Solar Energy Powered Net-Zero Energy Smart Buildings

Solar Energy Powered Net-Zero Energy Smart BuildingsSafe & Sustainable Infrastructure

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The research project aims to identify optimal configurations of building technologies that are suitable for the local climatic conditions and construction practices to achieve the aggressive design goal of net-zero energy buildings (NZEB) in which locally produced energy from renewable energy sources is at least equal to the energy consumer over an average year. The goal is to develop “smart” concepts which can be further exploited and developed into applications that could allow better interaction between building systems and occupants; remote monitoring and control.

RESEARCH ABSTRACTS

India, home to world’s largest mega cities with a high development rate, has a great potential to significantly lower its carbon footprint by constructing energy efficient buildings to lessen the country’s reliance on fossil fuel. Smart buildings are those which offer smart energy management solution that optimizes energy efficiency and maximize the use of renewable energy resources, while providing robust IT connectivity to support smart building operation. By consuming fewer resources, smart buildings should be less vulnerable to day-to-day power outages, extreme weather events, or other natural disasters.

The proposed research focuses on a typical building typology of low-rise multifamily / light- commercial mixed use complex. The proposed smart solar building design concepts and solutions will take advantage of the abundant solar resources in India and address the power outage issues by reducing the power demand from the grid. The research is to identify optimal configurations of building technologies that are suitable for the local climatic conditions and construction practices to achieve the aggressive design goal of net-zero energy building (NZEB) in which locally produced energy from renewable energy sources is at least equal to the energy consumed over an average year. The buildings are conceived as having centralized systems (e.g. energy generation, heating and cooling) and distributed controls (with sensors and controls operated in each individual unit). This arrangement lowers initial cost by sharing the common resources among units and offers flexibility in controls to facilitate supply-demand matching.

The research will cover both new construction and retrofitting of existing buildings. At the end, the proposed “smart” concepts will be further exploited and developed into applications that could allow better interaction between building systems and occupants; remote monitoring and control are just two of the possibilities. The impact and the design risk involved in the construction of the proposed building will be assessed at the community / city scale.