Evaluation of Building Performance University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) 2002 Solar House

The aim of the study project is to investigate, analyze and compare the performance of University of Missouri Rolla [UMR] 2002 solar house with a conventional house and an ideal house developed by an energy simulation program in terms of energy efficiency. In 2002 UMR built a solar powered house to participate in Solar Decathlon. Presently this house is permanently set up on campus and is used as student housing. This house also provides research opportunities to monitor of the solar house year round. Energy-10 software [Version 1.6] developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory was used to evaluate the houses. The software uses a set of passive solar strategies to optimize energy performance of commercial, institutional and residential buildings. It also evaluates day-lighting, passive solar heating and natural ventilation, lighting and mechanical equipment within the building. It allows the user to calculate energy and cost savings quickly. However Energy-10 simulation models require modifications as to the shape and form of the model due to its limited choices. For each study model it considers the shape of the building as a complementary rectangular box to develop the virtual model. In this research study few modifications were made to accommodate the limitation of the software. These modifications included use of local climatic data library, replication of original construction methods and materials used in the UMR solar house etc.