INTEGRATED DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION ISSUES FOR ZERO ENERGY SOLAR HOMES

Abstract

Homes that utilise solar thermal and solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies to generate as much energy as their yearly load are referred to as net Zero Energy Solar Homes (ZESH). Various design guidelines exist that help designers determine form and orientation of buildings along with the best combination of thermal mass and windows. Numerous components are essential to achieve the net-zero energy target, including solar thermal collectors, PV, and efficient HVAC systems. The Canadian entry in the Solar Decathlon competition demonstrates that designing a house with optimization of solar energy in mind can achieve exceptional results. In the future, design optimization tools could assist designers in determining the most cost effective ZESH design options.