Plus Energy Buildings: A Numerical Case Study

Abstract

The feasibility of Plus Energy Building for a sample relevant case is investigated. After a literature review aimed to identify key aspects of this type of buildings, a preliminary evaluation of the thermal performance of a building constructed using conventional material is presented together with a parametric analysis of the impact of typical influential parameters. Solar domestic hot water (SDHW) and photovoltaic systems (PV) are considered in the study. Numerical simulations indicate that for the examined sample case (Beirut in Lebanon) the total annual energy need of conventional building is 87.1 kWh/y.m 2 . About 49% of energy savings can be achieved by improving the building envelope and installing energy efficient technologies. Moreover, about 90% of energy savings in domestic hot water production can be achieved by installing a SDHW system composed of two solar collectors connected in series. Finally, the addition of a grid connected PV array system can significantly mitigate the energy needs of the building leading to an annual excess of energy.