Residences account for 21% of the total energy demand in the United States, one-third of which is due to HVAC systems. As such, there is great potential in reducing the consumption of HVAC systems in order to decrease the home’s overall residential energy demand. The company Unity Homes is working to address this concern by selling energy efficient homes to the general public. In collaboration with Unity Homes, we sought to integrate the design of a solar water heating system within one of their homes. Through the design and construction of our own system, we were able to familiarize ourselves with the potential capabilities of such systems. We recommend further investigation into the feasibility of integration as well as its potential as a cooling and domestic hot water system.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Espinal, Ysabel
• Nowick, Ismael George

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042617-130021

Advisor

• Van Dessel, Steven
• Fallahi, Ali

Year

• 2017

Sponsor

• Unity Homes

Date created

• 2017-04-26

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Architectural Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright