Master of Science / Department of Architecture / Gary J. Coates / This thesis was undertaken to investigate and seek possible architectural solutions to two issues. Firstly, fragmentation of the American family structure into a variety of new household types presents new design challenges to architects today. The single family house, once an 'ideal family' home, now needs to be redesigned to accommodate these changing lifestyles. Secondly, global warming and threats of an impending energy crisis loom large over humankind today. Environmentally-responsive architectural design can and should address both of these burgeoning problems. A program was developed as the basis for designing new infill housing in the city of Manhattan, Kansas, a small Midwestern college town. The aim was to provide dwelling units that would accommodate a wide range of family types and use patterns of the entire life cycle while fitting in to the existing architectural fabric of the neighborhood. After a literature review, it was concluded that 'front and back house' design was the most suitable option. In this context, three types of front and back house designs are presented. These options are further divided into thirteen subtypes. It is shown that these designs fulfill the spatial needs of a variety of differing households such as houses with an office, a multigenerational home and units that permit aging in place. An independent study was undertaken to achieve a 'zero energy threshold' for one of the designs within the design matrix presented in the thesis. A 60%-65% decrease in energy usage was attained in the front house and 50% in the back house by increasing the overall efficiency of the building envelope and by utilizing energy efficient appliances. Utilization of a 2 X 6.4 kW grid-connected solar photovoltaic system provided enough energy to power the house (inclusive of front & back houses). A Geothermal heating/cooling system was employed to further decrease the use of fossil fuel. With reduced energy needs and use of a gird connected solar system it was possible to achieve a 'net-zero energy house', which is defined as a house that generates as much as or more than the total energy it uses over the course of a year. An economic analysis of the front and back house and proposed energy systems was also performed. Calculations suggest that rent from the back house could provide substantial financial benefits to the owner of the front house. Although use of non-conventional energy systems demanded a larger initial investment, studies showed that savings made on the utility bills would eventually help recover this investment within the lifetime of the systems.

Master of Architecture / Department of Architecture / Gary J. Coates / Buildings account for a large part of total U.S. energy consumption and generate far more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of the economy. The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate how buildings can be designed in a way that helps to mitigate global environmental problems, while resolving local urban design, architecture and social issues. This purpose was achieved by designing a zero-energy garage apartment for a site located along an alley in Manhattan, Kansas. The methodology for the design was to: identify a client; define project goals and design criteria; determine solar and geothermal renewable energy system requirements; design the garage apartment by employing energy efficient strategies relating to bioregional design and passive solar design; identify eco-friendly materials obtainable within a 500-mile radius of the site; and identify energy-efficient construction methods. The energy performance of the garage apartment was constantly monitored using eQUEST and Energy-10 simulation softwares. Operational definitions: Garage apartment- a building behind the main building[superscript]1, which is part of the same plot as the main building. It is also called a 'backhouse', 'granny flat' or a 'rear house'. Zero-energy house- for this thesis, a grid connected self-standing zero-energy house, which results in zero utility bills throughout the year.

This theoretical diploma thesis deals with „nearly zero energy buildings“. The aim of the thesis is to evaluate building constructions based on their impact on thermal requirements fulfilment and apply results of the evaluation on a design of a nearly zero energy building. The thesis describes individual factors impacting energy consumption of a nearly zero house building, evaluates individual types of insulations systems for roof constructions, analyses window details, foundation details and connection of roof and external wall or the floor structure and external wall. The basic criteria for the evaluation is the fulfilment of the thermal requirements as well as the costs of the construction itself and energy consumption for the individual construction or detail. The specialized part of the thesis deals with design and comparison of 2 types of timber roof truss systems, the purlin roof and the collar roof. The suitability of the roof systems for nearly zero energy building is evaluated as well. The result of he thesis is the proposal of solutions for the nearly zero energy building. The proposal consists of layout solutions, design of suitable construction system, load-bearing system including drawings. The output is also Energy Performance Certificate.

This master’s thesis is dealing with the plan of reconstruction of the house in an effort to get closer to "near zero building". Total heat loss along with calculation of the cost of the house operation and the energy performance of buildings were computed for the given house. Then we have enclosed suggestions of individual methods of building´s insulation (replacing of windows, doors and gates, insulation of exterior walls, roof and ceiling between floor and attic) and a draft of a new technical building services (forced ventilation with heat recovery, photovoltaic system and heat pump). Furthermore, the suitability of the original heating system was evaluated and the also the energy performance for the renovated building was analyzed during the reconstruction. An economic evaluation was calculated for each method of reconstruction, together with the new green subsidy programme. At the end of the dissertation is drawn up the economic evaluation of the whole proposed reconstruction, together with an assessment, what class of the building we have achieved according to its the energy intensity.