Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Winter storms are disruptive to society and the economy, and they cause significant injuries and death. Despite the inherent dangers posed by severe winter weather, particularly in the South where citizens may generally be unprepared, building technologies play a crucial role in safeguarding against the potential impacts of extreme cooling events. These advancements not only protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents but also shape the trajectory of homes built in the future. However, the stark reality of homes in Louisiana, where people are currently residing, reveals persistent limitations despite policy-driven advancements. The overarching goal of this Research and Extension Strengthening Standard Grant proposal is to foster Energy-Efficient, Resilient, and Healthy Housing across Louisiana through two key objectives. Firstly, we propose a comprehensive research initiative, with a primary focus on developing critical information crucial for the extension component of the project. This initiative not only generates innovative solutions but rigorously will address critical questions surrounding material selection, practices, and the evaluation of benefits and costs in both retrofitting existing structures and implementing new construction projects. Secondly, we are committed to enhancing extension capabilities and ensuring the implementation of impactful education and outreach strategies grounded in robust scientific data. This will be achieved through a multifaceted approach encompassing training programs, demonstration projects, development of youth weather-preparedness curricula, 4-H volunteer and club leader training initiatives, and the dissemination of educational and outreach publications. This initiative directly relates to the Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems program priority area. By equipping citizens with the resources and knowledge, we aim to facilitate more informed decisions regarding energy-efficient and resilient housing. We believe that his informed decision-making process will contribute to the widespread adoption of sustainable practices, thereby enhancing the overall resilience of communities in the face of winter storms and related challenges. Furthermore, the reciprocal and collaborative relationship with citizens and stakeholders developed through this community-engaged program will better meet community needs and improve program effectiveness.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
50%
Developmental
25%
Goals / Objectives
Overarching Goals:The overarching goal of this Research and Extension Strengthening Standard Grant proposal is to foster Energy-Efficient, Resilient, and Healthy Housing across Louisiana by:Integrate Applied Research: The project aims to leverage research findings and practical knowledge to enhance housing quality, energy efficiency, and resilience.Establish Mutually Beneficial Relationships with Community: This project aims to develop strong, collaborative relationships with community partners and key stakeholders to increase the effectiveness of research and extension efforts.Expand Extension Capacity: The project aims to develop educational resources and training to improve housing quality, energy efficiency, and resilience across Louisiana.This goal will be achieved through several supporting objectives aimed at enhancing extension capacity to swiftly fortify wind resilience across Louisiana. The objectives include:Life-Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA):Conduct a thorough LCCA to analyze energy savings and resilience effectiveness.Quantify performance of diverse building upgrade measures.Customize assessments for Louisiana's unique requirements.Consider long-term benefits using metrics like Net Benefit and Payback Period.Develop Collaborative Relationships:Engage stakeholders (extension agents, industry professionals, government officials).Regularly and continuously discuss program objectives, benefits, and limitations through stakeholder focus groups.Refine project deliverables based on stakeholder feedback.Create Extension Educational Materials and Training Programs:Craft community training on risk assessment and mitigation planning.Emphasize Louisiana state law supporting tax credits for energy-efficient homes.Refine materials based on stakeholder feedback.Deliver courses to small groups and extension agents.Increase certified weatherization and energy-efficient home providers.Incorporate "Energy-Efficient and Healthy Homes & Families" into 4-H Programs:Collaborate with Louisiana 4-H for youth curriculum.· Align with Louisiana Department of Education standards.Train club leaders and youth volunteers.· Teach youth best practices in energy efficiency and family resiliency.· Make curricular materials accessible online for user-friendliness.Evaluate program impact.
Project Methods
For Objective 1, our focus is on developing information that is critical for the extension component of the project. The salient research questions that Objective 1 aims to answer include: (1) What materials and equipment should be adopted in practice? (2) What are the costs and benefits of retrofitting existing structures, considering the long-term and short-term impacts? To accomplish this a comprehensive Life-Cycle Cost Assessment will be conducted to thoroughly quantify the energy savings and resilience enhancement performance of various building upgrade measures (1.1-1.3), and the costs associated with those building upgrade measures customized for the State of Louisiana (1.4). The analysis will culminate in a thorough consideration of long-term benefits, utilizing metrics such as Net Benefit and Payback Period. In Subtask 1.1 a Baseline Building Energy Simulation Suite will be developed and specifically tailored for the unique characteristics of Louisiana. This suite will encompass a wide range of Energy Plus-based residential building models, each carefully configured with inputs that mirror the most representative building construction in the state. Parameters such as construction area, floor numbers, building plans, and building vintage will be considered. Reference will be made to the Residential Building Prototype Models provided by the DOE's Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) to ensure the baseline's accuracy and representativeness. Additionally, a meticulously calibrated Energy Plus model will be generated using the LaHouse Building as the basis, representing the most advanced and sophisticated scenario. In Subtask 1.2 simultaneously, an extensive literature review will be conducted to identify prevalent building upgrade measures suitable for the Louisiana climate, e.g., the installation of high-insulation construction materials, energy-efficient low-e glass, reinforced attic and balcony structures to improve airtightness, transitioning to higher-efficiency heating systems, and the adoption of smart thermostat technology, etc. From the findings of the literature review, the most relevant building upgrade measures will be selected, and a comprehensive simulation plan will be compiled to incorporate the various building upgrade measures individually and collectively. In Subtask 1.3 the simulation plan will be systematically integrated into the baseline energy simulation suite via a large-scale simulation infrastructure deployed on the supercomputing cluster Super Mike II of LSU. Based on the parametric simulation results, a comprehensive analysis will be conducted to quantify the energy savings and resilience enhancements using a set of key performance indicators (KPIs), such as energy consumption reduction, peak demand reduction, and the duration of thermally uncomfortable conditions experienced during extreme weather events. In Subtask 1.4, the team will assess the associated costs of implementing energy-efficient measures, covering material and installation costs for a comprehensive financial overview. The long-term analysis will span a 30-year horizon, evaluating cumulative benefits over time and considering durability and efficiency factors. In consideration of the Net Benefit representing the overall advantages derived from the adoption of energy-efficient materials and equipment, and the Payback Period, denoting the years necessary for recuperating the initial investment, the project team will determine, informed by a detailed understanding of financial metrics and the long-term implications of various features. Once Objectives 1 have progressed significantly, Objective 2 will design and execute a community-engaged statewide education and outreach campaign, fostering equity through a multifaceted approach including training programs, demonstration projects, youth curriculum development, and 4-H volunteer and club leader training. This initiative will focus on addressing the needs of underserved communities. The following strategic steps will guide our efforts:Developing Collaborative Relationships:To ensure the program meets community needs, we will establish collaborative relationships with stakeholders, including extension agents, developers, contractors, realtors, appraisers, mortgage lenders, insurance agents, financial planners, architects, engineers, and construction managers. This collaborative approach involves inclusive discussions and focus group sessions covering program objectives, accomplishments, benefits, limitations, and cost comparisons.Working with local industry professionals on resilient building practices aims to increase certified weatherization and energy-efficient home providers in Louisiana, benefiting all citizens by reducing the need to search for building providers elsewhere. Partnerships with government officials will enhance their understanding of program objectives and outcomes, allowing them to better advocate for constituents.Community-engaged discussion sessions will identify community needs regarding resilient energy-efficient construction practices. Stakeholder education will be evaluated through pre- and post-feedback surveys and reflections. This process aims to better meet community needs, inform government officials, increase certified providers, and strengthen relationships with community officials, enhancing the overall effectiveness of our program.Developing Extension Educational Materials and Training Programs:Led by the extension educator, the project team will craft a comprehensive community training program addressing disaster risk assessment, winter storm hazard mitigation planning, and accessing funding for mitigation projects. Extension publications and in-person course materials will be developed, emphasizing Louisiana state law supporting tax credits on energy-efficient homes. The materials will also include side-by-side comparisons of scenarios with and without energy-efficient home construction. Materials, including side-by-side scenario comparisons, will undergo continuous refinement based on stakeholder feedback. Courses will be initially delivered to small groups and extension agents before launching a state-wide educational campaign.Incorporating "Energy-Efficient and Healthy Homes & Families" into 4-H Programs:The project team will collaborate with Louisiana 4-H to integrate a youth preparedness curriculum into the Louisiana 4-H School Enrichment Initiative. A statewide train-the-trainer program for club leaders and youth volunteers will be established, and presented at key conferences, webinars, and events.The youth training and curriculum will incorporate service learning, focusing on activities that involve locating community resources. Comprehensive evaluation, including pre-and post-program questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups, will guide continuous improvement. All curricular materials will be converted into a user-friendly online format for accessibility.Program reach will be assessed through tracking interactions with extension materials, email communications, and attendance at training events.This program will undergo comprehensive evaluation for overall outcomes and effectiveness using pre- and post-program questionnaires, formative and summative reflections, interviews, and focus groups conducted across all audiences. The evaluations will capture changes in knowledge, behavior, and overall improvements in economic outcomes. Once refined, all curricular materials will be converted into a user-friendly online format accessible to the target audience. Program reach will be assessed by tracking interactions with extension materials across LSU AgCenter and EDEN websites, counts on email communications, and attendance at training opportunities. Online audiences will have the opportunity to provide feedback and recommend changes through an online survey, ensuring continuous improvement and adaptability.