Case 20

A Collection of Dwellings to Represent the U.S. Housing Stock: 2024 Update

[Lima, N. , Persily, A. and Emmerich, S. (2025)] 

This report presents a comprehensive update to the collection of dwellings used to represent the U.S. housing stock, reflecting changes and trends up to the year 2024. This update aims to ensure the collection remains relevant and accurately mirrors the diverse characteristics of residential buildings across the country, facilitating more precise modeling and analysis of indoor air quality, energy usage, and ventilation requirements. Through a thorough examination of current data sources, including recent Residential Energy Consumption Surveys (RECS 2020) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) American House Housing Survey (AHS 2021), gaps from the previous 1997 collection were identified and addressed. A systematic approach was adopted to select a representative sample of dwellings, considering various parameters such as year of construction, types of households, number of stories, floor area, and specific architectural and mechanical features. The report also delves into the CONTAM modeling metrology used to analyze multizone building representations, facilitating detailed studies on airflow patterns, contaminant dispersion, and energy implications of various ventilation strategies. Key findings underscore the evolving nature of the U.S. housing stock, particularly in terms of increased energy efficiency, shifts in heating equipment types, and variations in dwelling design that impact indoor air quality. The updated collection is expected to be a robust tool for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals in developing more effective building codes, standards, and practices that ensure healthier and more sustainable residential environments. The report concludes with recommendations for future updates to the collection, advocating for ongoing research and data collection efforts to capture emerging trends, advancements in building technologies, and changes in occupancy behaviors. This ongoing refinement process is essential to maintain the relevance and utility of the collection in supporting the design and evaluation of buildings that meet the changing needs and preferences of the U.S. population.

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