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Tuesday, 10 March 2009 |
Water Consumption:
Water use will be metered throughout the home using a water turbine meter with a scaled pulse-output. The meter is an Omega FTB-4105A designed to measure water flow rates from 0.5 to 500 lpm with accuracy up to 1.5%. The maximum operating temperature is 93°C.
Meters will be located on hot and cold water lines to each area of use: bathrooms, kitchen, dishwasher, laundry room, and outdoor use. The location of meters is illustrated below.
Pulse output will provide information on the flow rate of water and duration, which will allow for the calculation of volumes used. It is expected that the pulse profile will vary between the toilet, shower and sink in each bathroom, so only one meter is required. The total water used in the home can be validated against the water meter installed by the Utility.
Outcomes of this research are: to validate the consumption of water in low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucets; to determine volumes of greywater (showers, sinks, and clothes washer) which may available for a future greywater system to be used for outdoor irrigation; and to monitor outdoor irrigation water for landscaping.
Electricity Consumption:
To measure the use of electricity throughout the home, a number of different devices are required. The furnace motor (and appliance motors) may be monitored for on/off and total operating time using a MAGlogger, which is an internal magnetic sensor that detects the magnetic field generated when a motor is operating. The LIGHTINGlogger measures the time and the duration when lights are on in a room using an internal light sensor. Individual circuits may be monitored in the home using a CTlogger, which measures the electrical current using a current transformer. The electrical consumption may be monitored in real-time and displayed remotely using a TED1001 - The Energy Detective.
Outcomes of measuring electricity will include: consumption of lighting systems (LED and compact fluorescent systems); on-time and user-profile for lighting; consumption of electricity by Energy Star appliances; furnace motor on-time to measure the cycling of the system; phantom load analysis; and whole-home energy consumption that can be monitored by the homeowner.
Natural Gas Consumption:
Natural gas is delivered to the home and metered by the Utility Company. There are only two services in the home: the furnace and the demand water heater. An American Meter Model AC250TC, a diaphragm style gas meter, has been installed to be able to monitor gas consumption by one user, and the difference from the Utility will indicate the gas consumption by the second user. The meters have local totalizers, which will be read periodically during research.
Outcomes will be to measure the efficiency of the furnace and demand water heater by determining the energy delivered by the natural gas compared to the temperature increase and volume of water or air being heated (see ‘Temperature Measurement’ and ‘Air Flow Measurement’).
Temperature Measurement:
Type J thermocouple wire has been installed at two locations on the south-facing roof and one location on the north-facing roof. Data will be recorded continuously by SMT Research Ltd. and data will be made available through a computer interface.
Type K thermocouples have also been wired in the wall systems and roof in combination with the heat flux sensors (see ‘Heat Loss Measurement). These thermocouples may be monitored using a MicroDAQ 8-channel datalogger.
Removable Type J thermocouples will be installed on the inlet/outlet lines on the Drain Water Heat Recovery unit, the solar water heater, and the demand water heater.
Outcomes will be to measure the efficiency of the Drain Water Heat Recovery unit, relating temperature change between the two flows; to measure the efficiency of the demand (tankless) water heater by measuring the water flow, water temperature increase, and the gas used to heat the water; to measure the efficiency of the solar water heater by measuring the temperature change of water flowing through the system; to measure the temperature under the PV solar panels (which have reduced efficiency at elevated temperatures); and to measure the temperature under the roofing systems as temperature cycles are a major cause of the failure of these systems – roofing systems will include north-facing, south-facing and greenroof surfaces.
Heat Loss Measurement:
Heat Flux Sensors (Omega HFS-4) are installed in the roofing and wall systems. They are designed to measure the amount of energy passing through the sensor, which represents the amount of energy being lost from the home. Sensors are installed on the north-facing roof under 10-inches of Icynene™; the south-facing roof under 10-inches of Icynene™; the south-facing roof under 16-inches of Icynene™; and the greenroof. Sensors are also located in the wall systems on the north-facing wall with standard 2x6 construction and 5.5-inches of Icynene™; 2x6 construction with 3” of urethane; and a double-wall system with two 2x4 construction and a thermal break between walls. Sensors are located under the slabs in the family room and basement in three locations: the center of the slab; center edge of the wall, and the corner of the slab.
Data will be collected continuously by SMT Research through a computer interface and individual measurements can be made using a digital microvoltmeter (DMV-001).
A portable heat flux meter (KEM HFM-201) will be used to measure relatively higher rates of heat loss through windows.
Outcomes are to validate design models for heat loss through the envelope, the affect of thermal bridging through studs in the wall, and the optimum insulation thickness for walls and roofs. Heat loss through the greenroof will be monitored and compared to an insulated roof. Window heat loss through the frame and center-of-glass will be monitored and compared to other window systems (both new and old). Heat loss through the two floor slabs will be monitored and compared to modeled values. Weather station data will be used to correlate heat loss with outdoor conditions including temperature and wind speed.
Indoor Air Quality:
The Living Home will be monitored for indoor comfort and air quality. A probe (Quest AQ5000 Pro) will be permanently collecting data in the home to monitor temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and dew point in the home. A portable probe (Gray Wolf IQ-610) will be used to validate temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide, but also measure indoor pollutants like carbon monoxide and VOCs. Formaldehyde in the home will be measured using a HCHO Detector. A particle counter (Gray Wolf Handheld 3016-IAQ Particle Counter) will be used to measure particulates in the air and assess the performance of the ventilation filtration system.
Illumination in the home will be measured using a testo 435 Multifunction Measuring Instrument with a dedicated light meter probe.
Outcomes include a comparison of indoor air quality and comfort with other homes in the area (see the Survey tool used for student research).
Pollutants like VOCs, formaldehyde and airborne particles will be monitored and compared to other homes using different interior materials and ventilation systems.
Ventilation:
The Living Home will be ventilated using a mechanical system and naturally using a chimney effect of rising hot air in through the home. A testo 435 Multifunction Measuring Instrument with a vane anemometer will be used to measure natural air flow through the home. Air flow through the mechanical system will use a hot-vane anemometer (Gray Wolf AS-202A) which measures both velocity and temperature in the ducting system. The vane anemometer may be used to validate air flow through ducting by measuring air leaving the grill in each room. A Fluke 922 Airflow Meter may also be used to validate the ventilation flowrates through the ducting system.
Air infiltration in the home will be assessed using a blower door test which will measure the amount of air leaking through the envelope under a standard pressure difference. A tracer gas test may also be used (ASTM Standard E741) which measures the rate of dilution for an inert or nonreactive gas. This dilution rate can be related to the air exchange rate in the home. Air pressure measuring probes have been installed on each side of the home to compare wind speed to pressure difference across the envelope. This relationship can be further correlated to air leakage in the home.
Outcomes are to assess the effectiveness of natural ventilation through the home, the number of air changes per hour, and the balance of air flow through the ducting systems. The temperature of the air before and after the Heat Recovery Ventilator and the furnace will be used to evaluate the efficiency of these systems. Air leakage through the envelope of the home will be assessed and related to heat loss and changes in home comfort and indoor air quality (see Indoor Air Quality).
Solar PV Panels:
The solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels will be monitored by an integrated system. The amount of energy produced by the panels will be totalized, and the amount of electricity entering the home from the grid, or leaving the home to the grid will also be totalized. These values will be compared to the design model.
Solar Water Heating:
The solar water heater will be monitored by an integrated system. The amount of energy delivered to domestic hot water will be logged and the efficiency of the system may be monitored. The data collected from this system will be combined with the evaluation of the demand water heater to determine the system performance.
Construction Materials & Waste:
Through the construction process, the amount of waste generated has been measured using an industrial scale (Adam CPWplus-200).
Outcomes include a comparison of materials used in the home construction with the waste generated. The type of waste and potential reuse in the home construction, or recycling will help divert waste from the landfill. The amount of materials used in the construction of the home will be used to validate Athena models for embodied energy estimates.
Student Research:
Refer to student research projects for results.
Standards:
Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC)
LEED Credit 3.2, Table 1: Maximum Concentration Criteria of IAQ Pollutants.
International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP)
Concepts and Options for Determining Energy and Water Savings Volume 1
ASHRAE 2005
Measurement and Instruments, Chapter 14
ASHRAE Standard 111-1988
Practices for Measurement, Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing of Building Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Systems.
Research Instrumentation List:
| Application |
Model |
Range |
Accuracy |
| Water Consumption |
Omega FTB-4105A
Turbine Meter |
0.5 to 500 lpm |
1.5% |
| Water Consumption |
DENT DATApro
4-channel datalogger for pulse measurement |
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| On/Off Motors |
MAGlogger TOUM-3G |
On/Off |
40 mGauss minimum |
| Lights |
LIGHTINGlogger TOUL-3G |
On/Off |
Adjustable sensitivity |
| Electrical Current |
CTlogger TOUCT-3G |
|
0.25 Amp minimum |
| Electricity Consumption |
TED1001 – The Energy Detective |
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| Natural Gas Consumption |
American Meter AC250TC |
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| Temperature Measurement |
Type J thermocouple wire
Iron/Constantan |
-200 to 750°C |
2.2°C maximum |
| Temperature Measurement |
Type K thermocouple wire
Integrated in HFS-4 Heat Flux Sensor |
-200 to 1250°C |
2.2°C maximum |
| Temperature Measurement |
Micro DAQ 8-channel datalogger |
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| Heat Loss Measurement |
Omega HFS-4 Heat Flux Sensors |
6.5 μV/BTU/ft²hr |
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| Heat Loss Measurement |
Omega OM-CP-VOLT101-100mV datalogger |
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| Heat Loss Measurement |
Digital Microvoltmeter DMV-001 |
|
1 μV resolution |
| Heat Loss Measurement |
KEM HFM-201 Portable Heat Flow Meter |
10 – 3000 kcal/m²h |
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| Indoor Air Quality |
Gray Wolf IQ-610 |
0.02 – 20.00 ppm VOC
0 – 10000 ppm CO2
0 – 500 ppm CO
0 – 100% RH
-10 to 70°C |
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| Indoor Air Quality |
Quest AQ5000 Pro |
0 – 5000 ppm CO2
0 – 100% RH
0 to 60°C |
|
| Indoor Air Quality |
Gray Wolf Handheld 3016-IAQ Particle Counter |
0.3 – 10 μm
Six sizes measured simultaneously: 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 & 10.0 μm |
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| Indoor Air Quality |
Riken Keiki HCHO Detector FP-30 |
0 – 0.4 ppm
(30 minute detection time) |
0.08 ppm |
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| Lighting |
Testo 435 Multifunction Measuring Instrument
with light meter probe
0635 0545 |
0 – 100.000 Lux |
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| Ventilation |
Testo 435 Multifunction Measuring Instrument with vane anemometer
0635 8535 / 805 |
0.6 to 40 m/s |
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| Ventilation |
Gray Wolf Hotwire Probe AS-202A |
0.00 – 30.00 m/s |
0.015 m/s |
| Ventilation |
Fluke 922 Airflow Meter |
1 – 80 m/s |
+/- 2.5% |
| Waste Measurement |
Adam CPWplus-200 |
200 kg maximum |
0.1 kg |
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