Estimating home heat loss, including R values of materials, infiltration loses, and the thermal performance of real walls.
Simulation software to estimate the thermal performance of a passive solar or conventional home.
Estimating Solar Fraction for active solar heating systems.
Directory of this page: |
Home Heat Loss/Gain and Passive Solar Home Design Software | |
HEED http://www.energy-design-tools.aud.ucla.edu/heed/
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![]() It is limited to 1 zone, and does not handle sunspaces. It is a free download. For people outside of California: Here is how to get and use a weather file for your area with HEED. |
How Much
Collector Area Do I Need To Heat My House? Or, Estimating Solar Heating
Fraction Estimating Solar Fraction for an array of collectors... A simpler example on using Andy's simulation: using the simulation to estimate energy, fuel, and CO2 savings for a collector array... |
![]() Its fairly lengthy to use, but not difficult. |
Resfen
http://windows.lbl.gov/software/resfen/resfen.htm For precompiled Resfen data on many window types for many locations, use the "Window Selection" tool here: http://www.efficientwindows.org
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![]() Resfen allows detailed analysis of window choices for a wide variety of windows. It is a full hourly simulation, and offers weather files for many locations. Easy to use. |
Energy10 http://www.nrel.gov/buildings/energy10/
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![]() Cost is $300, or $60 for students -- just think how much energy would be saved if this program was made free! |
Calculators: Passive solar heating, overhangs, thermal mass, heat loss, radiant heating... |
Borst Engineering and Construction provides a number of calculators that are helpful for solar heating, and renewable energy applications. They are a small engineering consulting and analysis business -- "We are do-it-yourselfers (DIY) at heart and we support like-minded people" |
Simple Home Heat Loss Calculators These simple calculators are not simulations and will give less exact numbers than the ones listed above, but you may find them easier and quicker to use, and they do give reasonably accurate estimates of heat loss. |
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Insulation Upgrade
Cost Saving Calculator
Gary |
![]() Very easy to use. |
Home Heat Loss Calculator
Gary |
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Thermal Performance of Walls -- Including Walls with Thermal Mass | |
Whole Wall Heat Loss Calculator Oak Ridge National Laboratory And,
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![]() Works for a wide variety of wall constructions. Results based on testing of actual wall sections. |
Thermal Mass - Energy Savings Potential in Residential Buildings
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R Values of Materials | |
R values for typical Building
Materials http://coloradoenergy.org/procorner/stuff/r-values.htm
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Table of R values for typical insulators and building materials. |
Infiltration Heat Loss | |
Infiltration Heat Loss | Estimating the saving for reducing infiltration heat loss. |
Moisture Sources in the Home | |
Home Moisture Sources | Common sources of moisture in the home with amounts of moisture for each. |
Home Energy Audit | |
An Interactive Tool for Saving
Energy at Home Interactive Home Energy Saving Tool
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![]() You can give to your kids, and let them nag you into making some energy saving changes to make the planet better for them. |
Energy Savers from DOE EERE site http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/ Energy Tips from EERE (2.7MB pdf) |
![]() The Energy Tips 36 page booklet is good. |
Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick
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Home Energy Saver Audit/Calculator
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![]() Fill in details on your home location, size, construction, etc. The calculator estimates your current energy use, makes recommendations on changes and estimates the cost saving and pollution benefits. |