Post-occupancy evaluation and experimental feedback of a net zero-energy building in a tropical climate

Abstract

Located in the French tropical Island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean, the ENERPOS building was inaugurated in January 2009. The building is located in the Saint Pierre Campus of the University of Reunion Island. It was designed to be a net zeroenergy building with mixed-mode air-conditioning systems in some areas (natural ventilation, ceiling fans, air conditioning) and efficient passive solutions sets usually used in tropical areas -i.e. efficient solar protection coupled with cross natural ventilation. This article reports the results of a recent user survey of the staff and students who use the building, and relates the users' perceptions to some of the environmental control systems installed. Indications are that the users have been able to achieve thermally comfortable conditions for much of the year without recourse to the air-conditioning systems. However, there is still the need for more readily available information on how to get the best from the windows and the ceiling fan systems for the ever-changing groups of students, and staff who may only use the classrooms intermittently. For the more permanent staff group, preliminary indications are of improved health and productivity by comparison with their experience of other buildings.

A review of human thermal comfort in the built environment

“…A post-occupancy evaluation assessed the perception of students and staff of a zero-energy building, located in a French island in the Indian Ocean (tropical climate) [223]. The building was designed to be mixedmode in some areas and uses passive strategies.…”

“…The building was designed to be mixedmode in some areas and uses passive strategies. Results indicate that during most of the year, users are in thermal comfort without using air-conditioning [223]. Serghides et al [224] identified the inappropriate use of cooling and heating systems (very low temperatures in summer and very high temperatures in winter) in a university building in Cyprus.…”

An Assisted Workflow for the Early Design of Nearly Zero Emission Healthcare Buildings

“…Since different nZEB solutions are needed for different climate zones, many researchers have also studied how nZEBs can be achieved in different climate zones and regions [32][33][34][35][36][37][38]. Such studies are intended to provide guidelines and optimal solutions that shall help designers, in the studied climate zones, to make decisions during their design process to achieve nZEBs.…”

Design and practical application of an innovative net-zero energy house with integrated photovoltaics: a case study from Solar Decathlon China 2013

“…BIPVs use the building envelope to incorporate solar cells, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Such installations are not only the ultimate showcase for this clean, renewable energy generation technology, but they also represent a perfect application of on-site energy production (Lenoir, Baird, and Garde 2012). Various studies have reported on the performance, optimization and economic viability of these systems (Bakos, Soursos, and Tsagas 2003;Cook and Sproul 2011;Li et al 2012;Zogou and Stapountzis 2011) as well as on the applicability of hybrid solar PV and thermal systems (Chow 2010;Kumar and Rosen 2011;Tiwari, Mishra, and Solanki 2011).…”