Building Performance for a Solar Powered House

3 units

We will study the state of the art of building integrated solar systems, and design such a system for a house and assess its performance using computational tools. Topics include the fundamentals of solar energy systems, energy management, and its implications to design, either passive or active approach. The course involves building performance simulations using Ecotect, Energy+, HERS, and other tools. Students will use simulation data to study the relation between design and its performance. The course will consist of lectures, review, and student projects. The course will be parallel with several Engineering courses, including ESE 437: Sustainable Energy Systems and EECE 428: Sustainability Exchange. Projects will involve teamwork with Engineering students of different backgrounds. The course will contribute to Team WUSTL solar decathlon with the following features: Energy efficiency: passive design; high performance enclosure; Net-zero energy: renewable energy; heat recovery; Sustainability: water recycle; carbon neutral; lean construction; Resilience: prefabricated house to mitigate natural disasters; Smartness: advanced sensors network; energy management; data visualization; Human-centered living adaptability: flexible space; human comfort and perception controls to operate the house to improve productivity and health; An interdisciplinary effort for renewable energy and sustainable buildings.