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Design of an energy self-sustained building
Roberts, Landon Goes, Martin
Roberts, Landon
Goes, Martin
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2025-04
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Abstract
As global demand for energy, land, and water resources continues to rise, it is crucial to find new building solutions that reduce environmental impact and ensure long-term resource efficiency. This research project explores the feasibility of a mixed-use building located in Dodge City, Kansas, that is entirely energy and water independent. The primary goal was to create an energy and water use balance for a self-sustained building that minimizes the required energy and water consumption. Another project goal was to determine whether the multifamily/office building is suitable for off-grid sustainable use. Effectively, buildings drive 38% of U.S. energy consumption and 76% of U.S. electricity consumption. As trends toward building electrification grow, this consumption share is not predicted to decrease. Energy-independent housing and commercial building development is a popular way to combat this increase by striving to produce as much electricity from renewable energy sources in/on a building as that building consumes. Utilizing resources such as the National Solar Resource Database (NSRDB), the Building Energy Optimization (BEOpt) program, and the System Advisory Model (SAM) from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), we were able to accurately model energy use differences for different 3-story apartment/office building designs in Dodge City, Kansas, and recommend design choices to maximize solar, wind, and geothermal output. Through design iterations such as insulation types, window sizes, roof pitch, PV-inverter design, etc. the building thermal load was minimized, and annual renewable energy power output was maximized.
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