Multifamily Buildings

Information

For too long there has been relatively little EE focus on multifamily, but some new programs have recently started. This group gives us a venue to share our experiences on cost effective audit & retrofit strategies and analysis tool needs.

Members: 116
Latest Activity: May 13

Multifamily Buildings Deserve Special Attention

Multifamily buildings occupy a unique space between single-family and commercial buildings. For close to two decades there has been relatively little focus on the EE performance of the construction and operational issues around multifamily buildings. Fortunately, in the last couple of years some new EE retrofit programs have begun. Let’s share our experiences. This is a good moment for HEP members to share their experience with audit activities on multifamily buildings, helping us all learn and discover cost effective audit and retrofit strategies as well as the analysis tool needs.

We’ve started these four threads to start the group discussion:

On another note, through funding from the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), ORNL and LBNL are beginning work on the addition of multifamily residential energy modeling capabilities to WAP and the Home Energy Saver websites (http://hespro.lbl.gov, http://hes.lbl.gov). We would like to tap the combined experience of HEP members as we start this work. The first task of the project is to form a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to help guide the research and tool development as it progresses. Please contact me if you are interested in learning more about our work scope and think you might be interested in participating on the TAG.

Thank you.

Norm Bourassa

njbourassa@lbl.gov

Discussion Forum

Multifamily Energy Modeling Tool Suggestions? 2 Replies

Hello All,I'm curious about which software folks feel is most accurate in modeling multifamily buildings. Any suggestions? Pros, cons, etc.?Thanks!IsaacContinue

Started by Isaac Savage. Last reply by Donna Sanders May 13.

High-rise Residential - Favored retrofit strategies & stories 11 Replies

For those conducting energy audits and developing retrofit work scopes for high-rise apartments, please share your experiences in this thread. Successful methods, pitfalls and complete disasters are all fair game for sharing with the group. Since…Continue

Started by Norm Bourassa. Last reply by Guy DuBois Mar 18.

Does a professional Multifamily Market Study exist? 4 Replies

Does anyone know of professional MARKET STUDY results to assess the demand for home performance, weatherization or other related services for multifamily buildings? Please advise if you can offer any information regarding existing market studies…Continue

Started by Tracy & Matt. Last reply by Tracy & Matt Jan 2.

Distribution from wall furnace for small apartments 4 Replies

OK, folks -- time for some creative thinking about a 16-unit building we are trying to weatherize in SE Wisconsin.It's two stories arond a central courtyard, with most units accessed by a door direct to outside. (That is, most units have either two…Continue

Started by Don Hynek. Last reply by Linda Wigington Nov 15, 2012.

Retrofit Programs, Codes and Market experiences 19 Replies

Several energy efficiency retrofit programs for multifamily buildings have started up recently. New York, California and British Columbia are locations that I know of, but I'm sure there are others. In addition, some of these regions are looking at…Continue

Started by Norm Bourassa. Last reply by Joseph S. Lopes Sep 5, 2012.

Multifamily Buildings Presentations at ACEEE "Summer Study" Conference - August 11-17 1 Reply

If you haven't plugged in to the ACEEE "Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings" -- this might be a good year to do so. Every two years, ACEEE assembles experts with a vast amount of solid, peer-reviewed energy efficiency research. The…Continue

Started by Don Hynek. Last reply by Diane Chojnowski Jul 24, 2012.

Multifamily analysis tools present and future 8 Replies

In our work, we all find our preferred tools and we develop efficient (hopefully) ways to use them. Often that process identifies many tool features and analysis capabilities that an entire community of professionals can profitably use. Please…Continue

Started by Norm Bourassa. Last reply by Don Hynek Mar 13, 2012.

Mid/High Rise ACH Question 4 Replies

Hey there, First post on HEP! Exciting times, indeed. A question on ACH and N-factors for multifamily: LBNL’s N-factor converts between pressure induced (i.e.- fan measured) and natural air infiltration rates. The well known N-factor charts max…Continue

Tags: factor, n, ACH

Started by Grant Salmon. Last reply by Isaac Savage Feb 12, 2012.

Weatherization in Low-income Multifamily Buildings 6 Replies

Mutlifamily Weatherization?? Who knew? The National Weatherization Training Conference (December 12 to 15) is actually running an entire track on weatherizing MFBs. See …Continue

Started by Don Hynek. Last reply by Dan Auer Nov 27, 2011.

Energy Auditor Job Announcement - North Carolina

We're hiring energy auditors for multifamily auditing in North Carolina.Please visit this link to view the job…Continue

Tags: jobs

Started by Isaac Savage Oct 20, 2011.

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Comment Wall

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Comment by Don Hynek on May 9, 2012 at 2:04pm: The Division of Energy Services is winding up work in the AMP program, initiated in 2009 to complete comprehensive weatherization in 5,800 units of rented housing. The AMP program was funded with roughly $20 million of ARRA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) funding and State of Wisconsin Public Benefits funds.

DES is now working to develop strategies and plans to design and implement a follow-on program, to build on the success of the AMP program. While all this is very preliminary, it is likely that the follow-on program will be longer-lived and somewhat smaller in volume than the AMP program. It will likely implement longer timelines, to accommodate seasonal construction schedules.

The Division is planning to release two “Request For Information” documents soon, requesting input from a wide variety of entities that have experience in multifamily energy efficiency and construction. The RFIs will offer the opportunity for interested parties to provide information about program design, weatherization techniques and strategies, and service delivery structures.

Your organization may have an interest in responding to one or both of these RFIs when they are released. If you would like to receive the RFI when it is released, please contact Mary Meunier in our office, at Mary.Meunier@wisconsin.gov .

Regards,

Don Hynek, Multifamily Weatherization Coordinator

don.hynek@wisconsin.gov

Wisconsin Division of Energy Services
101 E. Wilson St., 6th Floor, Madison, Wisconsin 53702

Comment by Barry NewDelman on April 12, 2012 at 2:55pm: For the past few years I have been involved in the deregulation of public Utilities and have without question been able to save our commercial clients upwards of 30-35% on the Energy portion of their bills. For MF owners with parking lots, Elevators and common area Energy expenses.

Comment by Evan Mills on November 29, 2011 at 2:20pm: Some discussion on Multifamily air-leakage testing here as well....

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Home Energy Pros was founded by the developers of Home Energy Saver Pro (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) and brought to you in partnership with Home Energy magazine.