A validated design simulation tool for passive solar space heating: Results from a monitored house in West Lothian, Scotland

Girard, Aymeric; Muneer, Tariq; Caceres, Gustavo

Abstract

Determining the availability of renewable sources on a particular site would result in increasing the efficiency of buildings through appropriate design. The overall aim of the project is to develop a pioneering software tool allowing the assessment of possible energy sources for any building design project. The package would allow the user to simulate the efficiency of the Passive Solar Space Heating referred in the Low and Zero Carbon Energy Sources (LZCES) Strategic Guide stated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2006) and the Building Regulations. This research paper presents the tool for modelling the passive solar sources availability in relation to low-carbon building. A 3-month experimental set up monitoring a solar house in West Lothian, Scotland, was also undertaken to validate the simulation tool. Experimental and simulation results were found in good agreement following a one-to-one relationship demonstrating the ability of the newly developed tool to assess potential solar gain available for buildings. This modelling tool is highly valuable in consideration of the part L of the Building Regulations (updated in 2010).

Citation

Girard, A., Muneer, T., & Caceres, G. (2014). A validated design simulation tool for passive solar space heating: Results from a monitored house in West Lothian, Scotland. Indoor and Built Environment, 23(3), 353-372. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X13480057

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 2, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Apr 26, 2013
• Publication Date: 2014-05
• Deposit Date: Feb 26, 2016
• Print ISSN: 1420-326X
• Electronic ISSN: 1423-0070
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 353-372
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X13480057
• Keywords: Building design; Combination selection; Efficiency;; Renewable energy; Simulation; Solar air heater
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9576
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1420326X13480057