Suncatcher monitoring project [electronic resource]
Saved in:
| Online Access: |
Online Access |
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| Format: | Government Document Electronic eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Oak Ridge, Tenn. :
distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Department of Energy,
1980.
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| Subjects: |
| Abstract: | An intensive microcomputer-based energy monitoring project was conducted on a passively heated and cooled residence in Davis, California. The building performance was estimated in the design phase by both a simplified method and an hourly simulation. In the monitoring phase, more than 75 sensors, located in the building elements, interior spaces, appliances, and the ambient environment provide data about temperatures, energy use and radiation. These data are used to determine the actual solar system contributions, and to validate and improve design calculation tools. Information was gathered on the Suncatcher system for almost three years. Daily min/max temperatures inside and outside of the house and utility use have been reduced and analyzed. From these data we calculate the monthly net heating load and the percentage of that met by solar energy. To date, it has averaged 71%. Hourly data, gathered by the custom-made data acquisition system, show how daily temperature and radiation patterns change. Natural cooling supplied 100% of the cooling need. During the hot summers typical of the Davis area, the house has remained very comfortable virtually all of the time, except for two or three afternoons each summer, where temperatures reached a stuffy 83 or 84F. The other solar energy source, the solar hot water system, has provided 50 to 60% of the hot water needed by the residents, who use less domestic hot water than average. |
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| Item Description: | Published through SciTech Connect. 01/01/1980. "doe/cs/30169-3" " conf-800972-5" 1980 Department of Energy passive and hybird solar energy program update meeting, Washington, DC, USA, 21 Sep 1980. Maeda, B. Davis Alternative Technology Associates, CA (USA) |
| Physical Description: | Pages: 4 : digital, PDF file. |