Reaching Zero Energy in Florida's Hot Humid Climate

Abstract

Once considered economically impractical and technology unfeasible, the zero energy home [ZEH] is now a reality, zero energy communities are on the rise and the world is poised to enter a new clean renewable energy era. In the State of Florida the hot humid climate presents certain challenges to energy efficiency, comfort and the development of ZEH. Vernacular and modern buildings built before the influx of air conditioning hold valuable lessons about designing in harmony with the climate. Research on ZEH in Florida has resulted in a wealth of useful information but many problems still remain. Most ZEH have been built with conventional site built methods and have reduced cooling loads with well-sealed, highly insulated envelopes. As a result, the homes are often closed off to the exterior and few innovations in cooling technology have been introduced. This paper describes the research and design of a ZEH prototype for a hot humid climate, funded by a Florida Energy Systems Consortium grant. Taking vernacular architecture, modern architecture and recent ZEH research as points of departure the author describes the design and construction strategy for a ZEH prototype for a hot humid climate that will attempt to improve on current ZEH examples. The author argues that a Florida ZEH should have the potential to open up and take advantage of natural ventilation during the cool mild season and close during the hot humid season for mechanical cooling. A ZEH designed in this way would be more connected with the environment and the cooling load would be reduced with the use of natural ventilation also reducing the need for expensive PV panels and making the house more affordable. Prefabrication of ZEH can reduce waste associated with site building while shortening the construction period and reducing the overall cost of the house.