The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research institute of the University of Central Florida, is looking for homes in which to evaluate Florida energy code effectiveness. We are looking for Florida homes ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,300 ft, that were permitted and built between 1984-1986 or from March 1, 2009 through present. A comprehensive energy audit will be performed on participating homes, including house and duct airtightness tests. Funded through the Florida Department of Community Affairs, this work is part of a research project to determine the effectiveness of the energy code.

Researcher conducting a blower door test.

If your home matches our criteria, you could be a part of an important research project that may influence Florida energy codes. It doesn't matter if you think your utility bills are low, high or average. Again, this is a research project, we are not selling anything.

What’s in it for you?

• $200 in compensation: $50 will be paid after the energy audit, and another $150 will be paid after an annual energy-use measurement period at your home.
• You may learn about ways to make your house more energy efficient.
  
• At your request, we will provide a brief summary of the test results for your house at the end of the project.

What we want to do:

• Examine insulation levels and air leakage pathways
• Measure building and air duct airtightness
• Measure air conditioning system air flow rate and cooling performance
• Measure building envelope (walls, floors, etc.) surface areas
• Determine the efficiency of space heating, cooling, and domestic hot water equipment
• Conduct an annual energy-use evaluation measurement.
• Aggregate your house data with other homes; we will not identify your energy data, name or address.
  

How do we participate?

Complete and return the homeowner agreement [Adobe Acrobat PDF, 141KB] and we will then schedule the energy audit.  If you would like to accept the $200 incentive, please also complete a W-9 Form [Adobe Acrobat PDF, 104KB].