BOONE–Jeff Tiller, an associate professor and coordinator of building science in Appalachian State University’s Department of Technology, has received two grants totaling $284,304 to continue work on high efficiency housing.

The first grant, for $99,536, is with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program. The project will work with builders in North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky to provide technical assistance for converting their homes to follow high performance guidelines.

The second, a $184,768 project funded by North Carolina’s State Energy Office, focuses on improving the efficiency of new, manufactured homes in western North Carolina.

Tiller’s project team is in the process of identifying builders in North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky who want to take the extra step in how they build homes to increase efficiency.

“This project puts Appalachian at the forefront of building technology research and implementation,” Tiller said. “With the increasing interest in sustainable building, we will be assisting builders in bringing the state of the art to the marketplace.”

High performance houses are more durable, less prone to moisture problems, have better air quality and reduce heating and cooling bills.

Tiller has been working with a major builder in Charlotte to develop a model for high performance construction techniques in production-built homes. The company has just completed three prototype homes and is planning to adopt the same strategies in 400 to 800 additional homes this year.

With the help of both graduate and undergraduate students, Tiller conducts detailed analysis of buildings currently under construction using diagnostic tools that test for air leakage, duct leakage and problems with air pressure imbalances. He and his team also model the buildings using computer software and evaluate the potential benefits of alternative strategies for improving energy efficiency. They then develop a series of recommendations to the builders to improve their future homes.

“We can create a home that provides benefits of increased comfort, air quality and durability for little additional cost, if any,” Tiller said. “The annual savings on energy costs more than make up any extra mortgage costs.”

In his years working with builders, Tiller has found a hesitancy to invest in technologies that will pay for themselves in a few years.

“You see a payback of two to three years and builders are still not installing these options,” he said. “It seems the industry does not know how to market energy efficiency very well.”

Tiller has worked many years with sustainable building design.

“I feel like there is growing interest in buildings that go beyond energy efficiency; buildings with so called ‘green technologies’ are definitely on the rise,” he said. “I am optimistic, but it takes a lot of work to get people to do the right thing.”

Tiller is also the program director of Appalachian State University’s Energy Center. The Energy Center is a multidisciplinary group that involves students and faculty from Appalachian’s colleges of fine and applied arts, arts and sciences, and business. Through research activities associated with the Energy Center, students gain practical hands-on knowledge of advanced energy technology, efficiency and policy.
For more information, call the Energy Center at (828) 262-7289 or visit www.energy.appstate.edu.