Advanced Energy-efficient and Fire-resistive Envelope Systems Utilizing Vacuum Insulation for Manufactured Homes
Institute of Gas Technology dba Gas Technology Institute
Recipient
Des Plaines, IL
Recipient Location
37th
Senate District
68th
Assembly District
$509,995
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The project has been approved and the kick-off is scheduled for 4/22/21.
The Issue
The thermal performance of the building envelope of manufactured homes is governed by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) construction and safety standards. This is an antiquated standard that dates back to 1994. Depending on climate zone, a manufactured home built to HUD standards might only require R11 wall insulation and R19 in the ceiling. In comparison, the 2019 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6) requires about R20 for the majority of climate zones and a minimum higher value of R30+ for vented or unvented attics using fiberglass batt. Thus manufactured homes installed in California are less efficient than homes built to Title 24.
Project Innovation
The project focuses on using vacuum insulation panel (VIP) based pre-fabricated envelope systems that can achieve R26-29 and R49 for walls and roofs, respectively.
Project Benefits
The project uses vacuum insulation panel (VIP) based pre-fabricated envelope systems that can achieve R26-29 and R49 for walls and roofs, respectively. This type of envelope system with very high insulating values are not currently used in modular construction.
Affordability
The projected cost of VIPs at mass production is in the same range as foam insulations (especially on a $/ft2/R-value basis). The VIP-based envelope systems developed in this project utilizes advanced air sealing technologies. This improves the air tightness and moisture durability of manufactured homes and reduces the air infiltration. Also, with a better and tighter envelope, the HVAC equipment can be downsized saving additional costs during manufacturing. This could result in more efficient and affordable manufactured homes that will reduce energy costs to the homeowner.
Key Project Members
Kaushik Biswas
Subrecipients
Frontier Energy, Inc.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Dvele, Inc.
Intertek Testing Services NA Inc.
Match Partners
Gas Technology Institute
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
Utilization Technology Development
Dvele, Inc.
Microtherm
Huber Technology, Inc.
