GETTING TO A NET ZERO ENERGY LIFESTYLE IN CANADA: THE ALSTONVALE NET ZERO ENERGY HOUSE

摘要

The Government of Canada is funding the demonstration of twelve innovative homes under the EQuilibrium initiative that would strive to achieve net zero energy consumption by the house, a healthy indoor environment, reduced resource consumption, particularly water, reduced deleterious impacts on the environment; affordability to the target market, and repeatability throughout Canada. This paper describes the process undertaken by one of the houses - the Alstonvale Net Zero Energy House (ANZEH), which n addition to meeting the targets of the initiative, is proposing to go one step further as it strives towards net zero energy lifestyle by integrating efficient on-site food production methods to further reduce the household's energy footprint, and incorporating, as the primary energy generation system, a 7 kW, building integrated, photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) system on its roof to generate both electricity and thermal energy, and of which 1.5 kW is dedicated to balancing the local transportation needs of the household, assuming an electric drive vehicle. The design and selection of the energy systems of the house is presented and discussed with particular emphasis on its BIPV/T system, heat pumps using BIPV/T solar-heated air as source to heat a thermal storage tank, and anticipatory control to optimize heat storage and reduce peak loads.