Within its Zero Energy Buildings program, the U.S. Department of Energy's aim is to combine solar energy technology with energy-efficient construction techniques to help create a new generation of cost-effective buildings that have zero net annual need for non-renewable energy.
The Los Olivos Zero Energy Home (ZEH) in Livermore California represents an initial demonstration and proof of concept of ZEH technologies in California under the National Renewable Energy Lab Zero Energy Home Program. The home is also a test bed for a ventilation cooling technology developed under a California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research project.
A primary aim in the project is to collect detailed performance data that will allow refinement of the approach for integrating energy efficiency measures with PV and solar thermal systems. FSEC's Information Monitors web site is collecting this data.
The climate in this area is mild and sunny with an annual average temperature of 60 degrees (F). Typically there are 2,755 heating degree days and 858 cooling degree days.
The weather conditions are representative of the East Bay to Central Valley transitional zones of California.
|Davis Energy Group
|Florida Solar Energy Center