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ReNEWW House Energy Strategies

INSULATION. Lapolla Industries provided its FOAM-LOK spray foam LIGHTING. ETi Solid State Lighting, Inc., a subsidiary of Elec-Tech

insulation, which was applied in the wall stud cavities on the main floor, International Co. on behalf of Whirlpool Corporation, provided LED

in the basement and in the attic. FOAM-LOK includes Honeywell’s lighting products, which use 80 to 90 percent less electricity than

Solstice, an ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) and non- traditional incandescent light bulbs. These include recessed light

ozone-depleting formulation. The ReNEWW House application kit fixtures, composed of an LED light bulb, module and integrated

marks the first time Solstice has been used in a residential structure. trim that fit into existing cans.

HEATING AND COOLING. Enertech Global “Using the best WINDOWS, DOORS AND SIDING. Ply Gem

provided a GeoComfort Compass Series insulation, adding supplied the siding, windows, trim and

geothermal system. For every one unit of a geothermal unit exterior doors. The windows feature triple-

energy that is put in, this efficient system or upgrading to the paned, krypton-filled lites with frames and
collects three free units from the earth. most efficient windows sashes welded together into single, weather-
can be done with any tight units made from recycled materials.
APPLIANCES. Whirlpool Corporation installed traditional home with The custom-built fiberglass doors feature
a high-efficiency Whirlpool laundry pair and composite frames and low-maintenance
kitchen suite that contribute to the overall minimal changes.” materials that won’t dent, warp, rot or crack.
goal of net-zero energy. The siding, made with 50 percent recycled

Included in the laundry pair is the ventless Whirlpool Duet
HybridCare clothes dryer, which uses a refrigeration system to dry materials, incorporates a polystyrene foam insulation backing that
wraps the home’s exterior envelope with a continuous blanket of
and recycle the air that a conventional unit would vent outside. The insulation up to 1.25 inches thick. Low-maintenance cellular PVC
Whirlpool Duet steam front-load clothes washer has been rated a
trim is utilized throughout.
CEE Tier III, the highest possible efficiency rating available.

The kitchen suite includes a Whirlpool 6.7-total-cu.-ft. double oven RENEWABLES. SolarZentrum North America (SZNA) contributed the

electric range with induction cooktop, the industry’s first; a Whirlpool certified Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Solar PV-Therm modules.

Gold Series dishwasher with Sensor Cycle, and a Whirlpool 20-cu.-ft. The CHP solar module will simultaneously provide up to 900 watts

counter depth French door refrigerator with a temperature-controlled, of combined electrical and thermal energy. It’s also capable of

full-width pantry and Accu-Chill temperature management system. producing up to 30 percent more electricity, and up to four times

The refrigerator utilizes Solstice low-GWP foam blowing agent. more total combined energy output, than a conventional solar panel.

While there are several academic programs in the U.S. that couples, relative humidity sensors, water and gas flow meters and
utilize net-zero energy homes for research purposes, these homes an electricity monitoring system,” he says. “The data gathered offered
are typically new builds and vacant, says Groll. Living in the home us the ability to create and validate a simulation of the home’s energy
allows students to realistically replicate the impacts residents have consumption to predict efficiencies based on upgraded materials,
on their homes. appliances and fixtures in isolation or as an integrated system.”

PHASE ONE: A DEEP-ENERGY RETROFIT LOOKING AHEAD

Green Goose Homes, a builder in the Lafayette, Indiana, area As Whirlpool Corporation and Purdue University work together
that focuses on using advanced techniques and products to build toward phases two and three of the ReNEWW House project,
resource-efficient homes, served as the ReNEWW House’s general researchers will continue monitoring temperature, relative humidity
contractor, providing jobsite supervision and management. Several and energy consumption, Bowler says.
leading building materials manufacturers are also helping to take
this 84-year-old home into the future (see sidebar above). Eckhard Groll wants to take it one step further: “One thing we want
to create is a tool box for homeowners to look at all components of the
Prior to the start of the project, the ReNEWW House received a 177 home and identify the savings over time. The goal is to bring the level
HERS rating with an estimated annual energy cost of $3,728. Three of sophistication of the automobile to the home. In a car, sensors closely
months later, with the deep-energy retrofit completed, the house was monitor road conditions and make adjustments, and engine diagnostics
reevaluated and received a HERS rating of 1. The post-renovation alert drivers when repairs may be needed. In the home, most people
estimated annual energy cost is just $126. only know if the air conditioner or furnace is running or not.” GB

This tremendous improvement did not come as a surprise to Source: Whirlpool Corporation
Bowler. “To establish a baseline, we installed numerous thermo

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