Zero Energy Home Design Project Engineering Design 100: Section 016 Team 5: MAD K Inc. 10/16/14 Nick Dermo: nad5299@psu.edu Burook Affa: bxa5139@psu.edu WIlliam Maloney: wdm5088@edu.com Naman Kabra: nqk5170@psu.edu 1
Abstract: The Ultimate Goal The ultimate goal for a zero energy home is to make the house self sufficient, meaning that its output and input is equivalent to that of a real home. The assignment, given to us by our instructor, was to create a zero energy home that incorporates a passive solar design so that the house can acquire heat and retain it for a certain period of time, We also have to determine the costs of the home based off real life measurements while keeping the house cost efficient. Introduction: Knowing that we had to create a cost efficient and sustainable house, our group began to sketch various designs of our potential zero energy homes. We used outside sources such as videos, pictures, and the Mourningstar Home try get our group one step closer to which house we were going to design. After we compared and rated each house based on price and efficiency, we decided to go with with the house that ll be later on displayed in the report. After weeks of analysis and tedious detail, we we re finally able to create the house, based off the whole group s general ideas. The next week our house was being tested to see how much heat the house could acquire and how much heat can be retained while cold air is being blown on it. Overall, our Zero Energy Home was above average when it came to gaining and retaining heat. So with our analysis and success of the final product, we were able to create a home that could be used in real world situations. Clearly Defined Problem: The objective of this project was to create a Zero Energy Home that can obtain heat as well as hold it for a certain period of time. The problem with this was that we didn t know what tools to use and how to build the house so that it s aesthetically pleasing to the eye nor the all the tools and means to create a successful home. 2
Online Research: Zero Energy Home examples Example #1 Location (city, state) External Research: Turners Falls, MA House size (floor area in square feet) 1152 sq ft + 96 sq ft mudroom Number of floors 1 URL of web site where info is found http://www.builditsolar.com/projects/solarhomes /MAZeroEnergy/MAZeroEnergy.htm Number of occupants 4 Number of bedrooms 3 Type of heating system (forced air, hydronic, radiant floor, heat pump, etc. Main heating fuel (electricity, natural gas, wood, oil, etc.) Size of photovoltaic system (kilowatts) Solar water heater (yes or no) Passive solar heated, electric heat pump, super insulated Electricity 4.94 kwh Yes R value of wall insulation 42 R value of ceiling insulation 100 Ventilation air heat recovery (yes or no) Yes Predicted or measured annual energy use Used:1,959 kwh Produced: 4,892 kwh 3
Example #2 Location (city, state) Devens (Harvard), MA House size (floor area in square feet) 1800 Number of floors URL of web site where info is found http://transformations inc.com/homes/devens/ Number of occupants 4 Number of bedrooms 3 Type of heating system (forced air, hydronic, radiant floor, heat pump, etc. Main heating fuel (electricity, natural gas, wood, oil, etc.) Size of photovoltaic system (kilowatts) Solar water heater (yes or no) R value of wall insulation R value of ceiling insulation Ventilation air heat recovery (yes or no) Predicted or measured annual energy use Any other pertinent info Heat pump, Heat recovery ventilation system Electricity 18.33 kw Grid tied Solar Electric System 98% efficient Navien 180 instantaneous propane gas hot water system R 45 Low Density Foam Walls R 63 Cellulose Attic Insulation Yes Not specified, but the home received an Energy Star Tier 3 certification in Massachusetts and ENERGY STAR Certified Rating of 21 Whole House Ventilation, Low or No VOC Materials/Sealants/ Paints, Hard Floor Surfaces on 1st Floor Water Conserving Fixtures, Rapidly Renewable Materials, Low Maintenance Materials, Recycled PET Carpet in Bedrooms Saltbox with First Floor Master, Open Floor Plan, Vaulted Great Room Ceiling. 4
Morningstar Home: The Morningstar Home located on Penn State s campus is an example of a Zero Energy Home designed and built completely by Penn State students. The home uses multiple passive solar designs and also uses active solar practices. Solar panels are able to offset the energy usage so that the house is completely self sufficient. The passive solar techniques are used to heat the house. Special windows, thermal mass, thermal blinds, and many other designs help capture heat and trap the heat in the house during the colder seasons. Every aspect of the house was built to utilize the sun s heat and energy. One special feature in the house that helps the house maintain its heat is the usage of jars of water. The jars can be put in front of the windows so that when the sun s energy comes in, the water is able to hold the heat. This feature and many other features within and outside the house are what enable the house to be called a Zero Energy Home. 5
Concept Generation: E (Empathize) We needed to become one with the customer. By doing so we need to make the house energy efficient while also making it aesthetically pleasing. An example of that was to build a garage in order to add value to the house while also pleasing the customer. D (Define) We needed to figure out how the house will be created and identify any possible problems that could occur. An example would be how to make an effective energy efficient home while also making it aesthetically pleasing. I (Ideas) We came up with various ideas on how to make the house a success, such as large windows for exposure to sunlight, ventilation, absorption of heat, and overhangs so that the house can stay relatively cool during the hottest point of the day. P (Prototype) We created a house based on what we were taught and what we thought would make a Zero Energy Home a success. T (Test) We performed a few tests on the house to ensure the house is a success and that the customer is satisfied with the physical beauty of the house. Concept Selection: Concept 1 6
Concept 2 Concept 3 Concept 1 Concept 2 Concept 3 Ventilation 3 2 5 Exposure to sunlight 2 3 5 Insulation 4 2 3 Practicality 2 5 5 Aesthetic Value 2 2 4 Cost 3 4 2 Total 16 18 24 7
Active Solar Calculations: Design/Energy Analysis: 8
Solar Panel Selection: Model No. ND 250QCS Price $290.00 Area (m²) 1.63 Rated Power (W) 250 Cost per Watt $1.16 Efficiency 15.34% 5000W # panels 20 Area for 5000W 32.6 9
3D Model: Floor Plan: 10
Model Description: The materials used to build our final Zero Energy Home model were foam board, rubber, aluminum foil, plastic film, tape, hot glue, hard plastic, and black fabric. The specifications made to the model enabled the model to absorb heat and hold it, and each material had its its own role in the Zero Energy Home. The foam board acted as the walls, the floor, the base, and the ceiling, and was a great insulator. Our group also doubled the thickness on the upper walls of the house, so that more heat can be captured and held in the model. As thickness increases, the r value of insulation increases. We recalled this throughout our construction of the model. The rubber was used as a layer of the floor, a layer on the ceiling, and model solar panels on the roof. Rubber is able to hold heat better than most materials, so putting it on the floors and ceilings decreased the amount of heat loss during the test. The aluminum foil was used for two main reasons: to insulate the house and to reflect light throughout the house. The plastic film and hard plastic were used to make windows. The black fabric was used on the floor to absorb heat and hold it in the house. Finally, the glue and tape were used to seal the house together, making sure that no heat left the house that was not supposed to. Our group designed the house for maximum heat capture and absorption. The front, south facing wall has three large windows for light to enter. In addition, the south facing roof has one long window that enables more light to enter the model. When all of the light enters through the windows, it is either reflected and then absorbed or absorbed immediately into the floor. Light is reflected when it enters the house because of the design of the north facing wall of the model. The wall is designed with aluminum foil on the inside and angled so that light is reflected throughout the model s interior. The three layered floor absorbs and traps heat, along with the double layer ceiling. Both rubber and aluminum foil were strategically placed throughout the house in order to trap the maximum amount of heat. The roof is angled at 45 degrees in order to maximize the active solar production of the solar panels, and also to maximize the amount of light that enters through the roof s window. The overhang was strategically implanted into the models design to control the amount of sun entering the south facing windows according to the seasons. During winter months, the sun s elevation is low, so all of the sunlight will enter through the windows. In the summer months, the sun s elevation angle is much higher, so the amount of sunlight that enters through the south side of the house greatly decreases. Finally, the chimney enables rising hot air to exit the home during warmer months. Conclusion: Overall, our Zero Energy Home model was a success. The house that we designed was able to hold 5 degrees Celsius over the course of the seven minute cooling period, which was very good compared to the other group s models. Our final model design performed as we expected, being able to capture a large amount of heat and contain it within the house. The large window space let in heat, the foil reflected the heat and light throughout the house, and the rubber, foil, and foam board trapped the heat inside the model. Each specification of the model performed as planned, and our group was very happy with the outcome of the test. 11
References: http://www.builditsolar.com/projects/solarhomes/mazeroenergy/mazero10.jpg http://www.builditsolar.com/projects/solarhomes/mazeroenergy/mazero1.jpg http://greentour.psu.edu/img/slides/morningstar6.jpg http://www.builditsolar.com/projects/solarhomes /MAZeroEnergy/MAZeroEnergy.htm http://transformations inc.com/homes/devens/ 12