Abstract
In 2011, the Departments of Architecture, Physics and Engineering began the development of a small Passivhaus standard, renewable energy self-sufficient studio at the University Botanical Gardens in Dundee. The prototype was conceived as an experimental, integrated technical platform to monitor the performance of an ultra-low-energy consumption, energy positive building in the Scottish climate, and understand user behaviour in relation to managing energy in-use and reducing occupant’s energy consumption. The building fabric has been constructed using regional sustainable materials, including a low-thermal bridging timber kit relying on Scottish small cross-section timber and a novel foam concrete (air entrained) slab foundation. While further work is required to complete the installation of the renewable energy system, predictive modelling indicates that energy autonomy can be largely achieved. With the recent introduction of the new Passivhaus 2009 criteria in October 2015, this project provides an insight into the practical application of an autarkic energy system in a northern European climate. The following paper describes the research rationale, the processes and decision making in the development of the formal and technical design of the building and discusses our current thinking in the design and quantification of the energy system.
Highlights
This paper has described the conception, design and construction of the Macro Micro energyself-sufficient prototype laboratory at the University of Dundee, its present status, predictions obtained from modelling of thermal properties, PV and wind electrical generation systems, and has outlined some future plans
This paper has described the conception, design and construction of the Macro Micro energy-self-sufficient prototype laboratory at the University of Dundee, its present status, predictions obtained from modelling of thermal properties, PV and wind electrical generation systems, and has outlined some future plans
The building concept has been developed as an energy autonomous solution operating an all-electrical system powered from near-zero emission renewables including a 5 kWp PV array, 3 kW VAWT and 24 kWh Lithium-Ion battery store
Summary
Innovative low and zero-energy building prototypes developed to test the efficacy of renewable energy concepts in buildings have a long history. The Vagn Korsgaard Zero Energy Home in Denmark in 1977 and the Saskatchewan Conservation House in 1979 proposed buildings that had a close to zero annual heating need that was achieved through very high fabric specifications and the use of MVHR without the need for active thermal storage [20] These were forerunners to the Passivhaus concept which developed the economic and technical viability for upscaling these principles. MagicBox, a self-sufficient solar house at the Institute of Solar Research, Madrid is equipped with grid connected PV generation, lead-acid batteries, controllable appliances and smart metering It tests the principles of Active Demand Side Management (ADSM); the automatic control of household demand combined with renewable energy generation and automatic control of the grid interface to maximize self-consumption of energy [25]. The Macro Micro Studio builds on the principles established in the more recent examples and is designed to test an autarkic solution located at 56.4 ̋ North in a Scottish maritime climate
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