MONTAGUE URBAN HOMESTEAD . .

ZERO ENERGY HOUSE : CASE STUDY

MUGDHA S. MOKASHI

LOCATION AND SITE DESCRIPTION :

MONTAGUE URBAN HOMESTEAD . .

The Montague Urban Homestead is located in the small town of Turners Falls, Massachusetts. The house is built on a 14,000sq.ft lot which used to be a backyard, instead of locating it in a pristine area. The house is a new construction, squeezed in between two existing homes. It is located off a major bus line, and has all the basic amenities available within 3 miles region. These services include a grocery store, hardware store, drug store, bakery, library, post office, banks, parks, etc. The location, thus, helps to reduce the dependence on car indirectly helping to reduce the carbon emissions.

HOUSE DESCRIPTION :
The house is a single storey, single family detached dwelling having 3 bedrooms and one bath. The number of occupants are 2, Doug Stephens and Tina Clarke who are also the designers for the house. The house has a total area of 1152 sq.ft MASSACHUSETTS (107.06 sq.m) which is conditioned Average Winter temperature 16o F alongwith a mudroom of 96 sq.ft which is Average Summer temperature 80o F insulated but unheated. The house is oreinted facing south along the Annual Heating Degree Days : east-west axis. The entry is facing the south. 6979 (Base temperature 65o F) Majority of the windows are put on the south faade in order to harvest maximum southern Annual Cooling Degree Days : sun. 333 (Base temperature 65o F)

HIGHLIGHTS :  Walls : Double stud wall with dense pack blown cellulose.  Ceiling : R-100 blown in loose fill cellulose insulation  Foundation : R-30 extruded polyethylene insulation.  Windows : Maximum south facing windows with high SHGC  Heating and Cooling : Passive super insulation, air tightness,thermal mass,glazing Active mini-split air source heat pump,hot air solar panel  Ventilation : HRV with 155 ECM

WALL ASSEMBLY :
Double stud walls, with insulation in between, are usually used for construction in cold climates. The wall consists of a 12 cavity with an exterior 2 X 4 structural stud wall at 16 o.c and an interior 2 X 4 non-structural stud wall at 24 o.c. The cavity in between the two stud layers is filled with dense pack blown cellulose insulation by Celluspray (R=45). R-value for insulation 44.9 CDX Plywood sheathing on the exterior is Consider 80% insulation 35.92 covered using Typar house wrap. The purpose of the house wrap is to act as a secondary water R-value for framing 7.28 barrier after the cladding. Typar house wrap thus Consider 20% framing 1.456 prevents water from seeping into the house. Also it has an optimal perm rating of 11.7 This ensures the Total R-value 37.376 evaporation of any moisture that maybe trapped within the wall cavity, thus allowing the structure to breathe.Although the house wrap does not contribute in any way to the R-value of wall assembly, the typar house wrap has an exceptional tear strength, ensuring a superior air holdout. All the Typar seams are taped while the CDX seams are caulked. FSC Cedar shingles dipped in filtered, boiled linseed oil are used for exterior cladding. The In case of a double stud wall, the gap between the exterior framing and interior framing acts as the thermal interior surface is finished using Gypsum board. break, and affects the R-value of the whole wall.
Materials R value Outside air film 0.17 FSC Cedar Shingles 0.97 inch CDX Sheathing 0.63 Dense pack Blown Cellulose 42 2 x 4 Wood studs for framing 4.38 inch Gypsum board 0.45 Inside air film 0.68

BUILDING ENVELOPE . . . .

THERMAL BOUNDARY : The climate of Massachusetts being cold, the thermal boundary is kept as compact as possible. This reduces the volume required to be heated. The attic is not accounted for as a habitable space and hence is not included within the thermal boundary of the house. Also, the attic is accessible from the gable end of the roof and not through the ceiling. The thermal boundary, thus, ends at the ceiling.A mudroom located on the northern side is insulated but not conditioned or heated.

However, with improvisation for the rim joist details, more insulation, better airtightness and better insulation for the foundation assembly, the R-value can be improved significantly.

CEILING ASSEMBLY :
Materials Outside air film Polyurethane (foamed in place) Blown loose fill cellulose 2 X 6 Joist 1/2 inch Gypsum board Inside air film R-value for insulation Consider 85% insulation R-value for framing Consider 15% framing Total R-value R value 0.17 6.25 100 6.88 0.45 0.68 107.55 91.4175 14.43 2.1645 93.582

BUILDING ENVELOPE . . . .

The roof is a standing seam metal roof with the roof frame being a conventional pre-manufactured truss. The attic has a 30 of blown loose-fill cellulose insulation above the ceiling. The truss has an extra 18 rise at the eaves in order to accommodate for the thick insulation. The standing seam metal roof also has conventional soffit vents and a continuous ridge vent. The purpose of these vents is to intake fresh air through the eaves in the attic and let it out through the ridge vent. This helps to set up a continuous air flow in the attic, thus ventilating it. All the ceiling penetrations are sealed from above using spray-on-two-part polyurethane foam.

FOUNDATION ASSEMBLY :
R value The house has a conventional 12 X 24 Materials concrete footing keyed to an 8 concrete 6" extruded polyethylene 30 foundation wall or deep frost walls which are 4 4" thick concrete slab 0.32 deep. This is the basic foundation assembly supporting the 4 thick slab on grade. A 6 Total R-value 30.32 extruded polyethylene insulation runs beneath thethick polyethylene insulation runs down along the perimeter of the foundation 2 slab on grade. wall to the top of the footing. The concrete slab with the insulation rests on a 12 thick compacted gravel base. This, thus, ensures an envelope having a continuous insulation blanket with very few thermal breaks.

PROTECTION AGAINST TERMITES: A 14 wide copper termite flashing is glued on top of the foundation wall, thus, preventing any contact between the concrete and wooden assembly.

WINDOWS :
The ratio of window glazing to floor is 13%. Maximum windows are oriented on the southern faade to maximize the solar gain and reduce the heating load. The windows on the other facades are minimal and positioned for emergency exit or for cross ventilation. All the windows are triple glazed windows.
ORIENTATION SOUTH FAADE Glass Whole Window Glass NORTH / EAST / WEST FAADE Whole Window 0.25 0.17 SHGC 0.68 0.44 0.37 U- FACTOR 0.21 0.23 0.12

The windows on the southern faade are provided with interior permanent shutters made of 1 inch thick foil faced poly-isocyanurate sheets, covered with 18 plywood. These shutters increase the R-value of the window from R-4.8 to R-12.

Comprehensive Passive Design : South facing windows ADVANTAGES OF CONSTRUCTION ASSEMBLIES : The type of assemblies chosen for the construction are extremely apt for the climate for which the house is built. The super insulation of the assemblies helps to reduce the heating loads on the mechanical systems. The dense pack cellulose used in wall assemblies and blown loose-fill cellulose serve as excellent air barriers. The extra insulation beneath the slab on grade prevents the loss of heat through the slab to the ground.

BUILDING ENVELOPE . . . .

PASSIVE VENTILATION :

VENTILATION AND LIGHTING . . .

Maximum glazing is oriented over the southern faade to maximize solar harvesting. However, the minimum windows on the northern, eastern and western faade, efficiently facilitate natural cross ventilation.

The interior window frames are bevelled on the inside which allows the captured sunlight to spread at a wider angle and improves light distribution within the ACTIVE VENTILATION (HRV) : house. Ventilation through the house is also aided by the use of a 79% effective HRV i.e a heat recovery ventilator. The HRV is suspended from the ceiling over the washer in the utility area and it draws exhaust air from the bathroom vents. It then supplies fresh air to all the three bedrooms and the living room through 6 wide ducts. These ducts are positioned within the conditioned zone. The HRV operates using a high efficiency 155 ECM (electronically commutated motor) with dual speed of 66 cfm and 155 cfm fan, providing 0.4 ACH drawing power of 34W at low speed and 95W at high speed. The 155 ECM motor used in HRV has the capacity to heat the incoming fresh air by the outgoing stale air to atleast 50o F, when the outside temperature is below zero.

HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATOR : Motor 155 ECM Dual Speed 66 cfm / 155 cfm 79% Effective ACH 0.4 Power : 34 W at low speed 95 W at high speed LIGHTING : 50% Light fixture pin-based fluoroscent which meet energy star and California Title 24 Standard. Remaining 50% - compact fluoroscent bulb

PASSIVE HEATING AND COOLING :

The super insulated envelope, air sealing on all sides, thermal mass of the building construction assemblies alongwith the south-facing glazing facilitate passive heating to a great extent within the house. This, thus, reduces the burden on mechanical equipments. Maximum glazing area is positioned over the southern faade for harvesting maximum solar energy. All around the house the roof has an overhang of around 2 except for the northern faade where the roof overhang is just a few inches. Overhangs over the souther faade provide full solar gain during the winter seasons. These allow reasonable solar gain during the shoulder seasons and provide about 90% shading during the summer season, when the southern solar intensity is more or higher than essential. Trellis style awnings are also added during the summer. The presence of deciduous trees on the east and west provide shading during the summer months. Dark black coloured concrete slab within the rooms helps to absorb the heat of the sun during winter and holds the coolness during summer.

HEATING AND COOLING . . .

MINI-SPLIT AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP : Provides flexibility for heating different zones through a single outdoor compressor. The absence of ducting helps to overcome the heat losses through ducts which usually account for 30% of the energy consumption within a conditioned space. The mechanism operates on electricity which is used for compressing and expanding the refrigerant in the conduit.

ACTIVE HEATING AND COOLING : Mini-split air source heat pumps -

The Montague Urban Homestead is an all-electric house. Thus, the main source of energy used for space heating is electricity. Mini-split air source heat pumps are used within the house for space heating. These consist of an outdoor compressor and an indoor air handling unit. The advantage of these pumps is that around four air handling units can be attached to a single outdoor unit. These heat pumps are ductless. The outdoor unit is connected to the indoor AHU by conduits which carry within it the refrigerant tubing, power cables and suction tubing. The mini-split air source heat pump can also be run as a summer air-conditioner and as a de-humidifier.

ACTIVE HEATING AND COOLING : Hot Air Solar Panels Hot Air Solar Panels are also used as an alternative active mode of heating the house, thus, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels for meeting the heating demands. The Hot Air Solar Panel consists of a flat plate glass mounted against a black collector plate. The sun shines over the glass warming the collector plate behind. The heat from the collector is then transferred to the air blown in from the backside. The duct carrying this heated air is connected to a fan motor which in turn is connected to a thermostat within the room. When the air inside the duct gets heated to a temperature higher than the indoor temperature and the thermostat detects the need of heating within the room, the fan motor activates, driving the hot air from the ducts inside within the house. Thus, this means of heating has a capacity to provide 5.56 kW during a sunny day, reducing the dependance on heat pumps, and indirectly reducing the electricity consumption.

HEATING AND COOLING . . .

HOT AIR SOLAR PANELS : Provides 19,000 Btu (5.56 Kw) on a sunny day. The house has sufficient thermal mass to absorb this without overheating. DOMESTIC HOT WATER : Two 4 X 8 flat plate collectors 80 gallon storage tank 3kW electric heating element

Domestic Hot Water The house has a 2-panel solar hot water system. It uses 4 X 8 flat plate collectors which are connected to a 80 gallon hot water storage tank. The tank is also provided with a 3kW electric heating element.

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM . . .

ENERGY CONSUMPTION :
The construction of the house was completed in the year 2008. The energy consumption of the house was metered from January 1st , 2009 to January 1st , 2010. Over the entire metered period the house generated 2.5 times as much energy as it used. The house has consistently had a surplus of energy of 1.5 times as much energy as it uses, sending a net surplus of 2,943 kWh back to the grid. The energy used over the metered year was 1949 kWh and the energy produced using the PV array was 4892 kWh. The actual performance of the house exceeded the modeling. The house was modeled to have achieved a Net Zero Annual with a PV system of 2kW. However, the installation of a 4.94 kW system made possible the better performance of the house as against the simulated performance.

Energy consumption and generation

RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNIQUES : The roof of the house is pitched at an angle of 8:12, providing excellent solar exposure on the southern faade. The PV grid, in this case, consists of 26 solar panels of 190 Watt with an inverter for 4.95 kW. Cost of installation of PV was $1.50 / Watt as against the $7.50 / Watt rate because of the available state financial incentives to encourage Net Zero Homes.

Annual Energy Balance : convert all site energy to kWh, then use Source multipliers to do the same for Source Energy.
Site Energy MBTUs MJ kWh MBTUs Source Energy MJ kWh

Electricity (kWh)

1,949

6,558

Total Energy Consumed (kWh)

1,949

6,558

Renewable Energy

MBTUs

MJ

kWh

Produced on site

4,892

16,462

Imported or derived from on-site processes Purchased

Total Renewable Energy

4,892

16,462

16,462

Net Balance in kWh (Renewable Energy ProvidedTotal Energy Consumed)

-2,943

-9,903

US Residential Avg EUI: 44 MBTU/ft2 at site

Site EUI MBTU/ft2

5.77

Source EUI MBTU/ft2

19.43

ENERGY BALANCE SPREADSHEET AND EUI FOR CONDITIONED AREA

COST OF CONSTRUCTION :
The total cost of construction for the project was $180,000 The construction cost per square foot was $156.25/sq.ft This was slightly on the higher side, as the average cost of construction per sq. ft in Massachusetts is around $125.92. However, with the generation of excess electricity using the PV array, 2943kWh electricity was exported to the grid. This helped to decrease the pay back period for the expensive installations within the house.

REFERENCES : Doug Stephens, owner and designer of the Montague Urban Homestead Zero Net Energy Buildings : Residential Case Study. www.builditsolar.com http://www.nesea.org/inspi rationawards/zeroenergy/20 10applicants/ http://zechallenge.com/Step hensClark-bio.htm

COST AND MAINTENANCE . . .

MAINTENANCE ISSUES :
The vent for the Heat Recovery Ventilator posed a maintenance problem. Condensation occurs at a low temperature in the duct work, causing leakage over the insulation. On the northern faade, not sufficient space is left between the cedar shingles on the exterior and the ground. Also, the roof overhang on the north side is less (few inches) as compared to the overhang on all the other facades where it is approximately 2 ft. This has resulted in the growth of mildew posing a serious maintenance problem for the occupants.