A one day symposium on zero/low carbon sustainable homes took place at The University of Nottingham on the 24th October, 2012. The event offered professionals within the construction industry a unique opportunity to gain added and significant insight into the innovations, policies and legislation which are driving the construction of zero/low carbon energy efficient homes both here in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. It explored solutions to sustainability issues “beyond” the zero carbon agenda. BZCH followed on from the successful ‘Towards Zero Carbon Housing’ symposium the University hosted in 2007. This event is part of the Europe Wide Ten Act10n project which is supported by the European Commission Intelligent Energy Europe.

1. Beyond Zero
Carbon Housing
exploring solutions to sustainability issues
beyond the zero carbon agenda
2 4 th O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2 a t T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f N o t t i n g h a m
Department of Architecture and Built Environment

2. ©
Copyright Notice
A l l t h e m a te r i a l i n t h e s e s l i d e s
m ay n o t b e u s e d o r re p ro d u c e d w i t h o u t t h e
ex p re s s p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h o rs

3. Creative Energy Homes
Mark Gillott
University of Nottingham
Creative Energy Homes Professor Mark Gillott | May 2012

4. Design
Energy
Users
Technologies
Water
Climate Change

5. The Creative Energy Homes Site
George Green
(1793-1841)
Nottingham
Scientist & Physicist
& user of wind
power as a miller

6. The Creative Energy Homes

8. The Tarmac
Masonry Homes

9. Tarmac Masonry Homes
CreatIve Energy Homes - the site
CODE 4
C0DE 6

10. Design Information
Code 4 Code 6
• Total heated floor area (m2) 88.7 88.7
• Air permeability (m3/(m2.h) @50Pa 4 2
• Heat loss parameter 1.2 <0.8
• Party wall E-WM-11 (dB Dntw +Ctr) 53 53
• Low e lighting (%) 100 100
• Water usage (l/p/day) 105 80
• Storage space for cycles 2 2
• Considerate contractor scheme
• Secured by design (Part 2)
• Lifetime homes compliant N/A
• NHBC approved

11. The wall constructions?
Typical current Code Level 4 Code level 6
Building Regs (44% C02 reduction) (Zero CO2)
(2006)
U-value 0.19 W/m2K U-value 0.15 W/m2K
U-value 0.30 W/m2K
298mm 353mm 365mm
103mm 100mm 103mm 100mm 150mm EPS 215mm Durox
Facing Hemelite Facing Hemelite insulation & Supabloc
brick brick render finish
50mm clear Plasterboard 50mm clear Plasterboard 13mm
cavity & 45mm on dabs cavity & 100mm on dabs Lightweight
Kingspan Kingspan Plaster
TW50 TW50

12. Wall constructions – external walls
U-value 0.19 W/m2K. U-value 0.15 W/m2K.

13. Wall constructions – separating wall
Separating wall – modified
E-WM-11. 2 x 100mm Tarmac
Hemelite blocks (1360 kg/m3),
Isover 100mm RD Wall Roll.
Results of Acoustic test (PCT)
Upstairs bedroom 60 dB Dntw +Ctr
Downstairs lounge 57 dB Dntw +Ctr
Health & Wellbeing – 4 credits
i.e. greater than 53 dB

14. Roof construction
• Asymmetric pitch trussed roof designed with an with the
long south facing elevation at a 22 degree angle
• Traditional roof coverings – felt, battens and concrete
tiles
• Incorporates sun pipe for daylight to stair wells
• U-value = 0.11 W/m2K

15. Heating - biomass wood pellet boiler
• Heat to both dwellings is provided by a highly
efficient shared biomass boiler capable of
generating up to 10 kW output.
• Fuel source is renewable, C02 neutral,
indigenous wood pellets
• Individual controls and monitoring is designed
to simulate a development with a district
heating system.
• Boiler has a fully automated vacuum feed
system requiring little operating knowledge or
maintenance.

16. Heating - biomass wood pellet boiler

17. Renewable Energy–solar hot water
• Hot water is provided by 2 roof
mounted flat plate solar
thermal panels – 3.05m2
aperture area.
• Cylinder capacity of 210 litres

18. Renewable Energy – photovoltaic’s
• 22m2 of solar photovoltaic panels which
convert sunlight directly into electricity
via advanced semi conductors
• Mounted on South facing elevation at
22 degrees to the horizon.
• Generate an output capability 3.75 kW
peak of electricity.
• The output is designed to offset the
total energy requirement for lighting,
pumps and domestic appliances.

19. Tarmac Homes – Front Elevation
Code 4 Code 6
Boiler flue
Monodraught
Sun pipes
over the stairs
Solid aircrete wall,
external insulation
& render
Cavity brick and
blockwork with
Biomass pellet
partial fill cavity
boiler room

20. Tarmac Homes - Rear Elevation
Code 6 Code 4 Solar hot
22.0m2 water panels
photovoltaic
panels
Solid aircrete Over-hanger
wall, roof to provide
external solar shading
insulation
& render
Biomass pellet
Sunspace for winter store
Cavity brick & blockwork
passive solar gain with partial fill

21. Air Tightness Test
Initial pressure test results – Green Close 10: 1.71 m3/m2/h @50Pa
Green Close 12: 2.95m3/m2/h @ 50Pa
Green Close 10
Average q50
q50 Result M³
Test Pressurise Mechanical Mechanical Input Result M³
Test Date (hr*m²) @ 50
Number /Depressurise Extracts Sealed Vents Sealed (hr*m²) @ 50
Pa
Pa
1 27/05/2011 Pressurise Y Y 1.37
1.45
2 27/05/2011 De-Pressurise Y Y 1.53
Green Close 12
Average q50
q50 Result M³
Test Pressurise Mechanical Mechanical Input Result M³
Test Date (hr*m²) @ 50
Number /Depressurise Extracts Sealed Vents Sealed (hr*m²) @ 50
Pa
Pa
3 27/05/2011 Pressurise Y Y 1.74
1.97
4 27/05/2011 De-Pressurise Y Y 2.2

22. Heat Flux Monitoring

23. Heat Flux (W/m2)
-10.00
-6.00
0.00
2.00
8.00
-8.00
-4.00
-2.00
4.00
6.00
10.00
12/03/2011
14/03/2011
16/03/2011
18/03/2011
20/03/2011
22/03/2011
24/03/2011
26/03/2011
28/03/2011
30/03/2011
01/04/2011
03/04/2011
05/04/2011
07/04/2011
09/04/2011
11/04/2011
13/04/2011
Date
15/04/2011
17/04/2011
19/04/2011
21/04/2011
23/04/2011
25/04/2011
27/04/2011
29/04/2011
01/05/2011
03/05/2011
05/05/2011
07/05/2011
Mean Daily Heat Flux - Tarmac 10 & 12
09/05/2011
11/05/2011
13/05/2011
15/05/2011
Heat Flux Monitoring
17/05/2011
Heat Flux
Heat Flux
Tarmac 12
Tarmac 10
Mean Daily
Mean Daily

24. COMPARABLE HEAT FLUX DATA
Wingfield, J., Miles-Shenton, D., and Bell, M., 2009, Evaluation of the Party Wall Thermal Bypass in Masonry
Dwellings, Centre for the Built Environment, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds

26. CO-HEATING TESTS
MVHR UNIT
Tarmac 10 Co Heat Test Data (December 2010)
3500
3000
y = 108.35W/K
2500
Total Power (W)
2000
y = 93.878 W/K
1500 Tarmac 10 Co Heat - No MVHR
1000 Tarmac 10 Co Heat - With MVHR
500
14.5 W/K associated with MVHR
0
0 5 Temperature Difference (Internal/External)
10 15 20 25 30

27. Tarmac 12 Energy Tarmac 10 Energy
Consumption Wh Consumption Wh
POWER DATA: JUNE–AUGUST 2010

28. Tarmac 10 PV Energy Tarmac 10 Energy
Generation Wh Consumption Wh
TARMAC 10: JUNE - AUGUST 2010

29. BIOMASS BOILER
System failure March
2011
Pellet quality is critical
to performance
Debris in hopper led to
issues

30. BIOMASS BOILER

31. The BASF
Prototype House

32. The BASF Prototype House:
Energy Efficiency + Affordability

33. The BASF House Design Brief
• Energy efficient and to have as near as possible carbon zero emissions
• Affordable and economical design
• Address the issue of shortage in skilled labour
• Address the issue of lack of available building land
• Offer heating and cooling solutions to ensure comfortable living

34. Key Features
• Compact Form – detached, semi or
terrace
• Low cost for first time buyers
• MMC – construction speed with
less labour
Concept ICF Ground Floor
SIPS first floor & roof Official Opening

35. Key Features
PCM
Plaster Board
PCM Thermal
Mass
Energy &
Environmental
Monitoring
Solar
Thermal
Biomass ASHP Smart Home Controls Ground Air
Heat Exchanger

36. The BASF House:
terrace or semi detached units

37. The BASF House: Plans

38. The BASF House: Materials
(Rodrigues, 2009)

39. Images from BASF (www.house.basf.co.uk)

40. Performance Matters
Modelling Measurement Certification Monitoring
TAS Energy Modelling Air Tightness Test
Below 15KWhr/m2/yr 3.7 m3/hr/m2 @50Pa

41. Annual Power Profile
lighting
27%
35% Heating Ancillary
Power
White Goods
Cooking
17%
11% Sockets
10% %
March 2010 – February 2011
Total Power Consumption – 3,816 kWh

42. Annual Power Profile
Bedroom Sockets
Living & Dining Room Sockets
437, 11%
KWh, % Kitchen mid-height Sockets
Fridge
1026, 27%
Dishwasher
783, 21% Washing Machine
Cooker Hob
Oven
217, 6%
80, 2% Immersion Heater
114, Solar Kit
91, 2% 253, 7% 3% Biomass Boiler
172,
4% 266, 0.07 144, 4% Earth-Air Heat Exchanger
68, 2% 163, 4%
Lighting Overall
March 2010 – February 2011
Total Power Consumption – 3,816 kWh

43. BIOMASS BOILER replaced with ASHP (spring 2011)
Hoval’s Soilkit®
7.5m2 Solar Thermal
Hoval Solar Panasonic’s 9kW Air-to-
Thermal water
Store Aquarea monobloc unit
System configuration of combined ASHP
and STC heating system

44. Temperatures
Monitoring period July 2011 to Feb 2012

45. The Sunspace
Mean Sunspace Temperature Data
25
20
Temperature (C)
15
Sunspace Temperature - Ground Floor
10
Sunspace Temperature - First Floor
Sunspace Temperature - Upper Level
5 External Temperature
0
Month

46. Temperatures
Solar Thermal
Monitoring period July 2011 to Feb 2012

47. Hot Water
Monitoring period July 2011 to Feb 2012

48. ASHP (COP)
Coefficient of Performance
Monitoring period July 2011 to Feb 2012
Mean COP for test period = 3.99
(Manufacturer suggested COP for 9KW system: 4.1 at temperatures above 7C and than 2.5 at
temperatures below -7C)

49. Hot Water
Solar ASHP Immersion
Thermal
System Contribution for period July 2011 to Feb 2012
STC 40% ASHP 59% Immersion 1%
N.B. Immersion only used for 6 days during the test period – on 4 days in December
this was due to routine system testing not user demand.

50. BASF Climate Control Micronal PCM
• Microencapsulated paraffin wax in Knauf
Gypsum boards
• 3kg of Micronal PCM per m2
• Melting/Solidifying temperatures: 23oC or 26oC
• Heat storage capacity of 110 kJ/kg (330kJ/ m2)
BASF’s Micronal microencapsulated PCM mixed in a gypsum board (Source: BASF Micronal Website www.micronal.de)

51. Knauf PCM SmartBoard 23 Enthalpy
(Rodrigues, 2009)

52. EAHE

53. EAHE Pre-Assessment
• Winter
• Summer
(Rodrigues, 2009)

54. The BASF House – EAHE On-site data
5th of June
w
(Rodrigues, 2009)

55. PCM and EAHE
PCM follows temperature of living room
(Rodrigues, 2009)

56. The BASF House – PCM On-site data
May, June, July and August
(Rodrigues, 2009)

57. PCM Further Investigation
The four sensors were
connected up to a data
logger which recorded
results from the four
sensors every 20 minutes
from the 16th July to the
2nd December 2011
Hukseflux HFP01 Heat Flux Plates

58. 18.00
Night and daytime internal temperatures for the summer months are fairly high and in the
operational zone of the PCM – they do not drop below the lower end of the phase change
zone (18 C)
This problem can be solved by providing adequate night time ventilation to allow the
temperature to drop below the solidification level in the summer
Additionally the monitoring data shows that the temperature exceeded 26 deg C in the
bedroom for 7.3% which means the PCM was not effective enough at reducing the internal
temperatures
Graph showing the day and night time temperature and the
PCM and plasterboard heat flux from 16th July to 30th September
Source: Ruth Howlett,
Temperature Regulation through the Utilisation of Phase Change Materials, UoN, Advanced Study Dissertation, Jan 2012

59. The BASF House in the Future
Base Case = on-site data
Case 2 = added EAHE
Case 3 = house in 2020
Case 4 = house in 2050
Case 5 = house in 2080
CIBSE Overheating criteria:
Bedrooms should not exceed 25oC but
they do they should not be above
26oC for more than 1% of the time.
Living rooms should not exceed 26oC
but if they do they should not be
above 28oC for more than 1% of the
time.
(Rodrigues, 2009)

60. iSEC: intelligent Smart Energy Community
electricity grid
weather
Green Close
power
utilisation
micro-generation energy use
monitoring
&
control
energy storage occupancy

61. iSEC: intelligent Smart Energy Community
Source: Central Networks
• Optimum utilisation of local energy
resources
• Community-wide demand-side
participation
• Load levelling & reduced costs
• Requirement to understand occupancy
patterns for control and forecasting

62. E.ON International Research Initiative 2012
SWITCH
Smart Wireless Intelligent Control in Homes
Responding to the national grid Responding to onsite generation

63. OUTREACH: PUBLIC TOURS (over 3000 visitors per year)

64. Conclusions
• Building performance evaluation needs to be far more widespread
in order for industry to learn from their mistakes
• Monitoring systems need constant monitoring!
• Where there is a lack of performance it is due to multiple reasons
• Need for education, training & dissemination
• A requirement for better modelling predictions in regulations and
in-situ testing to verify as built performance
• Better control and use of demand side management technologies

65. More information at:
www.creative-energy-homes.co.uk
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