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South Chicago Workforce: Chicago, Illinois
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Location: |
Chicago, Illinois |
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Climate Zone: |
Cold |
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Subdivision: |
South Chicago |
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Builder: |
South Chicago Workforce |
Evaluation
Start Date: |
March 2003 |
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Completion Date: |
March 2006 |
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Objectives: |
Evaluate three ventilation systems in three identical homes for their effectiveness at distributing fresh air, energy consumption, and operating cost |
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General Construction Information: |
Claretian Associates, a non-profit community development organization, and South Chicago Workforce, a non-profit builder and contractor, teamed to create 26 efficient, healthy, sustainable, affordable homes in South Chicago, IL. These homes are constructed with structural insulated panels (SIPs), are heated with condensing furnaces, utilize sealed-combustion water heaters, and contain efficient lights and appliances. The first twelve homes also feature 1.2-kW solar electric systems. |
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Significant Results: |
- For the tightly-constructed, relatively small homes in a cold climate, when compared to ventilation systems using the inefficient central air handler for air distribution, the exhaust-only ventilation system used less than half the energy and seemed to provide adequate air distribution.
- When compared to an efficient air handler motor, the operating cost of the exhaust-only system is more comparable to the central air handler-integrated systems.
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