A suburban Las Vegas housing development is now a real-life laboratory for innovative research in renewable energy and conservation- the first research project of its kind to be conducted in the United States. The UNLV Center for Energy Research has teamed up with a consortium of partners- including Nevada Power and Pinnacle Homes- to design and construct a Zero Energy Home, which will be unveiled at a special ceremony Thursday, September 29 at 1:00 p.m. at 7395 Howell Mill Court in Las Vegas (near Windmill and Tenaya in the SW Valley- driving directions below).
A Zero Energy Home (ZEH), a designation from the U.S. Department of Energy, combines state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems such as solar water heating and solar electricity. These homes are connected to the utility grid, but because they may produce as much electricity as they consume, the homes are considered "net zero" electricity consumption.
What's distinctive about this project is that two nearly-identical, 1,610 square-foot houses have been built side-by-side; one the Zero Energy Home model and the other built using conventional construction practices. Both homes are equipped with monitoring instruments discreetly imbedded during construction so that UNLV researchers can monitor the energy efficiency and consumption of each home.
"The zero energy model has been designed and constructed to minimize energy consumption and approach net zero energy usage over the course of a year, which means producing as much or more electricity than the home uses," said Bob Boehm, Ph.D., director of the UNLV Center for Energy Research and distinguished professor in the College of Engineering.
Residential buildings use more than 20 percent of the energy consumed in the United States annually, said Boehm. "This innovative and unique research project is a significant milestone in the effort to reduce residential energy consumption and make zero energy homes the standard in America."
The project is a partnership between the UNLV Center for Energy Research and the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, Nevada Southwest Energy Partnership (NSWEP), Pinnacle Homes, and Nevada Power. ConSol and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provided technical and design support. "We are pleased that such innovative research is underway in Las Vegas," said NREL's Mary Jane Hale. "With more than 50 percent of new U.S. homes going up in the Sunbelt, this Zero Energy House study is well suited for the unique climate and conditions. We look forward to the results of this research."
"This home has been built to be super energy-efficient using readily-available technologies and products, and the combination will perform fabulously" said Rob Hammon, Principal of ConSol, which provided energy-efficiency design support to the project. "Information and construction practices developed through the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Program have improved the efficiency of most energy-consuming aspects of the home, including heating, cooling, water heating, lighting and appliances."
Over an 18-month period, UNLV engineering students and faculty will monitor the energy performance of the two homes. Real-time data from both structures will enable researchers to evaluate the energy consumption and cost savings.
During the design phase of the project, students from UNLV performed computer analysis on various energy saving options and installed comprehensive data-logging equipment in both of the houses. The Zero Energy Home will be open to the public to view and tour during the research phase.
"We at Pinnacle are very fortunate to be teamed up with experienced players in the energy conservation business," said Frank Wyatt, president of Pinnacle Homes, which constructed the two houses. "This project has afforded us an opportunity to work with some great people and also be part of the learning process. It has been and will continue to serve as a valuable learning experience for the students at UNLV."
Some of the energy efficiency features installed in the Zero Energy Home are: specially manufactured "T-mass" walls, solar water-heating, a highly efficient water-cooled air conditioning condenser, and energy efficient vinyl windows. The house has a roof-integrated photovoltaic (PV) electric system which can generate as much or more electricity than the house needs from solar power. The excess electricity will be fed back to Nevada Power's grid, offsetting the home's energy use (net zero energy).
"Nevada Power is very excited to be involved in this partnership," said John Hargrove, Program Manager of the company's SolarGenerations rebate program. "This home utilizes several interesting technologies that make it more comfortable, conserve energy, and help improve our environment. Our team will utilize the research equipment installed in this facility to learn more about these energy efficiency technologies."
SolarGenerations is a special rebate program that Nevada Power offers its customers, which can significantly reduce the cost of purchasing a PV system like the one used in this project. Nevada Power also provided metering equipment for use in the Zero Energy Home.
The ceremony and tours will be held to showcase the project on Thursday, September 29 at 1:00 p.m. at 7395 Howell Mill Court, Las Vegas, NV 89113.
Driving directions:From I-215, exit at Rainbow Blvd. and go south, turn Right at Windmill Ave, turn Left at Tenaya Way, then turn Right at Howell Mill Court.
