Long Term Operation of Renewable Energy Building

Abstract

As part of a renewable energy project, a building was designed and constructed to demonstrate several renewable energy technologies at the Wind Test Center of the Alternative Energy Institute (AEI). The systems are passive and active heating, solar hot water, daylighting, passive cooling, and generation of electricity from a 10 kW wind turbine and 1.9 kW of photovoltaic panels, each connected to the utility grid through inverters. Since 1991, 16,900 kWh have been purchased and 31,300 kWh returned to the utility grid. A significant portion of the purchased power has been used in charging our electric van. The building does not have auxiliary heating or cooling systems powered by fossil fuels. A data acquisition system monitors building, exterior, and system temperatures as well as power outputs of the wind and PV systems. The data are sampled at 1 Hz and averaged each 15 minutes. Annual, seasonal and diurnal patterns are shown in graphical format. Temperatures for the coldest days of winter and hottest summer days are also presented.