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Selecting HVAC Systems to Achieve Comfortable and Cost-effective Residential Net-Zero Energy Buildings
Wei Wu1, Harrison M Skye1, Piotr A Domanski1
1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Engineering Laboratory, Energy and Environment Division, HVAC&R Equipment Performance Group, USA.
Applied Energy
|June 12, 2018
Summary
This study evaluated HVAC systems for net-zero energy buildings (NZEB). Energy recovery ventilators (ERV) and heat recovery ventilators (HRV) significantly cut energy use, while ground-source heat pumps (GSHP) offered the most savings but at a higher cost.
Area of Science:
- Building Science
- Energy Systems Engineering
- Sustainable Architecture
Background:
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems dominate residential energy consumption.
- Achieving Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) necessitates efficient HVAC solutions.
- Mixed-humid climates present unique challenges for HVAC performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the energy, comfort, and economic viability of various HVAC technologies for residential NZEBs.
- To compare the performance of different ventilation, dehumidification, and heat pump systems.
- To identify optimal HVAC configurations for energy savings and occupant comfort in NZEBs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an experimentally-validated model to simulate HVAC performance.
- Evaluated mechanical ventilation, heat recovery ventilators (HRV), and energy recovery ventilators (ERV).
- Compared air-source heat pumps (ASHP) with and without dedicated dehumidification, and ground-source heat pumps (GSHP).
Main Results:
- HRV and ERV reduced HVAC energy by 13.5% and 17.4%, respectively.
- ASHP with dedicated dehumidification cut HVAC energy by 7.3%.
- GSHP systems demonstrated substantial energy savings, reducing HVAC energy by up to 29.2%.
Conclusions:
- GSHP systems combined with ERV and dedicated dehumidification offer the highest energy savings and comfort but incur the highest costs.
- ASHP with dedicated dehumidification and ERV/HRV present a balance of energy savings, comfort, and reasonable payback periods.
- HVAC selection is critical for NZEB performance, with trade-offs between initial cost, energy savings, and comfort.
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