Abstract
Various levels of investment in energy-efficient designs for new mobile homes are examined. The purpose is to define relationships between annual energy use for space heating and air conditioning and additional investment in the structure shell. These relationships are developed for nine different cities in the U.S.A. The optimal design configuration (in the sense of minimum life cycle cost) is determined for mobile homes in each city as a function of the energy use/cost relationship, heating fuel choice, climate, fuel prices, and other economic factors. Results of this analysis indicate that the 1976 thermal standard promulgated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires considerably less investment in energy-efficient design than the optimal for all but the warmest climates. The present HUD standard does not account for differences in fuel choices and prices, which strongly influence the economics of energy use. Results presented here should be useful in assessing energy-efficient design alternatives for new mobile homes for different locations, fuel choices and prices, and other pertinent variables.
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