Wednesday, January 27, 2016: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Modern Residential Systems
Chair:
Dianne Griffiths, P.E., Steven Winter Assoc.
Technical Committee: 04.03 Ventilation Requirements and Infiltration
Sponsor: Residential Buildings Committee
CoSponsor: 02.08 Building Environmental Impacts and Sustainability
Affordable and healthy high performance net zero energy (NZE) homes that combine energy efficiency improvements with onsite renewable energy production are possible throughout the country. However, it can be difficult to determine the appropriate strategy for achieving NZE performance while maintaining acceptable occupant comfort and indoor air quality. This seminar discusses technology issues and local conditions and practices and provides design guidance and cost-optimal performance packages that are applicable locally, regionally and nationally. Modeling tools, an experimental facility and real-world examples of affordable net zero energy home design packages are reviewed.
1 Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality in a Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility
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Lisa Ng, Ph.D., National Institute of Standards and Technology |
A net-zero energy (NZE) residential test facility is used to evaluate options for achieving NZE performance on a home similar in size, aesthetics, and amenities to those in the surrounding communities while meeting the average electricity and water use needs of a family of four. The facility incorporates renewable energy and energy efficient technologies, including a heat recovery ventilator sized to meet ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010 ventilation requirements, because ventilation is a significant portion of the energy requirement in a NZE home. This presentation will discuss the operation of the HRV and its impact on the indoor air quality and energy use.
2 Least-Cost Pathway to Net Zero Energy Homes
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Jon Winkler, National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
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Dane Christensen, Ph.D., NREL |
Net zero energy (NZE) homes require additional investments in improving energy efficiency and adding rooftop PV. It can be challenging to determine the most cost effective way to reach NZE because it depends on climate, energy costs and relative costs of energy efficiency and PV technology options. BEopt software can be used to evaluate residential building designs, identifying cost-optimal performance packages at various levels of whole-house energy savings. This presentation will provide a brief overview of BEopt capabilities along with several case studies of NZE homes designed and built using information from BEopt.
3 Natural Gas Options for Net Zero Energy Homes
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Sue Kristjansson, Southern California Gas Co. |
As net zero energy (NZE) construction gains momentum, so does the number of stakeholders who believe electrification is the best way to achieve NZE performance. However, natural gas provides a clean, affordable and domestic energy option for NZE homes that is often overlooked when stakeholders think only in terms of site energy performance. This presentation will focus on California’s ambitious NZE goals, describe how NZE is calculated in California, and showcase the societal benefits of including high efficiency natural gas direct use as a viable alternative to electric technology options for NZE homes in California.