Performance of a Mid-Size Net-Zero Energy Solar House

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) was one 16 collegiate teams from around the world that participated in U.S. Department Energy Solar Decathlon 2017 competition. An interdisciplinary team students across university engaged a 2-year long process to design and build house is powered completely by solar power. equipped run all typical appliances an average modern similar levels on conventional power grid. net-zero built tested UAB campus. Considering Birmingham’s weather, safe room ensure safety occupants during events extreme such as tornado. A ductless HVAC unit consisting inverter-type 3-speed outdoor supplied refrigerant four high-wall indoor units providing primary source space conditioning. To achieve model efficiency cost effectiveness, incorporated heavily insulated envelope precise glazing protection. roof, floor framing walls had R-30 batt foam insulation. With informed southern vernacular language, building oriented maximize access use roof planes for shading majority year. Peak generation panels recorded 9.6 kW. home has centralized energy management system can provide consumption data allow control lighting, appliances, plug loads remotely. modeling showed annual electricity heating cooling with variation wall types were 8470 11,661 kWh. For month October, it calculated varying 683 763 kWh, air changes per hour 0 1.5.