Experimental Evaluation of Zero Energy PG Office Under Natural and Forced Ventilation

With the rapid rise of energy consumption in the world, lowering the energy
needs of our houses and buildings can have a significant effect on our future. Up to
66% of our household energy consumption can be reduced by using passive design
techniques like natural ventilation discussed in this project. The effectiveness of the
natural and forced ventilation systems of the present zero-energy house is to be studied
experimentally and discussed in this project. The main aim of such systems is to
achieve thermal comfort without using any energy from the grid. In this project,
thermal comfort is measured using Fanger’s PMV method in accordance with
ASHRAE standards. The method depends on air temperature, radiant air temperature,
relative humidity, activity level and clothing levels. Data collection is carried out for
4 days under each system and the resulting thermal comfort then calculated. Using the
forced ventilation system drops the maximum air temperature by 6oC and improves
the thermal comfort by 46%. Although the achieved thermal comfort is not within
ASHRAE-55 standards, the results show a considerable improvement in thermal
comfort without the use of the grid’s energy. Further study into the construction of the
office is needed to achieve thermal comfort levels within the accepted levels by
ASHRAE-55 standards.