Abstract
This paper presents the results for the operating energy performance of the smart operation for a low carbon energy region (SOLCER) house. The house design is based on a ‘systems’ approach, which integrates the building technologies for electrical and thermal energy systems, together with the architectural design. It is based on the concept of ‘energy positive’ buildings, utilising renewable energy systems which form part of the building envelope construction. The paper describes how the building energy model HTB2, with a range of additional ‘plugins’, has been used to simulate specific elements of the design and the overall energy performance of the house. Measurement data have been used in combination with the energy simulation results to evaluate the performance of the building together with its systems, and identifying the energy performance of individual components of the building. The study has indicated that an energy-positive performance can be achieved through an integrative systems approach. The analysis has indicated that the house, under normal occupancy, needs to import about 26% of its energy from the grid, but over the year its potential export to import ratio can reach 1.3:1. The paper discusses the performance gap between design and operation. It also considers the contribution of a transpired solar air collector (TSC) to space heating. The results have been used to gain a detailed understanding of energy-positive performance.
Highlights
To meet the target of a 100% reduction in the UK’s carbon emissions by 2050 [1], it is necessary to reduce the carbon emissions associated with the residential sector, which accounts for some 17%of the UK’s total energy consumption in 2017 [2]
A zero-energy building (ZEB) can be defined as a net zero emission building in terms of carbon dioxide emissions, where the carbon emissions generated from grid-based fossil fuel energy use are balanced by the renewable energy generation on the building itself [6]
The design of the SOLCER house used a number of technologies and design approaches that were developed through the Low Carbon Research Institute technologies and design approaches that were developed through the Low Carbon Research (LCRI) Low Carbon Buildings Programme [38]
Summary
To meet the target of a 100% reduction in the UK’s carbon emissions by 2050 [1], it is necessary to reduce the carbon emissions associated with the residential sector, which accounts for some 17%. Simulation has been used to show the potential of Research has identified the importance of the balance between renewable energy and heat pump energy-positive performance for groups of houses using heat pump technology [22]. There is currently a shift in European housing, from gas to electric heating, with the smart from 2025 at the latest, no new homes should be connected to the gas grid They should instead be integration of solar PV (photovoltaic), heat pump technology and energy storage [23]. This paper describes how a combination of energy modelling and monitoring has been used to evaluate the smart operation for a low carbon energy region (SOLCER) house design, identifying any performance gap, and to help understand how an energy-positive performance can be realised in practice.
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