Eligible Home Criteria
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) research team and associated subcontractors are working with homeowners participating in a research project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, to save 30% or more on their annual utility costs through home efficiency retrofits. The PNNL team is helping to make energy retrofitting affordable, now and in the long run by identifying incentives available through local utilities and other local, state and federal sources, and providing a free home energy assessment and free technical assistance. In addition, these homes will be part of a PNNL research study that can help inform the nation about best practices for residential retrofits.
Homes are selected using the following criteria:
- Home was built prior to 2005. The home must be at least 5 yrs old.
- The homeowners do not allow smoking inside the home. (Smoking is allowed if limited to porches, patios, or other outdoor areas of the home.)
- The homeowners do not have business (other than small home office) or other unusual energy-intensive equipment in the home.
- The homeowners primarily use a central heating and cooling system. Wood stoves, fireplaces, whole house fans or other unusual systems cannot be primary heating or cooling system.
- The home is occupied year round by the owner.
- The homeowners do not open windows often when the HVAC system is on.
Check back soon to see case studies and project results.
Please note: Participation in this research project will include construction activity that may produce elevated levels of particulate matter and chemical emissions during the days such activity is conducted and for up to a few days after that. This normally does not pose a hazard to healthy persons, but persons with acute respiratory illness, multiple chemical sensitivities, or other diseases or sensitivities may experience aggravated symptoms as a result of this activity. Homeowners are urged to consider this factor before choosing to participate in this study.