Proposed Design for a Coupled Ground-Source Heat Pump/Energy Recovery Ventilator System to Reduce Building Energy Demand

Abstract

The work presented in this thesis focuses on reducing the energy demand of a residential building by using a coupled ground-source heat pump/energy recovery ventilation (GSHP-ERV) system to present a novel approach to space condition and domestic hot water supply for a residence. The proposed system is capable of providing hot water on-demand with a high coefficient of performance (COP), thus eliminating the need for a hot water storage tank and circulation system while requiring little power consumption. The necessary size of the proposed system and the maximum and normal heating and cooling loads for the home were calculated based on the assumptions of an energy efficient home, the assumed construction specifications, and the climate characteristics of the Blacksburg, Virginia region. The results from the load analysis were used to predict energy consumption and costs associated with annual operations.The results for the predicted heating annual energy consumption and costs for the GSHP-ERV system were compared to an air-source heat pump and a natural gas furnace. On average, it was determined that the proposed system was capable of reducing annual energy consumption by 56-78% over air-source heat pumps and 85-88% over a natural gas furnace. The proposed GSHP-ERV system reduced costs by 45-61% over air-source heat pump systems and 52-58% over natural gas furnaces. The annual energy consumption and costs associated with cooling were not calculated as cooling accounts for a negligible portion (6%) of the total annual energy demand for a home in Blacksburg.