Modelling and Energy Management Control Study for a Net Zero Energy Home

Abstract

<p>This study analysis an energy model developed for a net zero energy (NZE) home based on the building characteristics of the Archetype Sustainable House (ASH), located in Toronto (Ontario, Canada). The model presents a complete energy consumption profile which includes space heating/cooling, domestic hot water heating (DHWH), appliance/lighting, mechanical ventilation and electric-vehicle (EV) battery charging. The house heating and cooling demand was evaluated against actual heating and cooling load targets and the energy consumption over a full year was determined to have been modelled with 90.73% accuracy. Energy production was then introduced in the model and the distribution of energy consumption and generation over summer and winter solstice days were compared with a similar study. The results indicated that the net energy consumption and production deviation was approximately -18% for the summer season and 18% for the winter season. Lastly, a control study was developed to evaluate the energy performance achieved by implementing a rule-based (RB) control strategy, with traditional optimization, based on peak-load shedding, GHG emissions and TOU energy cost (EC). Battery utilization (BU) was analogised with control strategies performance and a correlation was identified. The results obtained from the altered energy consumption profiles showed a 79.8% and 21.5% improvement in peak load shedding, 2.35% and 7.63% increase in GHG emissions and 8.35% and 61.14% reduction in EC for the summer and winter seasons respectively.</p>