Jacksonville Building Science is not your typical energy rater.
Michael O’Donoughue, P.Eng., company principal and member of the E-Council, offers technical services and consulting to help clients attain tangible energy goals.
Working with builders in the area, O’Donoughue substantiates the value of the company’s approach by showing builders how to reduce the number of warranty claims.
Jacksonville Building Science is a design, inspection and testing company. Its area of expertise is energy efficiency through Energy Star, Florida Green Building Coalition, energy conservation, energy ratings, performance testing, heating/venting/air-conditioning design and testing.
JBS is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers. The company is an Energy Star Partner, a Class 1 Florida HERS Energy Rater and is certified to perform HVAC test and balance for systems of up to 50 tons.
What does that mean to a builder?
“Ideally, we are called in at the design stage,” O’Donoughue said. “That is where we can be the most helpful and ensure the best possible outcome. We specify a complete HVAC design for the home and give the builder the information needed to obtain quotes from contractors based on identical requirements. Our specs become part of the permanent record and are included in the building drawings. This functions as a quality control instrument and lets the builder assess the contractor’s performance and test the contractor’s work.”
The process begins with reviewing drawings and site plans, analyzing insulation, window, door and thermal boundaries to determine the individual room cooling and heating requirements.
“A detailed room-by-room load calculation is the only method that can effectively eliminate hot and cold spots by determining the amount of conditioning required throughout the day for every day of the year,” O’Donoughue said. “If the load fluctuation is excessive, we specify a zoned approach for maximum efficiency.”
When the load calculation has been made, the design is subjected to the Florida Energy Code requirements and changes made until the design satisfies code requirements.
“Subsequent steps involve designing and specifying duct work, selecting equipment to ensure correct sizing with cost savings for the builder and maximum energy conservation two primary goals,” O’Donoughue said. “From there we move to specifying grill style and type to obtain low-noise and sufficient airflow goals.”
Following the design work, Jacksonville Building Science offers performance testing and certification services. Performance testing involves field testing, data collection and analysis, followed by a rough-in inspection to identify deficiencies and make recommendations. The company also certifies homes for Energy Star and the Florida Green Building Coalition.
“We accept responsibility for our design,” O’Donoughue said. “If the HVAC and duct work are installed to our design and there is an issue not due to equipment failure or malfunction, we pay to have it fixed. In 10 years we’ve had three homes with an issue, and we paid for the repairs. The only HVAC claims our builders receive are the occasional equipment issue, which is covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.”
Other services JBS builders rely on to increase customer satisfaction and reduce warranty claims include airflow testing, a test that can uncover hidden defects in the installation that would go undiscovered until after the homeowner moved in, and test and balance, a test required for Energy Star where the airflow in every room is measured and must be within a range determined by the design. Most Energy Raters are not certified test and balance contractors.
Contact O’Donoughue at [email protected] or (904) 807-3540. Visit online at jaxbuildingscience.com.