Team App, Appalachian State University

58 Pages·2015·4.78 MB·English

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 A. Team Qualifications 
8 B. Design Goals and Project Context 
20 C. Envelope Durability Analysis 
27 D. Indoor Air Quality Evaluation 
28 E. Space Conditioning Design and Analysis 
37 F. Energy Analysis 
42 G. Financial Analysis 
46 H. Domestic Hot Water, Lighting, and Appliances Analysis 
47 I. Construction Documentation
55 J. Industry Partners
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY 1

TEAM QUALIFICATIONS

WHO WE ARE
Lena Burkett, Project
Manager and Student Team
Appalachian State University's team is composed
Lead
of undergraduate and graduate students from
Appalachian State University’s Department of M.S. Building Science
Technology and Sustainable Design. Team members
Hometown: Little Rock,
are candidates for degrees in Building Science, Arkansas
Construction Management, Sustainable Building
After earning a B.A. in
Systems, Appropriate Technology, and Renewable
Philosophy, Lena worked for
Energy Engineering. We also have strong support
non-profit housing and energy efficiency programs,
from other internal and outside partners, including
and became a LEED GA and HERS Rater. She
HVAC technicians at Appalachian State, Dan Ryan
Homes, PlyGem, and Edmisten Heating and Air. returned to school to prepare for a career in research
Most of the students involved in the project were on building assemblies, systems, and materials. Her
enrolled in TEC 5380 Advanced Building Science, interests involve energy efficiency, the built
TEC 5260 Renewable Energy Engineering, or TEC environment, laboratory and field testing, and the
4788 Integration of Energy and Building Systems. history of technology.
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Chase Ambler, housing energy usage to limit the stress of high utility
Certification and bills on homeowners. This interest led her to
Construction Manager Appalachian State where she hopes to be able to
focus her engineering knowledge to help in
Degree: M.S. Building improving the built environment to work in
Science accordance with nature instead of in opposition.
Hometown: Boone, North
Carolina Marshall L. Dressler,
Plumbing System Design
After finishing his
undergraduate work at Appalachian Chase worked as B.S. in Sustainable
a field instructor for the National Outdoor Construction Systems
Leadership School in Lander, WY. For the past 20 Hometown: Herndon, VA
years he has been a general contractor in Boone, NC,
Marshall is a senior who
focused primarily on modest sized, efficient homes.
transferred to Appalachian
His work has included building the first LEED
State from West Virginia
Platinum home in the area in 2009. His focus and
University. He is passionate about helping create
experience in efficiency has help balance the work of
more sustainable buildings in the future, hopefully
this team.
integrating renewable energy technologies as well.
Upon graduation, he is seeking a career in the field
Josh Brooks, Construction
of building science.
Estimating Manager
M.S. in Appropriate Chase Edge, Revit
Technology Mechanical and Renewable
Hometown: Ennice, North Energy Systems
Carolina M.S. Building Science and
As an undergraduate, Josh Appropriate Technology
served as the chair of the Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
ASU Renewable Energy
Chase has a degree in Civil
Initiative where he guided the implementation of
Engineering Technology from
renewable energy infrastructure into a growing
East Carolina University and
campus community. Utilizing his Bachelor's of
came to Appalachian State to pursue an advanced
Science degree in History, Josh's main focus is the
degree in sustainable technologies. He has spent
social and political aspects of energy and
considerable time building a building science
sustainability issues.
education and research lab, working on photovoltaic
systems, and researching greywater recycling systems.
Chelsea Davis, Energy/
Moisture Analysis
Pedro Rabelo Melo
Manager
Franco, HVAC/ Controls
M.S. in Technology:
M.S. Renewable Energy
Sustainable Building Design
Engineering
and Construction
Hometown: Belo Horizonte,
Hometown: Greensboro,
MG - Brazil
NC
Pedro earned a B.S. in
Chelsea received her
Electrical Engineering in
undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at NC
Brazil. After working in the
State with a minor in Graphic Communications.
fields of automation and
While volunteering with Habitat for Humanity she
control, he came to the U.S. to further his education.
developed an interest in reducing low income
Pedro looks forward to returning to Brazil as a
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY 3

renewable energy and control systems entrepreneur. in nature as well as in the garage working on various
vehicles. He plans to work for a company in
Brenton Faircloth, Cost Burlington North Carolina doing disaster restoration,
Estimating, Financial and one day move to the coast to continue a career
Valuation, and IAQ in that field.
M.S. Building Science
Kaitlyn Morgan,
Hometown: Winston-
Construction
Salem, NC
Documentation
Brenton has a huge affinity
B.S. Building Science
for living things and a
passion for working with Hometown: Lumberton,
his hands. His background includes biology, NC
toxicology, environmental monitoring and analysis, Kaitlyn looks forward to a
appropriate technology, and project management. career in the field of
He strives to make his community a better place building science. After graduating in May, she will
through personal attitude, lots of hard work, and begin work for Performance Point, an energy
innovative solutions. services and home energy rating company in the
Charlotte area. When not at work, Kaitlyn loves to
Kenneth High, Building travel, be outdoors and be on the water.
Science/ Site Plan
Brad Painting, HVAC
M.S. Building Science,
MBA Sustainable Business Manager
M.S. Technology, Renewable
Hometown: Charlotte,
Energy Engineering
North Carolina
Concentration
Kenny received his
Hometown: Hudson, OH
Bachelor of Science in
Appropriate Technology Brad studied mechanical
from Appalachian State University. His goal is to engineering in college and
own and operate his own construction company, worked as a LEED consultant
specializing in super energy efficient design. When and in various other positions before deciding to
he is not working, Kenny spends his free time in the further his education in sustainability energy. In his
fast lane as an amateur race car driver in Sports Car off time he enjoys reading and likes to dabble in
Club of America. various outdoor activities.

Christopher Schoonover,
Building Design and Site
David Leonard,
Layout
CAD/Revit
M.S. Building Science /
B.S. Building Science /
Appropriate Technology
Sustainable Building
Systems Hometown: Menlo Park, CA
Hometown: Summerfield, Chris’s background is in
NC engineering. After 6 years
designing dams, he decided
David has a background as
that he wanted to shift his focus more toward
a laborer in the
residential design. When Chris graduates he plans to
construction field and will graduate this May with a
start a company designing small sustainable
degree in Building Science. He enjoys spending time
properties that incorporate intelligent passive design
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strategies as well as use technological advances to pursue a career in renewable energy system design,
provide sustainability that is affordable to the general technology development, or as a sustainability
population. consultant.
A.J. Smith, Domestic James Harrison Sytz,
Hot Water, Appliance Water Efficient Design
and Lighting Design B.S. in Sustainable Building
Manager Systems
M.S. Appropriate Hometown: Cornelius, NC
Technology / Building
Harrison has a strong
Science
interest in how renewable
Hometown: Wilmington, energy and sustainable
NC technologies can be
In addition to his strong interest in the field of integrated successfully into today’s buildings. He
renewable energy, A.J. enjoys cooking and yoga. He looks forward to working in the energy field after his
is excited about his opportunity to apply his upcoming graduation.
knowledge and skills in Taiwan this summer. He will
be doing a Study Abroad with the Green Energy Jeff Tiller, PE. Faculty
Program at Chien Hsien University in Zhongli. Advisor
B.S. and M.S. in
Jake Smith, Revit Industrial and SysteM.S.
Computer Modeling and Engineering, Georgia
Renderings Institute of Technology
M.S. Sustainable Design and Hometown: Louisville,
Construction / Building KY
Science
Professor at Appalachian
Hometown: Asheville, NC State and former Chair of
Jake completed his Bachelor the Department of Technology and Environmental
of Science at Appalachian Design, co-founded Southface Energy Institute in
State in Architectural Technology and Design. One 1980, co-founded the North Carolina Energy
day, he would like to own and operate a craft Efficiency Alliance, authored several Builder Guides
brewery where sustainability only falls second to to Energy Efficient Homes and other energy and
quality of the product. solar publications, commissioned LEED buildings,
designed dozens of HVAC systems, performed
Josh Smith, Building America projects working with IBACOS,
Communication certified several hundred Centex Homes as
Manager ENERGY STAR, participated in two Solar
M.S. Appropriate Decathlon competitions, designed dozens of solar
Technology / Building thermal and photovoltaic systems, worked on energy
Science codes in NC and Georgia, and most importantly,
taught the field of building science to several
Hometown: Durham, NC
thousand students now working or soon to work in
Josh competed with
the construction industry.
Appalachian State this past
summer in Versailles as part of the Solar Decathlon

Europe design and construction competition. His
graduate research focuses on variation in solar
irradiance in Boone, NC in an attempt to progress
system design development. Josh would like to
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY 5

INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE The Appropriate Technology program (soon to
be renamed “Sustainable Technology”) has 200
Appalachian State University has over 17,000 undergraduate students. In addition to a variety of
undergraduate and graduate students. The university courses in renewable energy and other sustainable
has made a major commitment to the future of technologies, students take the key Building Science
sustainability in its facilities, programs, and academic courses that teach construction and building science
programs. The university’s new Strategic Mission principles and practices.
Statement is as follows, “Appalachian State
Graduate students in the department have the
University prepares students to lead purposeful lives
choice of obtaining a Master’s Degree in Technology
as engaged global citizens who understand their
with a specialization in Building Science, Appropriate
responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for
Technology, Sustainable Building Technology and
all.” Design, and Renewable Energy Engineering. The
department currently has 35 students in these
The university’s Department of Technology and
various degrees.
Environmental Design has six unique undergraduate
programs that emphasize sustainable design and
The department has played an important role in
technology, energy efficiency, and renewable energy
both national and state energy research,
technologies. The department’s academic and
development, and policy. Examples include
research activities have been a major part of the
development of the North Carolina State Energy
university’s reputation in the fields of sustainability,
Plan, work on a NC Strategic Plan for Biodiesel
energy, and renewables. Its mission statement is,
Development, development of a residential energy
“Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable World.”
efficient retrofit program and operation of an energy
retrofit program for non-profit organizations for
The Building Science program in the department
Piedmont Natural Gas, work on the national
has over 250 students who study Construction
commercial energy code, development of the
Management, Architectural Technology and Design,
residential and commercial 2012 NC Energy Code,
and Sustainable Building Systems. The principles of
and development and operation of the North
high performance buildings are woven throughout
Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance. Faculty and
many of the courses in the curriculum, including
students conduct a plethora of research activities on
TEC 1708 Construction Technology and Building
high performance buildings.
Codes, TEC 2718 Building Mechanical Systems,
TEC 3728 Building Science, TEC 4718 Sustainable
Among the more visible projects of the
Building System and Design, and several
department are its entries into the 2009 Solar
architectural studios. The academic programs place
Decathlon USA and 2012 Solar Decathlon Europe
a strong emphasis on combining classroom learning
competitions. A number of technology and design
with real-world projects, including both integrated
ideas from these competitions have been integrated
design, field research, and actual hands-on
into our Race-to-Zero Design.
construction activities.

In the Solar Decathlon USA, App State’s team
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won the “People’s Choice Award”, won first place
in the Hot Water competition, placed second in
Communications, and third in Architecture. In
the Solar Decathlon Europe event, our team
placed first in “Net Energy Balance” due to the
high efficiency envelope and inno vative PV system
with integrated electrical storage.
FACULTY CERTIFICATION
OF BUILDING SCIENCE
Jeff Tiller, the faculty advisor for the Race-to-
Zero team, served as coordinator of the Building
Science program for many years as it developed a
strong curriculum focusing on higher performance
buildings. In particular, the App State students for
the competition have all either taken TEC 3728
Building Science and/ or are currently taking TEC
5230 Advanced Building Science. Several also
tuned into the Building Science Principles
Webinars.

Signed Jeffrey S. Tiller, PE March 22, 2015
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY 7
8 MOUNTAIN LAUREL HOME
DESIGN GOALS AND PROJECT CONTEXT
OUR MISSION
To create a sustainable, cost-effective design for
single-family homes that production builders can use
when reconsidering their current home designs in
order to transform the marketplace for higher
performance residential construction.
MOUNTAIN LAUREL
The Mountain Laurel is native to North Carolina
as well as many other areas of North America. It is
hardy, drought-tolerant, low maintenance, and
suitable for any amount of sun exposure. This
perennial evergreen shrub thrives in a wide range of
climates and adapts well to urban environments. It is
a compact plant, growing densely over its long
lifespan. These characteristics of resiliency,
adaptability, and longevity mirror the qualities of our
home, making the Mountain Laurel a perfect name
for our design.
attributes can be grouped into three fundamental
themes.
Sustainability: This applied to both the
construction and the operation of the house. For the
construction phase, we gave great consideration to
the recycled content, embodied energy and
transportation of materials as well as reducing the
amount of waste by opting for pre-finished materials
and materials that could be recycled. By employing
advanced framing techniques and designing an
efficient layout with appropriately sized rooms, we
also reduced our overall materials requirement. For
the operation phase, we ensured that the design is
not only energy efficient, but also durable and low
maintenance, by choosing long-lasting materials and
ensuring that the building assemblies are resists
damage from pests, moisture, UV rays, and
“Because laurels are native to North America, condensation within the assembly. 
they tend to blend and blur the boundaries between
man-made and natural environments in this part of Livability: With an average length of home
the world.” http://www.thegardenerseden.com/?p=1028 ownership of 5.9 years, or even less in production
built single family homes, our team sought to create
OUR PHILOSOPHY a home that can adapt to changing living situations
in order to allow homeowners to live in a well-
Our Project has focused on several functioning home for much longer. Thus, our design
interdependent attributes of house design. These incorporates flexible spaces for a variety of uses, and