Zero Energy Housing for Military Installations

Abstract

This project evaluated the design approach and operational performance of two zero energy home (ZEH) units compared to two typically designed (baseline) housing units. Net zero energy homes generate as much electricity as they consume from the grid through a combination of: (1) energy efficient design, (2) energy generation, typically with renewable energy sources, and (3) energy conservation practices by the homeowners. The benefits of ZEHs to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) are lower energy costs, increased energy security, and decreased pollution from energy production and use. One net zero energy duplex consisting of two housing units was designed and constructed in the Woodlands subdivision at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, next to a baseline duplex designed and constructed according to the standard housing design in this neighborhood. These housing units were the same size, floor plan, and orientation, and housed families with similar characteristics to minimize differences between the housing units. The ZEH design included high levels of insulation, high performance windows, a ground source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and low flow water fixtures. Renewable energy systems were photovoltaic (PV) panels located on the metal roof and solar hot water heating. Performance monitoring of all four housing units was completed to compare the energy, water, operations, occupant satisfaction, and life-cycle cost of the ZEHs compared to the baseline housing units. A monitoring system was selected, installed, and calibrated to collect data from 50 monitoring points within each home. Performance was monitored for 17 months; one year of data (January 2011 through December 2011) was used for final data analysis and results. Wholehouse energy use of all four housing units was also compared to similar homes at Fort Campbell (referred to as the Woodlands community), and national averages.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA602222

Entities

People

  • Kim Fowler

Organizations

  • Environmental Security Technology Certification Program

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Climate Change Adaptation
  • Cost Analysis
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electric Power
  • Energy Conservation
  • Energy Consumption
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Energy Management
  • Energy Production
  • Energy Security
  • Energy Systems
  • Environment
  • Environmental Security
  • Management Personnel
  • Measurement
  • Organizational Structure

Readers

  • Nuclear Civil Defense.
  • Software Engineering
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems