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LaHouse is a display of high-performance building practices to create more sustainable, resilient and healthy homes in the gulf region. The research-based facility is located on LSU's Baton Rouge campus and displays home-building techniques and solutions for Louisiana's unique climate. LaHouse is open weekdays from 10 am to 4:30 p.m. for self-guided tours or can be toured completely virtually.
Experience the Lahouse via virtual tour
Spray foam insulation fills all spaces and acts as a barrier to prevent air from entering the home which can lead to higher energy costs to keep indoor temperatures comfortable.
Open cell and closed cell spray foam are options depending on the needs. Open cell is cheaper and better at blocking noises. It has an R-value of 3.2 per inch. The closed cell is denser, which works better at preventing the penetration of air and water into the walls. It has an R-value of 6 per inch.
The open-cell foam absorbs and releases moisture vapor more freely than closed-cell foam. Both open and closed cell spray foam are air barriers that can absorb and release moisture.
The duct is placed between two conditioned spaces which provides added insulation that can lower energy costs.
If ducts are too close to the exterior, the HVAC system will have to work harder to maintain the desired temperature within a home as the exterior air impacts the air within a duct.
An air register supplies air to the room. They are sometimes called “throw” air registers because they must push the air or “throw” the air so that it can be felt across the room. If the “throw” is not strong enough, the air will stop moving across the room, and the air circulation will suffer which can add to energy costs as rooms will never feel like a comfortable temperature.
Each room in a building should have a high-performance return-air register, as well as a supply register to ensure optimal efficiency. Some homes were not designed this way, but a space under the door is enough so that airflow can circulate out of the room and find its way to a return-air register elsewhere.
To ensure efficiency during the summer, a home should have high registers. High return registers draw the hot air that has risen to the ceiling back into the HVAC system to be cooled. If a home does not have a high register installed, the home’s low register will draw cooler air back into the system, and the room will be left with warm air at the ceiling.
In the case of a two-story home, having high-performance returns installed on the second floor will increase comfort and energy savings. When installed on both floors, high performance returns will significantly boost comfort and savings.
Supply registers should be installed on outer walls and undeath windows, while return registers should be installed on interior walls.
This room features its own programmable thermostat as part of the zone control system.
An HVAC system without zone control provides general heating and cooling to the entire house, so all rooms receive an equal amount of air even if they are not being used.
In order to stop the conditioned air from reaching all the rooms at once, zone controls seal off branches with electronically controlled dampers if certain rooms or wings of a home are consistently not in use. This will reduce the overall energy costs for a home as it ensures a homeowner is only paying to treat the air in frequently used rooms of a home.
Grilles with interior sound baffles
