title: Zero energy for the Cyprus house
Creators: name: Serghides, D.
Publisher: name: The Open University
Year: 1993

description: The thesis aims at the optimization of the regulatory systems inherent in domestic architecture through choice of orientation, building materials and the use of natural resources of energy, to achieve comfort conditions without the need for mechanical heating and cooling for the Cypriot climate. The thesis is classified in six chapters as follows: CHAPTER 1 In this chapter, analysis of the energy situation in Cyprus to investigate the potential for energy saving in houses and the possible environmental improvement is carried out. For this, existing and newly built houses are evaluated to identify deficiencies in the regulatory systems inherent in the built form that result in heating and cooling demands. CHAPTER 2 The prevailing climatic conditions in Cyprus are analyzed, in this chapter, to assess how energy demands for heating and cooling arise in domestic buildings and to evaluate the free energy systems available to contribute to these requirements. Moreover in this chapter standards of comfort for single family detached houses in Cyprus are established, through investigation of current thermostat settings and reviews of thermal comfort studies, so that they may be taken as a basis in the optimization study. CHAPTER 3 This chapter deals with the optimization of a specific house type, to be designed in an ideal environment, to the point of zero fuel consumption for heating and cooling with the aid of microcomputer programmes for thermal analysis. Initially simplified thermal calculations are carried out by using "Method 5000°, a well established method adopted by the Commission of the European Community Handbook. These are followed by detailed hourly simulations of selected variants using dynamic simulation model SERIRES. CHAPTER 4 This chapter also makes use of thermal calculations as chapter 3, and concludes to comparative assessment of results obtained under chapter 3, and design recommendations for new houses through economic analysis of the varied design measures. From those the profile of the "Zero Energy House for Cyprus" is outlined. CHAPTER 5 The study in this chapter identifies the occupants' factors that influence the efficiency of building performance and the thermal environmental conditions of the "Zero Energy House". It analyses the intervention of the occupants in the design, which is reflected in the variable of fenestration. The analysis is carried out interdependently, in various combinations of shading and ventilation profiles, in computer simulations using thermal analysis programme "AGRI". A case-study further investigates the thermal effects of the user interaction with the building and confirms the validity of the simulation results. The proposed strategies, at the end of the chapter, aim at reducing the operational counter-effects on the building design. CHAPTER 6 The conclusions are outlined in the form of criteria for the selection of different design alternatives. These are based on flexibility, operational ease, potential thermal efficiency and elimination of constraints for securing optimal performance for "Zero Energy Houses" for Cyprus.