IBACOS Demonstration Home Featured in Home Energy Magazine

An article titled “Some Research Begins at Home” was published in the November/December 2003 edition of Home Energy magazine. In 2002 and 2003, IBACOS had the opportunity to take a home “off line” and dig into the practices necessary to design and build to extremely high levels of performance—in terms of occupant safety, health, and comfort, as well as building durability and efficiency. To achieve the performance goals, IBACOS focused on six key factors:

• Improving the thermal performance of the building envelope
• Providing mechanical ventilation
• Installing high efficiency mechanical equipment
• Ensuring fire safety
• Improving the floor framing and duct design
• Installing high efficiency appliances and lighting

In addition to testing new design and construction strategies to achieve Building America levels of energy performance, IBACOS used this demonstration home to educate consumers on key areas of construction where quality and performance decisions are made, using best practices based on IBACOS’ research. The construction process was filmed and documented for a 26-part cable television series by The Do It Yourself (DIY) Network. The series, called “Home IQ,” focuses on the design and construction process of a high performance home. It will air in January 2004.