Noise and building energy efficiency are closely related, with correlations between tight thermal envelopes and noise insulation, as well as complex relationships between building mechanical system efficiency and noise. However, it is difficult to characterize the relationship between acoustics and energy efficiency in real-world settings due to unpredictable factors inherent to fieldwork. To enable study of field-like conditions in a controlled setting, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Lab Homes, two identical single-family residences located in Richland, Washington, serve as a testbed for piloting energy-efficient technologies. This unique setup enables quantification of building technology performance using paired experimental testing, with technologies ranging from building mechanical systems to envelope construction. To evaluate the acoustic behavior of as-installed building systems, it is essential to understand the acoustic properties of the buildings themselves. To acoustically characterize the Lab Homes, a range of tests were performed on each of the homes, including transmission loss testing, reverberation time measurements within critical interior spaces, background noise measurements, and field estimations of sound power for each of the major pieces of equipment. The comparison of results provides foundational analysis for using the two homes in future studies that investigate the intersection of noise and energy efficiency.
McCord et al. (Wed,) studied this question.