Thermal-envelope field measurements in an energy-efficient office/dormitory
A 345 m/sup 2/ earth-covered structure located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the focus of a DOE sponsored building-envelope research project. To heat the office/dormitory building over the 1981-1982 heating season would cost $1.70/m/sup 2/ ($0.16/ft/sup 2/), assuming $0.07/kWh. The thermal-integrity factor is 0.016 kWh/m/sup 2/ /sup 0/C (2.8 Btu/ft/sup 2/ /sup 0/F). A preliminary DOE-II model estimates the monthly electric energy needs for heating within 5% of field data derived estimates. DOE-II building simulations suggest that this earth-covered/passively heated office dormitory saves 30% for space heating and 26% for cooling compared to an energy efficient above grade structure. A preliminary winter energy balance has been generated from data collected in February and March providing a fractional breakdown of thermal losses and gains. A number of the energy-conserving component performances have been isolated; earth-covered roof, bermed wall, and nonvented trombe wall. The earth-covered roof system showed an overall thermal transmittance of 0.18 W/m/sup 2///sup 0/C (R=31 hr ft/sup 2/ /sup 0/F/Btu). The thermocouple wells located in the earth surrounding the building indicate the additional energy savings of burying over berming. For one week in February the trombe wall produced a 50% greater net thermal gain to the building then south facing windows per equivalent unit area.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6582010
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-821217-3; ON: DE83004649
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ASHRAE/DOE conference on thermal performance of building envelopes, Las Vegas, NV, USA, 5 Dec 1982; Other Information: Microfiche only, copy does not permit paper copy reproduction
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
EARTH-COVERED BUILDINGS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
DATA ACQUISITION
EARTH BERMS
ENERGY BALANCE
HEAT GAIN
HEAT LOSSES
OFFICE BUILDINGS
ORNL
SPACE HEATING
TROMBE WALLS
BUILDINGS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
LOSSES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WALLS
320102* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Office Buildings- (-1987)
320101 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Residential Buildings- (-1987)