Unprecedented Increase in Cost of Raw Materials

Figure 1-11: Producer Price Index for Cold Rolled Steel Sheet & Strip, Copper & Copper Base Alloy Pipe & Tube, and Aluminum Sheet and Strip, 2004-2008

The Future of HVAC Technology

Geothermal HVAC Systems

Underfloor Air Distribution Systems

End User

Builders Challenge and Net-Zero Homes

The E-Scale, an Easy Measure of a Home's Energy Efficiency

Air Conditioner Use in American Households

Figure 1-12: Percentage of U.S. Households Owning Air Conditioning Units

Figure 1-13: U.S. Residential Energy Consumption, 2004-2008 (in trillion Btu)

Figure 1-14: U.S. Residential Energy Consumption, First Half of 2009 (in trillion Btu)

Decreased Construction Leads to Fewer HVAC Installations

Table 1-14: Residential HVAC System Utilization (in thousand housing units)

Figure 1-15: U.S. Total Residential Construction, January-June, 2009 (in million $)

Consumption Characteristics of Residential Buildings

Figure 1-16: Residential Building Primary Electric Energy Breakdown, 2005 (%)

Figure 1-17: Type of Air Conditioning Equipment Used by U.S. Households, 2005

Single-Family Detached Homes Use the Most Energy

Table 1-15: U.S. Residential Energy Consumption According to Housing Type (in million Btu)

The Commercial Building Initiative and EnergyPlus Software

Figure 1-18: Percentage of U.S. Commercial Buildings With Cooling Systems(s), 1999, 2003, 2007 (E)