FORMAL & ISSUE-BASED RESEARCH
While US-EcoLogic provides leading edge consulting in energy and green verification, we also apply the building science, energy efficiency and green building practices in the “real world”. Because we have a current view of what is and is not possible to implement, we bring a healthy dose of reality to the practical implementation of energy efficiency and green building practices and have conducted issue-based research as well as participated in formal, government funded research projects.
Industry Related Research
As the green building protocols and energy codes change, we come across issues that need further research and analysis. We excel at identifying and working through issue-based research as it applies to our industry and have the ability to utilize over a decade of experience on real-world field tested knowledge to work toward solutions. We keep abreast of new technologies and products by maintaining relationships with key industry stakeholders, such as the EPA, USGBC, and Home Innovations Research Lab, as well as by working with manufacturers on new product development to meet the needs and requirements of the sustainable building and construction industry.
Client Based Research
As our clients adopt green building into their construction practices, there are inevitably questions and concerns that arise regarding the effects and costs of a certain building practice or technique. We work with building owners, developers, architects and consultant teams to provide the information and tools they need to make the critical decisions that affect building performance and certification goals.
Formal Research
As a partner on the Department of Energy’s Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction (DOE BA-PIRC) team, US-EcoLogic worked with Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to study deep energy retrofits. Among topics studied, were our business model, details on residential retrofit efficiency measures, energy-use simulations, and anonymous pre- and post- utility data. Among the tasks completed during our partnership, was a weather-normalized utility bill analysis on 40 of our home retrofits. The results provided a more accurate measure of the post-retrofit energy cost savings and delineated heating and cooling energy use. Our data set spanned a 6 year period, including the hottest summer on record in DFW Metroplex, and our BA-PIRC partnership enabled us to use the data set to make more sound predictions on the effectiveness of retrofit measures. The analysis has helped us to better understand and advise homeowners regarding the average cost and energy savings that are provided by a variety of energy efficiency retrofit measures, or combinations thereof, available to them when evaluating upgrade options. Released in July 2013, The Next Step Toward Widespread Residential Deep Energy Retrofits, one of the reports we published in conjunction with this research project, is now available for download.