AIM: A HOME-OWNER USABLE ENERGY CALCULATOR FOR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL HOMES

An energy efficiency metric for residential homes was developed to provide home-owners, realtors and builders a method to rate the energy efficiency of an existing house. To accomplish this, a web-based calculator was developed, which is based on DOE2 simulations and a simplified systems model. To simplify the use of the calculator, parameters, like window U-factor, roof / wall insulation, which are normally required for simulations in existing homes are filled using statistical tables. This allows the home-owner to use the calculator with information commonly available during a real estate transaction.