Net Zero Case Study: Fraser House

Net Zero Case Study: Fraser House

Net Zero Case Study: Fraser House

At the heart of the concept of net zero energy is the idea that a building generates enough renewable energy on site to equal or exceed its annual energy use. To achieve this, the goal is to reduce energy needs to the lowest possible level. In the case of the Fraser House Net Zero Energy House, it generates not only enough onsite solar power to meet the energy needs of the house, but it also powers two plug-in, all-electric cars.The Fraser House is located in Fraser, Colorado, at 8,000 ft. elevation, where average annual temperatures hover around 34 degrees and there are 12,000 Heating Degree Days per year. The first step in achieving net zero is to bring energy consumption requirements as low as possible. Architect Bryan Bowen's challenge was to create tightest, best insulated building envelope possible and to take advantage of any and all passive heating he could. Finding a Net Zero WindowWindows are one of the biggest problem areas for net zero energy homes in terms of air tightness and insulation. Bowen did his homework and concluded that there was only one way to go: 925 Series super-insulating fiberglass windows. Bowen's reason for choosing high R-value, custom-tuned windows is simple: "performance." Beyond insulation and air tightness, the other key window feature for a net zero home is tuning. To optimize the home's use of passive solar heating, windows must have customized glazings depending on their orientation to allow more or less heat gain and loss. The South-facing wall of the Fraser House features windows with high solar heat gain so that the low winter sun will shine in and warm the home during the cold season. Overhangs protect the windows from the higher summer sun so that it does not overheat. East- and West-facing windows combine low solar heat gain with high transmittance of visible light to allow maximum natural light while keeping out excess heat. Bowen explains that, the 925 Series windows "enabled us to make a very high performance building envelope, and we were able to tune the glazing spec by orientation to create a comfortable indoor environment." Never Stop InnovatingBowen also used an innovative technique to provide heated air to the home's ultra-efficient ventilation system. Bowen created a narrow sunspace on the south side of the woodshop between a row of windows and the wall of the woodshop. The air in this narrow space heats up quickly and, because it is located outside the thermal envelope of the building, the warm air can be pumped into colder parts of the home. This combination of passively heating the air and actively distributing it to cold rooms an inventive way of further reducing the energy needs of the Fraser House. What energy the home does use comes straight off the roof. The Fraser House draws electric power as well as hot water from its 17-kW rooftop solar array. Bowen's innovative approach certainly paid off. The Fraser House scored an astounding -22 on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index!

POST COMMENT

Houses for rent own IT Townhouses - How to Select the Correct A single for You Better than buying - Lease Option Houses House maintenance services available from trades men who operate locally The Advantage of Modern Housings Popular Modern Housings for Modern Filipinos Humidifiers For Home - Maximum Useful Household Device Common Benefits of a Modern House New Houses In Surrey For Sale Today The Zulu warrior of the Black House: In the name of God we massacre and dominate the world! Solutions for a housing safer and more efficient: the use of wood TrainPetDog.com's 7 tips on Puppy Housebreaking TrainPetDog.com's 8 steps to Housebreaking your Dog