ENERGY MODELING OF HISTORIC HOMES

eDesign Dynamics performed an energy analysis of a 100-year old historic home in Samoa, California.

eDesign Dynamics worked with Vita Nuova, LLC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to create a green guide for restoring a community of these historic homes. Energy modeling was used to evaluate existing conditions and different design options. The “typical” Samoa historic home was modeled for potential energy consumption for heating requirements. The goals were to determine levels of improvement from added insulation and finding a low cost, efficient heating system. Multiple scenarios were modeled with added insulation and a variety of heating systems that included an EPA-certified wood stove and an air-to-air heat pump.

A cost analysis was performed to compare the space heating options with added insulation. A separate analysis compared design options with the Home Energy Rating System Index, a national standard for verification of building energy performance, to determine potential carbon emissions. The different options were compared using multiple variable optimization to determine the most sustainable option with the least environmental impacts.