Research zero net energy building

Abstract

The solar resource is studied for optimum application as coupled to a specific site with integrated supporting architecture. The study models are clustered in a ten living unit residential complex designed for monitoring of five paired apartments, each pair being of different occupancy, area and solar characteristic. The project has been developed in Dezhou, China by Himin Industries. Solar energy harvesting includes active high temperature hydronic evacuated tubular collectors, photovoltaic electric generation, passive direct gain sunspaces and maximum daylighting. Applications are space heating, absorption cooling, dehumidification and domestic hot water. Delivery systems include seasonally adjusted radiant heating and cooling and dehumidification. Supporting architecture provides thermal mass static storage and unitized hot and chilled water storage that provides sufficient thermal inertia within each living unit to provide necessary interior climate control in excess of one day during peak thermal demand conditions. The site ground is coupled with the solar building systems through implementation of a closed loop geo-thermal field. Ground loop application will include seasonal warm thermal storage and direct water cooling assist to the solar driven absorption cooling and dehumidification. Air flow through building spaces is provided by free flow passage of air from north to south in all spaces of all units and vertical natural chimney effect. Interior air quality is governed by enthalpy recovery systems dedicated to each living unit that provide for air changes as dictated by use. Control of space climatology is through thermal limits and setbacks controlled by the dwelling unit occupant as monitored by the research project. Lighting control employs daylight and movement sensors with task lighting. Photovoltaic electric generation will be monitored and stored in a theoretical gird which supply energy to adjacent Himin facilities. Monitoring for study includes all climate data including solar insolation, atmospheric temperature, humidity and earth temperatures. Time of day energy use by each dwelling unit is monitored by energy recorded for thermal and electrical use. Occupants will be interviewed for facility satisfaction. It is the intent of this project to formulate data that will constantly log energy usage within each living unit to assess the effect of natural site energy and living patterns on the implementation of renewable energy in the specific area, the object of which is to further develop a basis for the development of very low user and/or zero energy buildings.