Conditioned Crawl Space DR14.07

The measure under study is the sealing and conditioning of existing baseline, and vented crawl spaces at single-family residences. Sealed, conditioned crawl spaces have a vapor barrier on the earthen floor, insulation on the crawl space walls, and a pathway for conditioned air to circulate. The measure can improve building envelope air tightness, reduce duct leakage loads, reduce humidity levels, and improve overall air quality. It may also improve demand response effectiveness by increasing available cool air that comes in contact with the thermal mass during a Demand Response (DR) event. Past studies have found that the measure can achieve Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) energy savings of 15-32% in new construction and eliminate excessive crawl space humidity.