excessive short-cycling; it will require backup heat when the temperature is below 5°F

Right (decent): For a relatively high-capacity ccASHP sized per Approach 3 or 4 to meet nearly 100% of the heating load, this heat pump’s modulating zone has a decent overlap with the home’s heating load line, reducing short-cycling.

Wrong: Sized per Approach 3, there is minimal overlap between this heat pump’s modulating zone and the home’s heating load line, causing excessive short-cycling; it will require backup heat and may not contribute significantly at temperatures below 5°F

Charis Homes

Stucco that Works

RED Calc: Known Issues

Estimating the Payback Period of Additional Insulation

FORTIFIED Home Homeowner Resources

Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations 2

Residential HVAC Installation Practices: A Review of Research Findings

BPC Greenbuilders

Impact of installation faults in air conditioners and heat pumps in single-family homes on U.S. energy usage

Sensitivity Analysis of Installation Faults on Heat Pump Performance

ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program

Smart Tools for Efficient HVAC Performance Campaign

Quality Install Tool

Stop Pests in Housing - Rodents