Abstract
In Scotland, homebuilders are requested to take valiant efforts to meet the government’s ambition that all newly built homes should be carbon-neutral by 2016/17. In delivering net zero carbon homes, the application of renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) power generating systems, is almost inevitable. Cost-effectiveness of emerging green technologies is a major factor that affects stakeholders’ housing design decision-making on whether or not the innovations can be applied in practical terms. Based on the United Kingdom (UK) government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for energy rating of dwellings, this study conducted a comparative value assessment of 19 design alternatives set. The options also included ones that encompassed both electricity and heat generation potentials of PV applications—i.e., air-sourced PV thermal (PV/T) systems. Based on the SAP simulation results, it concluded that operational energy use and cost, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) emission levels, can drastically be reduced particularly when a PV/T system is combined with a low-energy and high-performance mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system that can extract fresh air heated by PV. This study led to visualizing the cost-effectiveness of PV/T MVHR systems and identifying the economic value over 10 years at the interest rate of 10%, based on an assumption that the innovations are applied to Scottish homes today.
Highlights
The energy use required to operate a comfortable house depends on the occupants’ family structure and usage patterns related to their behavior [1]
The results indicate that the selection of design alternatives that include PV thermal (PV/T) mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems leads to drastic savings of operational energy cost
In view of Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) domestic energy simulation parameters, this study started with highlighting some of the key passive design considerations, which are effective in lowering operational energy demand of a house to be built in Scotland
Summary
The energy use required to operate a comfortable house depends on the occupants’ family structure and usage patterns related to their behavior [1]. A natural gas combination (or combi) boiler is one of the most popular heating systems being installed in homes build in Scotland It is a compact system applied for domestic water and space heating and radiators are dominant devices that help spread the heat throughout a house. PV generated electricity can contribute to the operation of an MVHR system, which is able to extract PV-heated fresh air running under the solar roofs This linkage can lead to the establishment of an air-sourced photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) MVHR system, which may be applied to homes in Scotland and help create a thermally comfortable healthy living environment at low energy costs achieved through the synergy. Without MVHR and PV systems in question, the house’s operational energy consumption was estimated at 9,092kWh/annum [5] This amount was used for the comparative analysis of design alternatives, which will be identified later (Figure 3). PV installers in Scotland tend to offer a 10-year warranty for the structural damage and further guarantee the minimal expected power output over the period of 25 years from the date of commissioning
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