Thermal Performance Evaluation of Selected Projects in Massachusetts Multi-Family Passive Solar Program. Draft Final Technical Report

摘要

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy Resources (EOER) through its Multi-Family Passive Solar Program (MFPS) has provided design and technical assistance, and funded construction, for passive solar design features and energy conservation measures affecting more than 750 apartments at 30 different sites in the Commonwealth. Four Case Study sites from the Program's first round of construction funding were monitored with equipment loaned to EOER by the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) as part of the Level B Program (currently operated by the National Association of Home Builders - NAHB). The primary objectives of thermal performance evaluation, for EOER, were to document fuel savings and to assess the cost-effectiveness of the funded solar and conservation measures. Three methods were used to evaluate thermal performance: computer models, Level B monitoring of selected apartments, and analysis of utility meter readings. This report summarizes the results of the Level B monitoring, together with the results of the two other thermal performance evaluation procedures: design estimates prepared with the aid of computer simulation models, and analysis of utility meter readings from a larger group of apartments. The report compares the results of the different evaluation procedures, describes further analysis performed to account for signficant differences among the results, and concludes with a discussion of design implications for future passive solar projects, and for future monitoring. (ERA citation 10:027230)