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ZEH HOME PROJECTTeam M.A.R.S.(Ryan McDevitt,

Matt Helm, Scott Klima, Abhinav Kalavar)

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Project Overview

Goal-To design and construct a model Zero Energy Home with a practical living environment, while including all of the features that we want in our own house.

Important Features-Passive Solar Design-Efficient Appliances-Photovoltaic System-Man Cave-Geothermal Heating/Cooling

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Project Overview Continued

Location (city, state) Harrisburg, PAHouse size (floor area in square

feet) 4308

Number of floors 3Number of occupants 4Number of bedrooms 5

Type of heating system (forced air, hydronic, radiant floor, heat pump,

etc.Electric geothermal heat

pump

Main heating fuel (electricity, natural gas, wood, oil, etc.) Electricity

Size of photovoltaic system (kilowatts) 8.9

Solar water heater (yes or no) YesR-value of wall insulation 36

R-value of ceiling insulation 60Ventilation air heat recovery (yes or

no) Yes

Predicted or measured annual energy use 7.59 kilowatts

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Appliance Selection

Mfg. Model # Capacity MEF WF

Annual Energy

Use(kwh/yr)

Annual Water

Use(gal/yr)

Energy Cost $/yr

Water Cost $/yr

Sewer Cost $/yr

Total Op. Cost $/yr

Price

WhirlpoolWFW94H

EX*+4.33 3.21 2.7 561 4,990 $51.61 $19.96 $29.94 $101 $726

• Electric Geothermal Heat Pump• Efficiency• Low monthly cost• No budget so why not?

• Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)

• WhirpoolWasher-Model WFW94HEX*+

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Passive Solar Design

Goal – 1st Floor Window Area = 10% of 1st Floor Area Slab Area = 2-3 times the size Window Area on

1st floor Also within the range of the south facing

windows Results

Windows 1st Floor Window Area = 200ft3 1st Floor Area = 1840ft3

Window Area to Floor Area Ratio 10.9% Slab Area

Area = 780 Slab Area to Window Area Ratio = 3.9

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Passive Solar Design

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Passive Solar Second Floor

Can use a concept called “water walls” or water tubes

Image 1: http://www.azsolarcenter.org/tech-science/solar-architecture/passive-solar-design-manual/passive-solar-design-manual-heating.html

Image 2http://www.buildinggreentv.com/keywords/passive-solar?page=2

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Solar Electric System

Panels Sunpower SPR-318-WHT-D 318W/panel Size of PV system: 8.9kW Reasons for using this model Number of panels: 28 (7 panels in series) Total Voltage: ~385V

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Solar Electric System (cont’d)

Inverter Sunny Boy 9000TL-US Max DC Power: 9400W Peak Power Tracking Voltage Range: 300V-

480V (mid-range of tracking voltage: 390V)

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Preliminary Sketch

Second Floor Sketch

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Sketchup Images

Second Floor Sketchup

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SketchUp Images

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North Side View

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March 21st Equinox Noon

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June 21st Summer Solstice Noon

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September 21st Equinox Noon

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December 21st Winter Solstice Noon

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Summary of Design: Interior

Open interior Maximum potential of basement (Man

Cave) 5 bedrooms 3.5 bathrooms 4,308 ft2

Energy Efficient Appliances Hardwood floors, except carpet basement R-60 Ceiling insulation R-36 Wall insulation

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Summary of Design: Exterior

Flat roof, lined with solar panels Potential to be a “Green

Roof” Wood Exterior Patio Bay window amongst

other south facing windows

Image: http://www.buildinggreentv.com/keywords/green-roof-materials

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ZEH House SummaryGeneral Info Heating & Cooling

Location Harrisburg Type of heating & cooling system

Electric geothermal heat pump

Electricity cost ($/kwh) 0.1  Solar Technologies  Conditioned floor area (sq.ft.) 4308  Size of PV system (kw) 8.9

Number of bedrooms 5  Solar water heater YesEnvelope Details Behavior  

Wall constructionDouble 2x4

with 10" foam Water conservation A lotCeiling Insulation R60 Uses clothesline A lot

Window type Triple low-e Thermostat setback A lotUpper floor ceiling area (sq.ft.) 1788 Heat thermostat setting (F) 70North wall area (gross) (sq.ft.) 1160 Cool thermostat setting (F) 76

East wall area (sq.ft.) 640South wall area (sq.ft.) 1196.25West wall area (sq.ft.) 640

North window area (sq.ft.) 105.67East window area (sq.ft.) 0

South window area (sq.ft.) 255.25West window area (sq.ft.) 36

Air tightnessTight with heat

recoveryAppliances

Refrigerator BestClothes Washer BestDishwasher BestAmount of other appliances A lot less

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Summary of Design Chart

Win-dows27%

Walls31%

Roof11%

Floor20%

Infiltration11%

Envelope Heat Transmission

-$2,000

-$1,500

-$1,000

-$500

$0

$500

$190 $201 $256$119 $86

$188

-$129-220.640031261061

-60.6614343550167

-281.301465616077

-1169.46

Net Solar PV

An

nu

al C

ost(

$)

Chart 1 Chart 2

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Reflection Google Sketchup Scale Modeling Efficient Heating Systems The utilization and benefits of Solar Energy Difficulty creating a “realistic” ZEH

House size PV system size

Understanding impact on environment How much energy we use

Teamwork Time management Fair distribution of work