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of the households today are facing fuel poverty. The Scottish Government has set a
green housing delivery target that all newly built homes would be carbon-neutral by
2016/17. This study was initiated with the aim to enhance the understanding of how a
mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system should be selected with due
consideration of the total energy consumption of housing as well as how the ventilation
system can potentially contribute to optimal use of a solar photovoltaic (PV) power
generating system which generates not only electricity but also heat. The electricity
generated by PV can cover the operation of an MVHR system partially or fully while the
ventilation system can also help extract fresh air heated by PV to supplement space
heating. The combination may have the impact on the total housing energy consumption,
operating energy cost and CO
2
emissions. In this study, domestic energy simulation was
carried out based on the UK Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for
Energy rating of Dwellings (2009 edition) (BRE 2010). For the demonstration purpose, a
net zero energy affordable housing prototype development being examined in South
Ayrshire, was selected. 19 alternatives were developed based on a scenario that a
mains gas combi-boiler is combined with MVHR products with different specific fan
power, efficiency and ductwork levels and PV systems. In this study, the use of
PV/thermal energy was also taken into account being added to the assessment options.
Housing Project Scenario
To examine the performance of a balanced mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
(MVHR) system as an extractor of roof-integrated PV heated air applied to Scottish
affordable homes and to monitor the actual state of incoming solar radiation levels in
Scotland, a post-council housing area in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, was selected. The
benchmark house for further assessment was considered to be an end terrace extension
which sits adjacent to 109 Adamton Road South, on the corner of Adamton Road South
and Hawthorn Avenue (Fig.1). 109 Adamton Road South lies at the western end of a
small terrace of four units. In terms of its boundaries, the site is adjacent to Number 107
Adamton.
Figure 1: Location of an expected housing development plot (Source: Google)
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