The North House is a proof-of-concept prefabricated solar-powered home designed for northern climates, and intended for the research and promotion of high-performance sustainable architecture. Led by faculty at the University of Waterloo, the project was undertaken by Team North a broad collaboration between faculty and students at the Universities of Waterloo, Ryerson and Simon Fraser. In October 2009, the North House prototype competed in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, where it placed fourth overall. The North House addresses the urgent environmental imperative to dramatically reduce energy consumed by the built environment. It does so, in part by employing two primary technological systems which make use of feedback and response mechanisms; the Distributed Responsive System of Skins (DReSS) reconfigures the envelope in response to changing weather conditions, while the Adaptive Living Interface System (ALIS) provides detailed performance feedback to the inhabitant, equipping them with informed control of their home. This thesis recognizes energy consumption as a socio-technical problem that implicates building inhabitants as much as buildings themselves. It also recognizes the particular potency of the ‘house’ as a building type that touches a broad population in a profoundly personal way; and is thus an apt testing ground for technologies that conserve energy, and those that teach occupants to do the same. With these ideas in mind, the thesis looks to Interactive Architecture - a practice that considers buildings and their inhabitants as an integrated system - as a promising conceptual framework for synthesizing the social and technical aspects of energy conservation in the home.

Uppsala kommun has acquired the land at Ulleråkerand the plan is that it should be the starting point forthe new southeast district. The area is supposed toinclude 8000 new homes. The idea is also that the areashould be a new modern energy-efficient district. Thisreport examines how much energy that could be savedby using a passive house integrated design instead oftodays standard. Simulations in Matlab regarding localenergy utilization has also been done. Calculationsshow that the passive house integrated designgenerates in a total energy saving of 49 per centcompared to the standard house. The local electricalproduction comes from solar cell panels placed on theroofs and facades and the installed power is 19.8 MW.The production covers 80.3 per cent of the totalenergy demand or 91.4 per cent of the electricaldemand per year. But the systems production ismismatched to the local demand for electricity.

No description available.

In a development area of Trollbäcken, a suburb half an hour south of central Stockholm, I have created a sustainable housing project in the form of a byggemenskap/baugemeinschaften with a focus on sustainability. With the help of friends and family members and their wishes for a future home as basis for my programme, I investigated what sustainable housing could be with a special interest in the relationship between material and immaterial sustainability, between the buildings and the community that inhabits and maintains them, aiming to create a built environment that supports the sustainable lifestyles of the residents.

Energy use in buildings account for 32% of total global final energy consumption, and consequently, a large portion of energy - related greenhouse gas emissions. Passive Solar Designs are sustainable building techniques that use solar energy to heat or coo l living spaces without the aid of mechanical or electrical devices. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Passive Solar Housing as a possible solution to the heating challenges currently faced in Ladakh, India, from the environmental, social, and economic sustainability perspectives. Two types of Passive Solar Techniques are studied: Trombe Walls and Direct Gain. This is to be achieved by a dualistic approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data to gain a holistic view of the situation. Quantitative data were collected from rooms built with the two different approaches. This information was used to determine the energy efficiency of each Passive Solar Design, and as a basis for building a numerical model that simulates the behaviour of Trombe Walls in conditions not observed during the data collection. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews with the residents of Passive Solar Houses in the villages of Palam and Khardong. The results show that Trombe Walls are significantly more effective at keeping a stable temperature than the Direct Gain technology. The interview responses verify and validate these findings whilst describing many positive effects of living in houses with Trombe Walls. Using the numerical model, it becomes apparent that increasing room size reduces the effectiveness of the Trombe Wall room. In conclusion, Passive Solar Housing can be, both from a social and economic perspective, a very effective method to maintain comfortable living conditions while reducing the environmental impact compared to traditional construction methods. / 32% av den globala energikonsumtionen kommer från energianvändning i byggnader. Det innebär att en betydande andel utsläpp av växthusgaser kommer från dem. Passivhus är en samling hållbara byggtekniker som använder solens energi för att värma upp eller kyla ner en levnadsyta utan att förlita sig på mekaniska eller elektriska medel. Denna studie ämnar utvärdera lämpligheten av Passivhus som en lösning på de uppvärmningsutmaningar som Ladakh, Indien ställs inför, vilket görs ur de miljömässiga, sociala, och ekonomiska hållbarhetsperspektiven. Två typer av Passivhus undersöks: Trombeväggar och Direct Gain. Metoden innefattar en kvantitativ och en kvalitativ datainsamling för att ge en heltäckande bild av situationen. Kvantitativa data insamlades i rum byggda med de två olika teknikerna – denna data användes sedan i en numerisk modell som simulerar hur en Trombevägg beter sig under omständigheter som inte direkt observerats inom ramen för denna studie. Kvalitativa data erhölls från intervjuer med invånarna av Passivhus i de två byarna Palam och Khardong. Resultaten påvisar att Trombeväggar är märkbart mer effektiva på att hålla en stabil inomhustemperatur jämfört med Direct Gain. Intervjusvaren verifierar och validerar resultaten samtidigt som de beskriver flertalet positiva följder av att bo i ett Passivhus. Genom att använda den numeriska modellen blir det tydligt att en ökning av storleken på rummen minskar Trombevägg - rummens förmåga att bibehålla en adekvat inomhustemperatur. Sammanfattningsvis kan Passivhus, från sociala och ekonomiska perspektiven, vara en mycket effektiv metod för att säkerställa tillfredställande levnadsvillkor, samtidigt som de har en mindre negativ påverkan på miljön än traditionella byggnadsmetoder.

Passive solar design can be an effective means of reducing conditioning loads in residential buildings by utilizing free solar heat during the heating season, and blocking unwanted solar heat during the cooling season. The objective of this thesis was to use energy modeling software to simulate the effect that incorporating passive solar design strategies into typical New England style houses would have on their energy usage for heating and cooling. The designs that were studied were Capes, Colonials, and Saltboxes. Four versions of increasing energy efficiency were studied for each style. After measuring baseline energy usage for each model, four passive solar variables were incorporated: orientation, allocation of windows to southern façade, shading devices, and thermal mass. After determining the ideal orientation of each building, 300 combinations of window allocation, shading device depth, and amount of thermal mass were simulated for each model. From this pool of simulations, the model with the lowest conditioning costs was selected and compared to its respective baseline design. As a general trend for each style, as the level of energy efficiency decreased, the savings from incorporating passive solar design increased. For the colonial models, the savings ranged from $422-$150. For the Saltbox models, the annual savings ranged from$398-$116. For the Cape models, the savings ranged from $303-$75.

<p>Solar thermosiphons integrated into the thermal envelop of buildings has been studied for their potential to take advantage of solar energy in heating buildings. The annual performance of the Solar Thermal Buffer Zone cannot currently be predicted with the correlations from previous research. Also, no work has been done on using the thermal buffer zone with a natural convection for energy savings in a building even though it has the potential to provide heating. The goal of this project was to design, analyze and determine the feasibility of a thermal buffer zone in a building. A thermal buffer zone can be defined as a fluid filled cavity which envelopes a building. This cavity provides a building with additional insulation but also allows for collection of solar energy and to be distributed throughout the structure in order to heat the interior. To show the physical aspect, the flow visualization in the project, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software was used which was experimentally not possible. A physical prototype was then designed and constructed in order to test the effectiveness of the TBZ.</p> <p>This experiment included radiation as the heat source and the ability to vary geometric lengths. The performance parameters of mass flow rate were comparable between the numerical predictions and experimental results. However, due to uncertainties in the current experimental setup, full validation of the numerical model was not possible. These uncertainties would have to be addressed before the numerical model that was developed can be fully validated and used for generating correlations.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Neste trabalho avaliou-se o desempenho térmico de um ambiente padrão a partir do uso de parede trombe com diferentes configurações e tipologias de uso, por meio de comparação com um ambiente de mesmas dimensões dotado de janelas convencionais, para oito cidades brasileiras, pois o potencial de utilização desta forma de estratégia passiva ainda é pouco estudado no Brasil. A parede trombe consiste em uma \"estufa\" entre uma parede de alta inércia térmica com aberturas inferiores e superiores e uma superfície envidraçada por onde o ambiente mantém contato com o exterior. Este dispositivo é capaz de absorver energia proveniente da radiação solar aquecendo o ar nesta estufa e este ar aquecido pode ser direcionado para o interior ou exterior da edificação a depender da finalidade. Este ar pode ser usado para aquecer o ambiente ou resfriá-lo por meio da ventilação natural. A análise deste trabalho se deu a partir de uma série de simulações computacionais utilizando o software EnergyPlus, versão 7.0 de modo a quantificar e classificar o desempenho térmico de um ambiente padrão dotado deste componente, sob as diversas configurações construtivas. Tanto para aquecimento quanto para resfriamento dos ambientes. A partir destas simulações, elaborou-se um modelo matemático simplificado capaz de quantificar a temperatura do ar no interior dos ambientes em que sejam utilizadas as paredes trombe de modo a tornar possível a utilização deste dispositivo na composição de edificações na fase de projeto, estimando seu desempenho sem que haja necessidade de novas simulações computacionais. O uso das paredes trombe melhorou o conforto térmico dos usuários em edificações localizadas no Brasil, a depender do clima onde estão inseridas, promovendo ventilação natural e aquecimento solar passivo, mesmo quando comparado com o modelo convencional de aberturas. Por fim foi elaborado um aplicativo para sistema Android em dispositivos móveis, possibilitando aos profissionais de projeto identificar a melhor tipologia para a localidade onde se deseja inserir este sistema e prever seu desempenho, contribuindo para que o potencial deste dispositivo seja investigado nas mais diversas regiões brasileiras. / This research evaluated the thermal performance of a standard environment from the use of Trombe wall with different settings and types of use, by comparison with a setting of the same dimensions equipped with conventional windows for eight Brazilian cities, because the potential the utilization of this passive strategy is still little studied in Brazil. A Trombe wall consists of a \"greenhouse\" between a wall of high thermal inertia lower and upper vents and a glazed area where the environment keeps contact with the outside. This device is capable of absorbing energy from solar radiation heating the air this greenhouse and this heated air can be directed to the interior or exterior of the building depending on the purpose. This air can be used to heat the room or cool it by means of natural ventilation. The analysis of this work was made from a series of computer simulations using EnergyPlus software, version 7.0 in order to quantify and classify the thermal performance of a standard environment with this component, under the various construction settings. Both for heating and for cooling environments. From these simulations, we elaborated a simplified mathematical model able to measure the air temperature within the environments in which they are used Trombe walls in order to make use of this device in the composition of buildings in the design stage as possible, estimating its performance without the need for new computer simulations. The use of Trombe walls improved thermal comfort of users in buildings located in Brazil, depending on the climate where they are located , providing natural ventilation and passive solar heating, even when compared with the conventional model of openings. Finally an app for Android system for mobile devices was developed, enabling professionals to identify the best design type to the location where you want to enter this system and predict its performance, contributing to the potential of this device is investigated in several Brazilian regions.

Neste trabalho avaliou-se o desempenho térmico de um ambiente padrão a partir do uso de parede trombe com diferentes configurações e tipologias de uso, por meio de comparação com um ambiente de mesmas dimensões dotado de janelas convencionais, para oito cidades brasileiras, pois o potencial de utilização desta forma de estratégia passiva ainda é pouco estudado no Brasil. A parede trombe consiste em uma \"estufa\" entre uma parede de alta inércia térmica com aberturas inferiores e superiores e uma superfície envidraçada por onde o ambiente mantém contato com o exterior. Este dispositivo é capaz de absorver energia proveniente da radiação solar aquecendo o ar nesta estufa e este ar aquecido pode ser direcionado para o interior ou exterior da edificação a depender da finalidade. Este ar pode ser usado para aquecer o ambiente ou resfriá-lo por meio da ventilação natural. A análise deste trabalho se deu a partir de uma série de simulações computacionais utilizando o software EnergyPlus, versão 7.0 de modo a quantificar e classificar o desempenho térmico de um ambiente padrão dotado deste componente, sob as diversas configurações construtivas. Tanto para aquecimento quanto para resfriamento dos ambientes. A partir destas simulações, elaborou-se um modelo matemático simplificado capaz de quantificar a temperatura do ar no interior dos ambientes em que sejam utilizadas as paredes trombe de modo a tornar possível a utilização deste dispositivo na composição de edificações na fase de projeto, estimando seu desempenho sem que haja necessidade de novas simulações computacionais. O uso das paredes trombe melhorou o conforto térmico dos usuários em edificações localizadas no Brasil, a depender do clima onde estão inseridas, promovendo ventilação natural e aquecimento solar passivo, mesmo quando comparado com o modelo convencional de aberturas. Por fim foi elaborado um aplicativo para sistema Android em dispositivos móveis, possibilitando aos profissionais de projeto identificar a melhor tipologia para a localidade onde se deseja inserir este sistema e prever seu desempenho, contribuindo para que o potencial deste dispositivo seja investigado nas mais diversas regiões brasileiras. / This research evaluated the thermal performance of a standard environment from the use of Trombe wall with different settings and types of use, by comparison with a setting of the same dimensions equipped with conventional windows for eight Brazilian cities, because the potential the utilization of this passive strategy is still little studied in Brazil. A Trombe wall consists of a \"greenhouse\" between a wall of high thermal inertia lower and upper vents and a glazed area where the environment keeps contact with the outside. This device is capable of absorbing energy from solar radiation heating the air this greenhouse and this heated air can be directed to the interior or exterior of the building depending on the purpose. This air can be used to heat the room or cool it by means of natural ventilation. The analysis of this work was made from a series of computer simulations using EnergyPlus software, version 7.0 in order to quantify and classify the thermal performance of a standard environment with this component, under the various construction settings. Both for heating and for cooling environments. From these simulations, we elaborated a simplified mathematical model able to measure the air temperature within the environments in which they are used Trombe walls in order to make use of this device in the composition of buildings in the design stage as possible, estimating its performance without the need for new computer simulations. The use of Trombe walls improved thermal comfort of users in buildings located in Brazil, depending on the climate where they are located , providing natural ventilation and passive solar heating, even when compared with the conventional model of openings. Finally an app for Android system for mobile devices was developed, enabling professionals to identify the best design type to the location where you want to enter this system and predict its performance, contributing to the potential of this device is investigated in several Brazilian regions.

The Clifford A. Phaneuf Environmental Center is home to ECOS, The Environmental Center for Our Schools, in Springfield Massachusetts. The ECOS program provides a chance for elementary and middle school students in Springfield public schools to experience and learn about the natural world. The built environment provides opportunities to teach about ecosystems and human connections to nature. A new design for the Clifford A. Phaneuf Environmental Center will teach students about the natural world experientially through the building’s own connections to the environment.