Better Duct Systems for Home Heating and Cooling

conditioner to the rooms where it is needed. Typical systems with

Acorn Structures/PIX00139
ducts in attics or crawl spaces lose from 25% to 40% of the heat-
ing or cooling energy that passes through them. In an era of
increasing concern for energy efficiency, this is no longer
acceptable.

Duct systems lose energy in two main ways: by air leakage

through small cracks and seams and by conduction of heat
through the duct wall. In addition, how the various systems and
equipment interact has an effect on how well the ducts perform.

Duct systems used in forced-air space-conditioning systems are a Air Leakage

vital element in home energy efficiency. How well a system works Ducts lose energy when air leaks into or out of them. Sometimes
makes a big difference in the cost and the effectiveness of heat- this leakage is from holes in the ducts or from poorly connected
ing and cooling a home. At the same time, a duct system that duct joints. Even if the ducts are sealed, their operation can cause
is poorly designed or maintained can have a detrimental effect the house itself to leak more air because of differences in air
on the health of the people who live in the house, through the pressure in various zones of the house.
unintended distribution of indoor air pollution.
Heat Conduction
This brochure is intended to provide you with a working knowledge
Duct systems also lose energy when the warm or cool air they
of residential heating and cooling duct systems. This includes an
contain heats or cools the duct walls, which in turn heats or cools
understanding of the major issues concerning efficiency, comfort,
the air outside the ducts. In winter, ducts that are in an attic or
health and safety, as well as practical tips on installation and repair
vented crawl space that is nearly as cold as the outdoors lose
of duct systems. If you are a contractor, system designer, or
this heat completely through the duct wall. If the ducts are in a
heating/cooling professional, this information can help make your
basement, some of this lost heat may be recaptured as it warms
customers’ lives more comfortable, safe, and energy efficient.1
the basement ceiling enough to reduce heat loss from the house.
If you are a homeowner, it will allow you to work with a profes-
In summer, ducts gain heat from warm surrounding spaces,
sional to upgrade the efficiency of your home’s heating and
detracting from the air conditioner’s ability to cool the house.
cooling system.
Energy Savings
Energy Losses and Their Costs
How much can you save by fixing a duct system or by installing it
The purpose of a space-conditioning duct system is to convey
correctly in the first place? Let’s consider two benchmark cases,
heated or cooled air from the central furnace, heat pump, or air
_____________ one in a cold climate (Chicago, Illinois) and the other in a hot,
1The information in this brochure is condensed from a more detailed manual entitled humid climate (Orlando, Florida). We’ll suppose that in each case
Better Duct Systems for Home Heating and Cooling. A shorter consumer-oriented the ducts are in a location typical of the region—a crawl space
guide, Improving the Efficiency of Your Duct System, is also available. Both can be
accessed at www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/publications.html. in Chicago, the attic in Florida—and that their size and insulation

RT
ME
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U.S. Department of Energy
Building Technologies Program
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Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

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Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable
ER
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ST A
AT E S OF
A common type of home duct system, showing energy flows and losses.

level are also typical. Furthermore, we’ll assume that they leak benchmark, let us assume that in Chicago three-quarters of the
about as much as an average duct system.2 energy requirement of the house is for heating, whereas in
Orlando three-quarters is for cooling. The average duct efficiency
With these parameters, ASHRAE Standard 1523 can be used to will then be 67% in either location. In these typical cases, then,
calculate an expected average efficiency4 of the duct system one-third of the energy given to the ducts is lost before it gets
over an entire heating or cooling season. The results are as to the living space.
follows:
• Chicago house: 63% for heating, 83% for cooling How much better can we do? A reasonable target for a duct
retrofit would be to reduce the leakage by two-thirds—to 5%
• Orlando house: 74% for heating, 65% for cooling.
of the system fan flow on each side of the duct system—and
Even within a given climate region, different homes and lifestyles increase the insulation level to R-8. This would result in the
will have different ratios of heating to cooling. However, as a following duct efficiency levels:
_____________ • Chicago house: 81% for heating, 90% for cooling
2This assumes that the ducts are insulated to R-4 and have 15% leakage on each side
• Orlando house: 86% for heating, 82% for cooling.
(supply and return). This leakage level may sound high, but it is a couple of percent less
than what was found in a recent national laboratory study.
3ASHRAE Standard 152 is a nationally standardized method for measuring duct efficiency, Using the same assumptions as above, this results in an average
developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning duct efficiency of 83% in either location.
Engineers, Inc.
4Duct efficiency (more precisely, “thermal distribution efficiency”) is calculated as the ratio With the original ducts, the equipment must provide 150 units of
of (a) the fuel energy that would be needed by the system if it had perfect, loss-free ducts comfort in order to deliver 100 units of heating or cooling comfort
to (b) the fuel energy needed by the actual system with the as-found ducts. This definition
accounts for system interactions. to the house, because only two-thirds (67%) of that comfort makes

2 Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable
it to the living space. With the repaired ducts, the equipment only • original duct leakage less than the benchmark
needs to provide 120 units of comfort heating or cooling to get • leakage predominantly in the return ducts
100 units (83% of 120) into the house. Thus, the load on the
• original ducts insulated more than R-4.
equipment is reduced by 30 units, which is 20% of the original
requirement. The cost of running the equipment also will be System Interactions
reduced by 20% over a heating or cooling season.
Duct energy losses and equipment inefficiencies can work
together to give surprisingly low overall system efficiency.

Warren Gretz/PIX03072
When a furnace meeting the current national standards (78%
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is combined with a typical duct
system installed in a vented attic or open crawlspace (60%–75%
seasonal efficiency), only about half the heating value of the fuel
will make it into the house!

When placed in a home’s conditioned space, ducts can easily blend into the décor.

In new construction, ducts can be placed within the conditioned

space. If done in a manner that leaves no hidden leakage paths
to the outside, duct efficiency of 100% is possible. In this case,
all the heating or cooling provided by the equipment would get
to the living space, so the energy and cost savings compared
Heat losses from the furnace and the ducts can easily add up to half the energy value of
with a “business as usual” system would be 50 units out of the the fuel that is consumed for heating.
original 150, or 33%.
Heat pumps and air conditioners display the same general trend
These examples are, of course, only benchmarks. Your results as furnaces, although the calculation is somewhat more involved.
may vary. The following are some factors that can increase or Two or more energy losses, each of which might seem “not too
decrease the savings. bad” in itself, can add up to a very disappointing result. Ducts are
too often “out of sight, out of mind.” The combined inefficiency
Percent savings may be greater for of equipment and ducts is the prominent system interaction, but
• more severe climates (e.g., Minneapolis or Miami) more subtle interactions can either lessen its impact or make it
• original duct system leakage greater than the benchmark worse.
• leakage predominantly in the supply ducts Thermal Regain — In most houses in the United States, duct
• original ducts uninsulated or insulated less than R-4. systems are located in a space that is not heated or cooled. If this
unconditioned space is not vented, then heat lost from the ducts
Percent savings may be less for
may warm that space significantly. This increase in temperature
• more moderate climates (e.g., Washington, D.C.) retards heat loss from the adjacent conditioned living space.
• ducts located in a basement or similar protected zone Heating of the zone also retards further heat conduction through

3
the duct walls themselves. These benefits can soften the energy more time in the ducts and can, therefore, cool down more before
penalty of the losses because some of the lost heat is, in effect, it is delivered to the living space. The lesson here is that if you are
recovered. This is called thermal regain. going to use premium equipment, you should also have premium
ducts.
Locations with the highest thermal regain are the best places to
install ducts. When located within the conditioned space, ducts Pressure Effects — When in operation, the central air-handler
have 100% regain because the lost heat is used. Unvented, unin- fan often changes the distribution of pressures within the house.
sulated basements and crawl spaces have intermediate merit Thus, for example, a bedroom could have pressure higher than
as locations for ducts, because about half the heating or cooling the living room. These pressure changes may affect the rate at
value of thermal loss is regained. Other duct locations, such as which outdoor air infiltrates into the home, usually increasing the
vented crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls have regain factors heating or cooling load.
ranging from 30% down to essentially zero and should be avoided
Health, Safety, and Comfort Issues in Residential
if possible. Ducts
Equipment Efficiency — Some types of equipment, such as heat Pressure changes caused by the air-handler fan can affect the
pumps and variable-capacity air conditioners, might suffer a loss health of the home’s occupants through the unintended distri-
of efficiency because of a poorly performing duct system, and this bution of indoor air pollution. Room pressures can also be influ-
penalty is added to the energy losses in the duct system. Installing enced by the various exhaust fans in the house (bathroom fans,
a variable-capacity furnace in a poorly insulated duct system can vented range hoods, clothes dryers). Therefore, be sure to con-
cause an already mediocre duct efficiency to drop off even further. sider the combined operation of all air movers in the house when
Because the furnace is running at low capacity, heated air spends assessing the potential for health and safety problems.

Safety, health, and comfort can be detrimentally affected by duct leakage.

4 Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable
The most common health problems associated with ducts arise

Jim Cummings, Florida Solar Energy Center/PIX11058

from the induction of harmful gases, vapors, or particulates into
the living space in concentrations that are unhealthy, but not
immediately life-threatening. These contaminants can include
flue gases from furnaces and water heaters, fumes from stored
chemicals, and radon (a radioactive gas that comes from the
ground).

Potentially lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide gas may be

pulled into the living space from combustion appliances or
exhaust from a car left running in the garage. Severe depres-
surization caused by leaky return ducts can also suck a flame
out of a water heater, an obvious fire hazard on water heaters
not equipped with a flame-rollout protective device. These
more severe situations are not particularly common. However,
professionals cannot afford to ignore their possible presence, In this photo, a Building America staff member performs a duct blaster test to measure the
impact of duct leakage on whole-house performance.
because when these problems do occur, they are very serious.
tors and builders to provide quality, reliable service to homeowners.
The two main approaches to fixing such problems are to remove
A golden opportunity is a situation in which a service call to repair
the source of contaminants and to seal the ducts, especially on
ducts provides exceptionally large reductions in fuel costs,
the return side. Sometimes, it may be helpful to provide outside
increased comfort, enhanced safety, or other forms of customer
pressure relief or to repair or modify the equipment.
benefits.
In humid climates, high indoor humidity is one of the most serious
One such golden opportunity is the installation of heat-pump
comfort problems during the cooling season. Often made worse
systems. In moderate and cold climates, heat pumps rely on
by leaky ducts, high humidity can result in mold growth, mildew,
electric resistance backup heat at the lowest outdoor temper-
and wood rot. In addition to damaging the appearance or the
atures, at which the compressor cannot deliver enough heat
structural integrity of the building, these organisms can affect the
to meet the load. Improved duct efficiency reduces the amount
health of the occupants if they become airborne. Poor humidity
of backup heat that the unit must provide. This improves the
control is especially likely when the air is moist and temperature
delivered capacity of the heat pump because more of the heating
levels are moderate.
energy is delivered to the space rather than to the environment
outside the home.
When ducts are repaired, rooms at the end of long ducts tend to
become much more comfortable: warmer in winter and cooler in
Still another golden opportunity occurs in the southern United
summer. Customers notice this immediate improvement and often
States. Here, customers often complain that the air-conditioning
consider this benefit alone to be worth the entire cost of the repair
system is not providing adequate cooling. The usual response is
work.
to install a larger unit. However, the real culprit is often the attic
duct system. A better solution is to repair the leaking ducts and
The Golden Opportunity in Ducts
insulate them, which will not only provide a more comfortable
In the United States, ducted heating and cooling systems are home environment, but will probably save enough energy to pay
installed in about 90% of new homes. The prevalence of forced- back the repair cost several times over the life of the equipment.
air systems provides several “golden opportunities” for contrac-

5
From the point of view of the heating, ventilation, and air-condi-

National Association of Technician Excellence (NATE)/PIX11111

tioning contractor, the single best opportunity to interest a cus-
tomer in duct renovation occurs when a furnace, heat pump, or
air conditioner needs to be replaced. Because the contractor is
already on site, the costs of finding a customer and traveling to
the job are already paid.

Also, the best choice of replacement unit will often be influenced

by the condition of the duct system. This provides three
opportunities:
• upgraded equipment efficiency, with lower fuel costs
• better duct performance, with still-lower fuel costs and
improved thermal comfort
• reduction in size and cost of the replacement equipment.

New construction offers many options in the design details of a

duct system. These choices include location of the duct system A trained duct technician can help homeowners save money by maintaining an energy-
within the building, the type of system layout, and the level of efficient heating and cooling system.
sealing and insulation to be employed. Placing the ducts in the
conditioned space is the most efficient choice—energy losses can • specify suitably low levels of duct air leakage and include a post-
be eliminated and health and safety problems are unlikely to arise. installation leakage test in the construction plan. Air leakage to
the outside should never exceed 5% of total air flow on either
However, at least four impediments stand in the way of wide- the supply or return side
spread use of conditioned-space ductwork: (1) difficulty of hiding • insulate ducts outside the conditioned space, preferably to R-8.
ductwork, (2) perceived extra cost, (3) need for the building
designer to get involved with the details of duct design, and By combining these elements of good practice, duct energy losses
(4) altered scheduling of trades on the job. can be reduced to a maximum of 20% of the underlying heating
and cooling loads.
If any of these difficulties prevent the placement of ducts in the
conditioned space, the next best practices should be considered. The ACCA Manuals J, S, and D are used for designing total heating
Good practice has the following elements: and cooling systems (see References section). The process begins
• design the total heating and cooling system using a reliable with a load calculation using ACCA Manual J. Manual S uses the
method, such as that embodied in the Air Conditioning Con- load information to size the heating and cooling equipment.
tractors of America (ACCA) Manuals J, S, and D. An additional Manual D uses the load and equipment information to size the
ACCA manual, “Duct Diagnostics and Repair,” discusses in ducts.
greater detail the issues covered in this brochure
Testing and Diagnosing Duct Systems
• minimize the surface area of ducts outside the conditioned
Visual inspection can reveal some flaws, but many poorly
space through good routing, use of low-loss fittings, and
performing duct systems look just fine. This is where testing
(where feasible) placement of registers near interior walls
comes in. The following are some guidelines for testing and
with the air handler centrally located in an interior closet
diagnosing duct systems.

6 Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable
Step One — Inspect the Duct System pressure is a measure of the extent of leakage in the ducts. Varia-
Evaluating a duct system’s efficiency begins with visual inspec- tions on this technique can obtain more detailed information, such
tion. Here are some things to check for: as, which side of the duct system (supply or return) leaks more
and how much of the leakage is to the outside.
• disconnected ducts near registers and where runouts connect
with trunk ducts
Step Three — Measure the System Airflow Rate
• excessive leaking where some part of the building is used as a Measuring airflow rate at the system fan is nearly as important as
duct (panned joists, vertical chases, and the like) measuring duct leakage. The efficiency of the duct system depends
not on duct leakage alone, but on duct leakage as a fraction of fan
• uninsulated ductwork outside the conditioned space. In the case
flow. Another equally important reason is that low fan flow is one
of attic ducts, consider adding R-value even if the ducts are
of the major causes of poor air-conditioner performance. Whatever
insulated.
the problem that caused the original call for help, it will usually

Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)/PIX11113

benefit both the contractor and the customer if all problems
besetting the system can be fixed in the same service call.

Airflow in ducts can be measured by several methods. A recent

invention called the flow plate speeds up this measurement task
and is usually accurate to within 7% of the true airflow rate.

Step Four — Determine What Actions to Take

Sometimes, what needs to be done is obvious. At other times, the
big question is “How much effort should be put into duct repair?”
Seldom does it pay to reduce duct energy losses all the way to
zero. Three possible ways to make the decision are rules of
thumb, program guidelines, and use of a standard to estimate
the benefits of various corrective actions.

Rules of Thumb — These are very rough attempts to cover

a wide range of cases, but the following suggestions can be
adopted when better methods are not available:
Rule 1. Reduce duct leakage until the total duct leakage at 25
The ACCA manuals provide guidelines for designing heating and cooling systems. pascals5 pressure is less than 10% of the system fan flow rate.
Rule 2. Add R-8 insulation to any uninsulated ducts in uncon-
Step Two — Test for Duct Leakage ditioned spaces and to attic ducts that currently have only R-4.
Duct leakage tests require specialized equipment. At a minimum,
the contractor needs a duct blower (adjustable calibrated fan) and Program Guidelines — Residential energy efficiency programs
a digital manometer (pressure gauge). run by federal, state, and private-sector agencies are increasingly
including duct efficiency in their portfolios of system upgrades. In
In the most basic duct leakage test, the duct blower is attached the interest of simplicity, these programs often provide their own
to the duct system at a large register or at the air handler, and all guidelines to be used in assessing the need for duct repairs.
other registers are sealed. The duct-blower fan is then turned on, _____________
and its speed is adjusted until the pressure in the ducts reaches 5A pascal is a unit of measure that equals one newton per square meter.
some standard value. The amount of airflow needed to reach this

7
Installation and Repair of Duct Systems

Charlie Castillega/PIX09808
When making duct repairs, the contractor has to work with the
materials at hand. Fortunately, the state of the art in duct repair
is advancing rapidly.

“Is it OK to use duct tape?” That’s one of the first questions asked
in a duct repair class. The answer is simple: “A duct repair should
last as long as the ducts themselves.” Consequently, that rules out
most types of duct tape that one can normally purchase for duct
sealing.

The fabric-backed, rubber-based adhesive duct tape that can be

bought at the neighborhood hardware store will fail rapidly when
subjected to the conditions of temperature, humidity, and pressure
normally encountered in ducts. More advanced tapes, specifically
designed for duct repair, are coming on the market, and quite
possibly some may stand the test of time. However, the current
stance should be, “When in doubt, don’t use it.”

So, what do we recommend? This depends on the material from

which the duct is constructed, but the best general answer is a
special UL Listed (not just UL Classified) adhesive paste called
Duct leakage can be tested using an adjustable fan and a digital pressure gauge.
mastic (preferably one that is specially formulated for duct repair).
UL Classified mastic tests mainly for problems relating to fire,
Standards — ASHRAE Standard 152 provides a means for deter- whereas UL Listed mastic tests for many things, of which the
mining the efficiency of residential duct systems in the heating most important for our purposes is co-adhesion (holding ability
and cooling modes. Although air leakage is a major cause of duct and elasticity).
inefficiency, other factors such as heat conduction through the
duct walls, influence of the system fan on pressures within the Sealing — The proper sealing procedure for smaller leaks (less
house, and partial regain of lost heat are also important. Stan- than 1/4 in. wide) is to apply a bead of mastic alone. For larger
dard 152 takes these factors into account. An Internet web site gaps, first apply a layer of mastic at least 3 in. wide along the
(http://ducts.lbl.gov) has an easy-to-use calculator. The user entire crack length. Then embed a layer of fiberglass mesh at
enters information about the house, the heating and cooling least 2 in. wide in the mastic, and then apply a final layer of
equipment, the system airflow rate, the duct leakage, and the mastic over the mesh. Proper technique is best learned from
name of the city nearest the site. The calculator can then predict an experienced practitioner. The process is not difficult, though
duct efficiencies for the system. sometimes it is awkward.

It’s free, it’s fun (at least for anyone who likes to play with num- When repairing ducts, plan the job. Remember that the tasks of
bers), and it can quickly show the effects of duct location, air sealing and insulating the ducts are equally important. A well-
leakage, and insulation level on duct efficiency. planned job will include the following steps:

8 Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable
• sketch the duct system

Jim Cummings, FSEC/PIX11056

• evaluate the fundamental integrity of the duct system
• seal the ducts
• insulate the ducts

Jim Cummings, FSEC/PIX11055

• correct zone pressure imbalance problems.
Repair of a platform return. Before (top):
Note the cracks and gaps along the
After doing an evaluation of the duct system, it may be advisable edges and joints. After (right): The same
to replace one or more duct sections. This is especially true in the platform return after it has been sealed
from the inside using mastic.
following situations:
• the structural integrity of the duct system has been seriously
compromised
watch to see where it exits. Be certain, of course, that the smoke
• parts of the building have been used as ducts in such a manner
used is of acceptably low toxicity and that the house is well
as to make sealing excessively difficult or of questionable value
ventilated during and after the test.
• replacement is less costly than repair.
Insulating — Insulating the ducts is the second part of the duct-
The decision to repair or replace will often be strongly influenced repair job. Duct board and flexible ducts are usually provided with
by economics. For example, flex duct is relatively quick and cheap effective R-values ranging from R4 to R8.
to install; sheet metal and duct board are more involved. Once
replacements have been made, the ducts can be sealed. Sheet-metal ducts may be insulated or uninsulated. In either case,
additional insulation can be added in the form of duct wrap.
Duct sealing can be divided into two portions:
Pressure Testing — Because pressure imbalances can have
• repairing large leaks found during the general inspection
serious health and safety implications in some systems, it is
• finding and repairing other leaks. imperative that technicians learn proper pressure-testing tech-
niques. Zone pressurization testing has two distinct goals. The
Large leaks are usually disconnected ducts. Sometimes the phys- first, and most important, is testing for worst-case depressuri-
ical reconnection will be relatively simple. At other times, the zation of a room or zone containing combustion appliances.
disconnect will be caused by failure of some component, which As a rule, such an area of the building should not be allowed
will have to be replaced. Once the large leak is repaired, the total to depressurize more than 3 pascals relative to the outside.
leakage around the remaining cracks and spaces in the joint can
be treated as smaller leaks, along with any previously found holes The second goal is to look for pressure differences between zones
that are not disconnects. that can be separated by closing a door. Pressure differences of
more than 2 to 3 pascals should be relieved by providing an ade-
After all known leaks are sealed, it’s time to seek out the less quate airflow path between the zones.
obvious ones. This is vital because most systems have sections
that are not easy to see, and leaks can be easily overlooked. Training — Any duct retrofit business worthy of the name will
require its technicians to receive hands-on training at a good
A small hand-held smoke generator is a handy tool for this job. duct-repair school. Periodic updating of technique is also highly
Introduce the smoke at the inlet side of the duct-blower fan and recommended. Aside from the basic hand-sealing technique,

9
practitioners should keep abreast of new technologies of auto- References, Resources, and Additional Information
matic duct sealing. One of these methods makes use of aerosol
This brochure has been condensed from a larger publication. See
sealants blown into the duct with a computer-controlled
page 1 of this brochure for information on how to get a copy. The
adjustable-speed fan.
following references may also be useful:

National Association of Technician Excellence (NATE)/PIX11112

Publications
Duct Basics
Home Energy Magazine. 1993. Special Issue — Ducts Redis-
covered. September/October.
This Old House: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, by
Richard Trethwey. Little, Brown. 1994.
Right-Size Heating and Cooling Equipment. January 2002.
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Building Technology,
State and Community Programs, DOE/GO-102002-1490.

Health, Safety, and Comfort Issues in Residential Ducts

Home Energy Magazine. 1997. Special Issue — Health and Safety.
November/December.

Fire Safety Standards

NFPA-31. Standard for the Installation of Oil-Burning Equipment
NFPA-54. National Fuel Gas Code
Reputable heating and cooling businesses will require their duct technicians to attend NFPA-211. Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning
training courses to stay informed of the latest techniques.
Appliances
We hope that this brochure helps you to better understand home National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park,
heating and cooling ducts and the problems that can arise, as Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-9101.
well as their solutions. The following section provides a list of
resources for additional information pertaining to ducts. Customer Benefits from Better Duct Systems
A Builder’s Guide to Placement of Ducts and HVAC Equipment in
Conditioned Spaces. NAHB Research Center, Inc., 400 Prince
George’s Blvd., Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774.
Designing and Building Interior Duct Systems. Florida Solar
Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, Florida 32922.

Duct Design Strategies

Delivering Tons to the Register: Energy Efficient Design and
Operation of Residential Cooling Systems, by J. Siegel, I. Walker,
and M. Sherman. Proceedings of the 2000 ACEEE Summer Study
on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. Vol. 1, pp. 295–306.

10 Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable
Energy Efficient Design of New Low-Rise Residential Buildings. Residential Field Testing of an Aerosol-Based Technology for Seal-
Standard 90.2-1993. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, ing Ductwork, by M. P. Modera, D. Dickerhoff, and O. Nilssen.
and Air-Conditioning Engineers, 1791 Tullie Circle, N.E., Atlanta, Proceedings of the 1996 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Effi-
Georgia 30329. ciency in Buildings. Vol. 1, pp. 169–176.
Stopping Duct Quacks: Longevity of Residential Duct Sealants, by
Residential Design Manuals
M. Sherman, I. Walker, and D. Dickerhoff. Proceedings of the 2000
Manual J: Residential Load Calculation
ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. Vol. 1,
Manual S: Residential Equipment Selection pp. 273–284.
Manual D: Residential Duct Systems
Web Links
Air Conditioning Contractors of America, 2800 Shirlington Road, Home Energy Magazine
Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22206. www.homeenergy.org/

Testing and Diagnosing Duct Systems An Introduction to Residential Duct Systems

ASHRAE Standard 152P: Method of Test for Determining the ducts.lbl.gov/
Design and Seasonal Efficiencies of Residential Thermal Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Distribution Systems. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, www.acca.org/
and Air Conditioning Engineers, 1791 Tullie Circle, N.E., Atlanta,
Affordable Comfort, Inc.
Georgia 30329.
www.affordablecomfort.org/
A New Device for Field Measurement of Air Handler Flows, by
North American Technician Excellence
L. Palmiter and P. W. Francisco. Proceedings of the 2000 ACEEE
www.natex.org/
Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. Vol. 1,
pp. 197–206. United States Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star
energystar.gov/ducts/
Installation and Repair of Duct Systems
A Guide to Insulated Air Duct Systems. North American Insulation
Manufacturers Association, 44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 310,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314.
Flexible Duct Performance and Installations Standards, 3rd Edition.
Air Diffusion Council, 1000 E. Woodfield Road,
Suite 102, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173-5921.
Installation Standards for Residential Heating and Air Conditioning
Systems. Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National
Association, Inc., 4201 Lafayette Center Drive, Chantilly, Virginia
20151-1209.
Residential Duct Diagnostics and Repair. Air Conditioning Contrac-
tors of America, 2300 Shirlington Road, Suite 300, Arlington,
Virginia 22206.

11
A Strong Energy Portfolio
for a Strong America
Energy efficiency and clean, renewable
energy will mean a stronger economy,
a cleaner environment, and greater
energy independence for America.
Working with a wide array of state,
community, industry, and university
partners, the U.S. Department of
Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy invests in a
diverse portfolio of energy technologies.

Research and Development Visit our Web sites at:

of Buildings www.buildingamerica.gov www.pathnet.org www.energystar.gov
Our nation’s buildings consume more
energy than any other sector of the
U.S. economy, including transportation
and industry. Fortunately, the opportun-
ities to reduce building energy use— Building America Program
and the associated environmental George S. James • New Construction • 202-586-9472 • fax: 202-586-8134 • e-mail: [email protected]
impacts—are significant. Terry Logee • Existing Homes • 202-586-1689 • fax: 202-586-4617 • e-mail: [email protected]
Lew Pratsch • Integrated Onsite Power • 202-586-1512 • fax: 202-586-8185 • e-mail: [email protected]
DOE’s Building Technologies Program Building America Program • Office of Building Technologies, EE-2J • U.S. Department of Energy • 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W. •
Washington, D.C. 20585-0121 • www.buildingamerica.gov
works to improve the energy efficiency
of our nation’s buildings through inno- Building Industry Research Alliance (BIRA)
vative new technologies and better Robert Hammon • ConSol • 7407 Tam O’Shanter Drive #200 • Stockton, CA 95210-3370 • 209-473-5000 • fax: 209-474-0817 •
e-mail: [email protected] • www.bira.ws
building practices. The program
focuses on two key areas: Building Science Consortium (BSC)
Betsy Pettit • Building Science Consortium (BSC) • 70 Main Street • Westford, MA 01886 • 978-589-5100 • fax: 978-589-5103 •
e-mail: [email protected] • www.buildingscience.com
• Emerging Technologies
Research and development of the Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB)
next generation of energy-efficient Steven Winter • Steven Winter Associates, Inc. • 50 Washington Street • Norwalk, CT 06854 • 203-857-0200 • fax: 203-852-0741 •
e-mail: [email protected] • www.carb-swa.com
components, materials, and
equipment Davis Energy Group
David Springer • Davis Energy Group • 123 C Street • Davis, CA 95616 • 530-753-1100 • fax: 530-753-4125 •
• Technology Integration e-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • www.davisenergy.com/index.html
Integration of new technologies IBACOS Consortium
with innovative building methods Brad Oberg • IBACOS Consortium • 2214 Liberty Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA 15222 • 412-765-3664 • fax: 412-765-3738 •
to optimize building performance e-mail: [email protected] • www.ibacos.com
and savings Industrialized Housing Partnership (IHP)
Subrato Chandra • Florida Solar Energy Center • 1679 Clearlake Road • Cocoa, FL 32922 • 321-638-1412 • fax: 321-638-1439 •
For more information contact: e-mail: [email protected] • www.baihp.org
EERE Information Center National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center
1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463) Tom Kenney • National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center • 400 Prince George’s Boulevard •
www.eere.energy.gov Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 • 301-430-6246 • fax: 301-430-6180 • toll-free: 800-638-8556 • www.nahbrc.org/
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Ren Anderson • 1617 Cole Boulevard, MS-2722 • Golden, CO 80401 • 303-384-7433 • fax: 303-384-7540 •
e-mail: [email protected] • www.nrel.gov
Tim Merrigan • 1617 Cole Boulevard, MS-2722 • Golden, CO 80401 • 303-384-7349 • fax: 303-384-7540 •
U.S. Department of Energy e-mail: [email protected] • www.nrel.gov
Energy Efficiency Oak Ridge National Laboratory
and Renewable Energy Pat M. Love • P.O. Box 2008 • One Bethel Valley Road • Oak Ridge, TN 37831 • 865-574-4346 • fax: 865-574-9331 •
e-mail: [email protected] • www.ornl.gov

Produced for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a DOE national laboratory.
An electronic copy of this factsheet is
available on the Building America Web November 2004 • DOE/GO-102004-1606
site at www.buildingamerica.gov Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste.

12 Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable