Energy and Buildings 68 (2014) 7278

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Energy and Buildings

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/enbuild

Improving the renewable energy mix in a building toward the nearly

zero energy status
Ion Visa, Macedon D. Moldovan , Mihai Comsit, Anca Duta
Transilvania University of Brasov, Renewable Energy Systems & Recycling R&D Centre, Bd. Eroilor 29, 500036 Brasov, Romania

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 1 August 2013
Received in revised form 22 August 2013
Accepted 16 September 2013
Keywords:
Nearly Zero Energy Building
Energy mix
Solar House
Building integrated photovoltaics

a b s t r a c t
Developing Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NyZEB) represents a path toward sustainable communities and
is required by international regulations, starting with 2018. Combined measures for reducing the energy
demand and increasing the share of renewable energy systems in buildings are very much investigated for
different types of buildings. One specic case is represented by the buildings where as result of the green
energy policies renewables are already installed, but the NyZEB status is not reached yet. These buildings
are main candidates in getting this status as the initial investment required is signicantly lower. A novel
methodology is presented for this type of buildings aiming at identifying the optimal combination of
actions to be taken for reducing the energy demand and developing optimized renewable energy mixes,
integrating the existing ones, up to the (Ny)ZEB status. Following this methodology, a cases study is
presented the Solar House (low energy building with geothermal system and solar energy convertors)
and the steps followed for reaching the Zero Energy Building standards are presented. Considering the
current energy status of the building, the renewable energy potential and the costs, a tracked PV string
array is proposed to be added and the steps in design optimization are outlined.
2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) states
that buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption in the
European Union (EU) [1], and similar gures are valid for US (the
2010 value was 41% [2]) while a signicant 25% is reported for
China [3]. Many other studies are devoted to this aspect, resulting values of energy consumption in the building sector between
20% and 40%, exceeding the industrial and transportation sectors
in developed countries [4]. About 1020% from the energy consumption is embodied in the construction stage while 8090%
represents the energy use operating the building during the life
cycle [5]. The energy demand during the lifetime of the existing
buildings is expressed in terms of annual specic primary energy
use which falls in the range of 150400 kWh/m2 per year for conventional residential buildings and 250550 kWh/m2 per year for
ofce buildings [5], values that are very high considering the standards of 6080 kWh/m2 per year set for low energy buildings.
The energy consumption depends on the climatic conditions,
users behavior and on the building as such, consequently on the
in force regulations when the building was constructed which
imposed (or not) a minimum set of performance characteristics
for the building materials. Considering the expected growth of

Corresponding author. Tel.: +40 740300804; fax: +40 268472496.

E-mail address: macedon.moldovan@unitbv.ro (M.D. Moldovan).
0378-7788/$ see front matter 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.09.023

population, up to 10 billion till 2050 [6], the expansion of the buildings sector is predictable, along with an increase in the energy
consumption; therefore, for being sustainable, there is a need for
solutions that will support a much lower rate in the energy increase
as compared to the population growth.
The main requirements for the sustainable built environment,
as described by the Trias Energetica Concept, are related to lowering the energy demand by combining energy saving, the efcient
use of energy and waste minimization with increasing the share of
renewable energy systems (RES) and using fossil fuels in the cleanest possible way, this also including emissions mitigation. Thus, the
sustainable built environment cannot be developed without sustainable energy systems and these are intrinsically linked to spatial
planning [7], in order to prevent unbalancing the resources and to
avoid the competition with agriculture and forestry.
To speed up the process, legal instruments were launched, as
it is the EPBD stating that by 31 December 2020, all new buildings should be Nearly Zero Energy Buildings, with implemented
cost-effective solutions both in energy efciency measures and in
energy-supply systems including renewable energy sources [1]; as
result plenty of work was devoted in the past ve years for identifying adequate and customized solutions promoting low energy
consumption and building integrated renewables [810], particularly focusing on the new buildings. This leaves the existent
buildings as large energy consumers; being developed mostly in
the 70s or before, these buildings are still functional but need
(at least) refurbishing for lowering their energy need, therefore a

I. Visa et al. / Energy and Buildings 68 (2014) 7278

special target is set through EPBD rstly for public buildings. This
is important especially because new buildings only account for a
very low percentage in the residential building stock (in EU 1.94%
[11]).
Attempts for promoting energy efciency in buildings were
done but the pace is much slower than initially planned and the reasons are mainly related to the acceptance coming from the building
owners, to the conservative building industry with a huge number of suppliers, builders, designers and developers with lack of
horizontal integration [12], and nally to the costs issues, raised
from both parts. Therefore, sustainable and affordable solutions
are needed, making use of the available infrastructure and energy
resources based on an integrated design. This is important because
generally, through integrated design up to 90% reductions in the
energy use can be achieved in the new low-energy buildings and
more than 50% for the existing building renovation, almost everywhere in the world [13].
A specic category is represented by the buildings where different renewable energy systems were installed in the past years, as
result of the support policies promoting sustainable energy. Being
a direct (and fast) result of an opportunity, the systems in these
buildings were separately designed and are separately operated,
their mission being to reduce the consumption based on traditional (fossil) energy sources. As already having part of the required
infrastructure, the conversion of these buildings toward the Nearly
Zero Energy Building status involves lower investments and make
them priority candidates for implementing the legal frame and for
developing sustainable communities. To fully valorize the potential
of these buildings, a specic integrated design is required, combining measures for reducing the energy demand and increasing the
renewables.
This paper proposes for the rst time (to the best of our
knowledge) a design method mainly dedicated to these buildings,
allowing cost-effective solutions. Following this method the path
for reaching the Nearly Zero Energy Building (NyZEB) status is
described based on in-eld data, for The Solar House a building that has implemented renewables and will be transformed in
NyZEB.
2. Methodology
The methodology for reaching the NyZEB status in buildings
with already installed RES follows three steps that are based on
the evaluation of the existent energy status followed by step-wise
measures for increasing the energy performance and extend the
RES share up to the targeted level. The schematic description of the
methodology is presented as a owchart in Fig. 1.
Step I. Current energy status, aims at dening the input data as
follows:
- Building characteristics considering the geometry, the envelope
(materials, thermal and optical characteristics), the building type
(household, ofce or industrial building), the inhabitants, etc.
Additionally, spatial limitation for further implementing RES
should be included (e.g. yet available roof, terrace or facades areas,
with optimal orientation for solar energy convertors).
- Characteristics of the implementation site. These data are
included in the calculation of the building energy demand and
allows estimating the renewable energy potential. This can be
done based on generated data using dedicated software, mainly
relying on the geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude,
height, clear sky index, etc.); using dedicated software has the
advantage of minimal input information but can lead to underor over-estimation of the renewable energy potential, with negative consequences on the nal energy output and on the costs.

73

Therefore, on-site data (collected at least over one year) are recommended for accurate RES design.
- Implemented RES, in terms of type (RES1 . . . RESk , e.g. photovoltaic, wind, solar thermal systems, heat pumps, biomass, etc.)
and energy output (average and extreme values); the total energy
output of the renewable energy systems, RE, is calculated as the
sum of the components (RE = REi , with i = 1 . . . k).
- Standardized indicators for renewable energy systems (initial
investment cost, exploitation cost, payback time, cost/benet
ratio, CO2 emission savings) and for Nearly Zero Energy
Buildings.
The input data are used to calculate the energy demand (ED)
of the building, using the buildings characteristics, the weather
data and the utilization type of the building. The energy demand
considers the space heating and/or cooling load, the domestic hot
water load and the power load for lighting. Elaborate or simplied
engineering methods, statistical methods, neural networks, etc. are
reported [14], and the major challenge is to correctly identify the
models input parameters in order to describe the building energy
ow.
Based on the energy demand and on the share of renewables
in the existing energy mix, the need for further implementing RES
is evaluated. If the energy demand is fully satised by the already
implemented RES the Zero Energy Building (ZEB) status is reached;
if RE exceeds ED, the building has a Plus (Green) Energy status (PE)
and, as also in the case of ZEB, no further measures are needed. It
is to mention that the ZEB or the PE status can be reached during
certain seasons in the year (most likely during summer) but the
method hereby described proposes calculations covering one full
year, as many other authors agree [15].
But, most of the existent buildings have the energy demand not
fully covered by RES energy production. Two paths can be followed
to meet the NyZEB status: decreasing the energy demand and/or
increasing the share of RES.
Step II. Decreasing the energy demand. It is unanimously agreed
that installing RES is output- and cost-effective in buildings where
pervious energy efciency and energy saving measures were implemented [16]. Thus, reducing ED is the next step by implementing
the rst and second stages of Kyoto Pyramid [17], by reducing the
heat losses and by ensuring an efcient electricity use. In a practical approach, decreasing ED can be obtained by different measures
that should be implemented according to the buildings specics:
refurbishing the envelope, efcient lighting and equipment, even
measures of passive solar design, if possible.
These combined measures can have a signicant inuence on
the building performance, therefore a new assessment of the ED
vs. RE is done. Similarly to Step I, if the ZEB or the PE status is
reached, no further actions are required. If the measures for lowering the ED are not enough to meet the NyZEB status, Step III is
further approached.
There might be situations when reducing the energy demand
is no longer possible, as common and affordable solutions were
already implemented. In these situations, the procedure further
runs from Step I directly into Step III.
Involving the beneciaries in the design process represents a key
issue in increasing the acceptance of the sustainable energy solutions. Therefore, the method considers an inquiry step, when the
users receive the quantication of the building performance with
lowered ED and are asked if they further want to increase RE. As
the NyZEB status is not strictly dened, the answer can be No (no
need for further renewables), and in this case, no further action is
taken. But, considering the legal frame and the conventional energy
increasing costs, this option is likely to be less and less selected in
the future, most of the users opting for an increase in the energy
obtained based on renewables.

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I. Visa et al. / Energy and Buildings 68 (2014) 7278

Fig. 1. The algorithm dening the optimal energy mix toward NyZEB (RES Renewable Energy System, RES1 . . . RESk already implemented RES, RESk+1 . . . RESn newly
proposed types of RES, ED Energy Demand of the building, RE1 . . . REk Renewable Energy provided by already implemented RES, REi increments proposed for each
RES, RE Renewable Energy provided by all RES).

Step III. Increase the energy from RES considers improving the
capacities of the already implemented renewable energy systems
RES1 . . . RESk with increments RE1 . . . REk that are selected
considering the design of cost-effective and environmental friendly
energy mixes; another option is to include new types of renewable
energy systems RESk+1 . . . RESn with increments REk+1 . . . REn .
The increments REi are iteratively considered, in respect with
the energy needs of the building and with the site renewable energy
sources potential. During each iteration renewable energy systems indicators are evaluated and if they are not acceptable, in

comparison with standardized indicators, increments REi are

changed until acceptable values are obtained.
The optimization criteria based on which a certain energy mix
is selected usually relay on the payback time, considering a xed
ratio of renewables, with a xed share of each renewable component in the mix, and optimizing the technical parameters of the
system (e.g. the surface of the solar-thermal array, the ground heat
exchanger surface, etc.). There is hundreds of software developed
to design energy mixes in buildings. Recent review papers outline
the mostly used tools; among the 38 (out of 67) software selected

I. Visa et al. / Energy and Buildings 68 (2014) 7278

by Connolly et al. [18] 16 included renewables, while Crawley et al.

[19] reviewed 20 software for estimating the capabilities of building
energy simulation programs out of which 14 included renewables.
These type of tools need to be re-designed by including the
savings brought by the existent RES, particularly parts of their
infrastructure that can be commonly used by the existent and
newly implemented renewable energy systems. Additionally, novel
concepts can be added, as the Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) including RES, in multi-source/multi-function BEMS
able to efciently operate the energy mixes including renewable
energy technologies. The built environment, with restricted implementation space can also support solutions that are recognized to
increase the energy output, as example tracking for solar energy
conversions systems.
After selecting the optimal energy mix, the Renewable Energy
(RE) and the Energy Demand (ED) are once again compared and if
the NyZEB status is reached, the method proposes different evaluation indicators: the initial investment cost, the exploitation cost,
the cost/benet ratio, etc. Choosing among these is upon the enduser options and/or possibilities, each of these providing the energy
to reach the Nearly Zero Energy Building Status.
If the NyZEB status is not reached yet, the calculation of
energy mixes is re-launched, either by extending the existent ones
(if possible) but mainly by considering new renewable energy
sources.
This methodology was implemented for a specic application,
the Solar House, which is further presented.
3. Case study: the Solar House
The methodology previously described was applied for a concrete case, the Solar House in the Transilvania University of Brasov
(Romania), the R&D Center Renewable Energy Systems & Recycling.
3.1. Step I. Current energy status
Buildings characteristics: The Solar House was built in 2009
aiming at developing a low energy building with reduced CO2
emissions, architecturally integrated in the university campus and
providing a high level of individual comfort to its inhabitants
(mainly M.Sc. students, the house being used for teaching and as 1:1
testing rig). The Solar House is integrated in the university Campus,
as Fig. 2 presents.
The design of this building followed the Kyoto Pyramid strategy [17], addressing the reduction of the heat loss through the
buildings envelope, reducing the energy consumption by efcient
lighting with very low energy consumption and embedding elements of passive solar use.

Fig. 2. The Solar House and the existent renewable energy systems.

75

The Solar House has two levels with a total oor area of 290 m2 ,
out of which 240 m2 are heated, corresponding to a volume of
777 m3 (the rest of the surface is represented by a not heated
staircase). The house has a light metallic structure covered with
insulated panels outwards and plasterboard inwards; the large,
double-glazed windows have two-layers low-E panes with the
thermal resistance 0.33 m2 K/W while the thermal resistances of the
other building elements are: 3.3 m2 K/W for the walls (with 20 cm of
cellular polystyrene thermal insulation), 2.2 m2 K/W for the ceiling
(covered with 10 cm of polyurethane) and 2.5 m2 K/W for the oor.
The exterior surface of the house is represented by walls (133.5 m2 ),
the ceiling (115 m2 ) and windows (130 m2 ).
The passive solar design is supported by the large glazed surface (over 50% of the heated oor surface, as compared to the usual
10% . . . 15%) that allows maximizing the solar gain during the cold
seasons, and give best use to natural lighting. Signicant energy
savings were also obtained by the natural ventilation insured, both
in heating and cooling, through the non-traditional egg shape architecture [20].
Characteristics of the implementation site: The geographic coordinates of the implementation site are 45.65 N, 25.59 E at an altitude
of 600 m above the sea level. The climatic prole is continental temperate with cold winters (lowest temperatures reaching 28 C)
and warm summers, with peak temperatures of 30 . . . 32 C.
Regular energy utilities facilities are available (grid and natural
gas). The on-site renewable energy sources potential was monitored since 2006 (Delta-T wheatear station) and shows an average
solar energy potential of 1000 . . . 1200 kWh/year and a very low
wind potential (below 2 m/s average wind velocity) [21]; geothermal energy is and can be further taped in the close vicinity of the
Solar House while the hydro potential is practically zero considering that the Solar House is situated almost in the center of the
town. Thus, only solar and geothermal energy can be considered as
available on-site renewable energy sources.
Implemented RES: Considering the available potential, the Solar
House has installed a renewable energy mix consisting of a horizontal closed loop ground source heat exchanger coupled to a 10 kW
heat pump (Viessmann) for heating and cooling, six at plate and
three vacuum tube solar thermal collectors used for domestic hot
water in the Solar House and in the Sports Hall nearby (Viessmann),
and a 10 kWp photovoltaic array, xed and tilt at 48 (Q Cells, 48
PV modules, 210 Wp ) [22].
The energy demand was calculated based on the specic Romanian directives [23], for lighting, domestic hot water and for
heating (considering during the cold season the conventional outdoor temperature of 21 C and the indoor temperature of 20 C).
Considering the climatic prole, the insulation and the main function of the building (teaching and R&D activities), cooling was not
considered necessary, as the hottest period (August) is also a holiday month.
The values corresponding to the calculated energy demand [20]
and to the energy produced by renewables as measured are presented in Table 1.
As the data in Table 1 shows, the energy demand exceeds by
9.62 MWh/year the renewable energies output (RE). Currently, the
decit in heating and DHW is covered by gas (1.97 MWh/year) and
the electricity decit is covered from the grid (7.65 MWh/year).
These results outline that further actions should be taken for reaching the (Nearly) Zero Energy status.
The energy consumption of the Solar House is monitored for:
(a) the power consumed by the lighting and heat pump systems
with a three phase electric meter, (b) the thermal energy provided
by the heat pump system, by the solar thermal collectors and by
the backup source (the natural gas condensing boiler) with distinct heat meters and (c) the natural gas consumption with a gas
meter.

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I. Visa et al. / Energy and Buildings 68 (2014) 7278

Table 1
Calculated energy demand and measured energy supplied by renewables in the Solar House.
Thermal energy [MWh/year]
Heating
Demand
45.51

Domestic hot water (DHW)

Supplied by RES
44.51
97.80% RES

Demand
1.25

Electrical energy [MWh/year]

Total energy [MWh/year]

Demanda

Demand

Supplied by RES

Supplied by RES

Supplied by RES
0.28
22.40% RES

12.75

5.10
40% RES

59.51

49.89
83.83% RES

a
In estimating the electrical energy demand the lighting loads were considered (1.25 MWh/year) along with the energy needed to power the heat pump and its compressor
(11.5 MWh/year).

The energy provided by the already installed Res is also monitored: the power output of the xed photovoltaic system with a
three phase electric meter, the geothermal energy extracted from
the ground and the thermal energy from the solar thermal collectors with distinct heat meters.
3.2. Step II. Decreasing the energy demand
Being initially developed as low energy building, the Solar House
allows little improvement in terms of reducing the Energy Demand.
Based on the monitored data, thermal energy losses were evaluated for the main components of the building and the results are
presented in Fig. 3.
As expected, the major energy losses are through the glazed
areas, therefore simulations were done considering the addition of
a third glass pane. The results show that triple glazing will improve
the thermal resistance up to 0.44 m2 K/W, reducing the thermal
heating load to 37 MWh/year. An analysis of the constructive solutions showed that the triple glazing should fully replace the existent
double glazed area and, by market investigations it was concluded
on an investment of about 23,500 EUR. As this amount is quite high,
further options were investigated in terms of increasing the energy
obtained from renewables.
3.3. Step III. Increasing the energy from RES
The NyZEB or the ZEB status can be achieved for the Solar House
by replacing the existent traditional energy sources (grid or gas
based) with renewables; therefore possible alternatives were further investigated.
Decision on the RES mix: based on the renewable energy potential and the implementation restrictions it was further decided to
extend the existent RES. The existing ground coupled heat pump
already covers almost the entire space heating load therefore the
extension of the energy mix was considered for covering the most
unbalanced component: electrical energy, by implementing a new
PV platform.
Extending the RES mix with a PV string array: as Fig. 2 shows,
the available area (light gray) can be used for developing a new

Fig. 3. Energy ows through the building components.

platform. The terrace is rectangular (39 m 18.5 m). As the terrace

is not fully favorably oriented, the optimal solution is represented
by strings with 16 m and 8 m length, that can be well placed with a
distance of 4 m between them for avoiding shading, Fig. 4.
To fully cover the energy need (currently covered from the grid
and by using natural gas) by using renewables, a maximal energy
output is needed for this platform. Tracking increases by at least
20% the energy output, thus at least 20% of the modules surface
can be reduced. The 10 MWh/year decit can be covered by a xed
platform (of about 16 kWp , with an average cost of 24,000 EUR) or
by a tracked platform, of about 10 kWp , with an estimated cost of
17,000 EUR, including the tracking system. Using the grid as storage
alternative also allows to insert the temporary exceeding energy,
produced during summer when the consumption is low (holiday)
and to balance over the entire year the needs with the renewable
supply. Additionally, replacing gas with green power has also the
advantage of reducing on-site the CO2 emissions. Considering these
data, the further option was for the tracked PV string platform of
10 kWp .
For avoiding too complicated mechanical systems, one single
axis tracking system is proposed, of pseudo-azimuthal type. The 3D
virtual model of the photovoltaic tracked strings (developed using
SolidWorks software) is presented in Fig. 4. Further on, through
SolidWorks Simulation the design was validated, by testing how
the photovoltaic platform holds up under extreme wind, heat, and
other conditions. Thus, weight was reduced, unneeded materials
eliminated, the costs were optimized, and the potential liability or
safety issues were solved.
To cover the energy need, the PV system consists of 50 photovoltaic modules of 200Wp (polycrystalline silicon, in-eld nominal
efciency 12.01%), a 10 kW inverter and the connecting circuits
between the PV modules and inverter (DC) and between the
inverter and the national power grid (AC). Power will be introduced
in the national power grid all year round and will be used when
necessary (especially at night and during the cold season).
The tracking algorithm that insures the increased electrical
energy output needs to be carefully optimized.
Literature mentions two different types of tracking control: by
pre-set (usual stepwise) algorithms or by following the maximum
solar radiation on the sky dome. As the implementation site has a
changing climate, with fast alternating periods of cloudiness and

Fig. 4. The 3D virtual model of the photovoltaic tracked platform and its placement
on a rooftop.

I. Visa et al. / Energy and Buildings 68 (2014) 7278

77

Table 2
Calculated energy demand and estimated energy supplied by renewables in the Solar House after implementing the new PV string array.
Thermal energy [MWh/year]
Heating
Demand
45.51

Domestic hot water (DHW)

Supplied by RES
45.51
100% RES

Demand
1.25

Electrical energy [MWh/year]

Total energy [MWh/year]

Demand

Demand

Supplied by RES

Supplied by RES

Supplied by RES
1.25
100% RES

sunshine, the last option is not recommended because it may lead

to mechanical shocks and fast wearing.
A stepwise algorithm was developed covering one year,
consisting of 26 intervals (each of two weeks) with different congurations, ranging from 8 to 12 daily steps. This algorithm was
developed in the clear sky assumption. Still, cloudiness may signicantly distort the tracking effect, therefore in-eld experiments
were done for dening the optimized version.
As the tracking effect is almost similar on a single module and on
a module part of a string, the optimization studies were done using
one xed module and one tracked module, following the proposed
algorithm, both installed on the rooftop, in close vicinity to the
Solar House. Identical PV modules were used having Pmax = 130 W,
Imp = 7.5 A, Ump = 17.3 V, nominal efciency 13.1%.
The input data (global and diffuse solar radiation intensity on a
horizontal plane, air temperature, wind speed and direction) and
the output data (voltage, current intensity and power generated
by each photovoltaic module and for each battery) are monitored
and stored and were processed with common software (Matlab,
Microsoft Excel etc.). As example, Fig. 5 presents for the month
of June 2012 the variation of the daily electric energy generated
by the two PV modules (tracked and xed). The average conversion efciencies were 8.24% for the tracked module and 6.24% for
the xed module, signicantly lower than the nominal efciency,
as result of a combined effect of heating and highly variable daily
solar radiation (200 . . . 1100 Wh/m2 ). The data in Fig. 5 also allow
calculating the energy amount produced by the tracked module
22,856 Wh/month which is by 28% higher than the value corresponding to the xed module.
As already outlined, the in-eld weather data can be significantly different as compared to those generated by dedicated
software (e.g. METEONORM). This may have signicant effect
on tracked PV systems. Therefore, two representative days were
selected, a typical sunny day (July 1st, 2012) and a cloudy day (28th
May, 2012). Based on the voltage and current values for the two
systems (xed and tracked), the instantaneous power of each photovoltaic module is further calculated and, by integration over the
entire day, the amounts of produced energy are evaluated and are
presented in Figs. 6 and 7.
As expected, the solar radiation input has a major inuence on
the power output. Photovoltaics are mainly using the direct solar
radiation (usually representing over 70% from the global radiation
in clear sky conditions) but, as Fig. 7 shows, diffuse radiation (the
only available during cloudy periods) also allows PVs to function,

12.75

11.13
87.29% RES

59.51

57.89
97.28% RES

Fig. 6. Electrical power for the tracked and xed modules in a typical sunny day
(the dashed area represents the supplementary energy output due to tracking).

Fig. 7. Electrical power for the tracked and xed modules in a typical cloudy day.

with a much lower output, as a combined result of the lower input

and decreased efciency.
In a sunny day, the energy output of the tracked module
(946 Wh/day) is signicantly higher compared to the xed one
(711 Wh/day), particularly during morning and afternoon. At noon
(11:0014:00) the photovoltaic responses of the tracked and xed
systems are almost identical, indicating that tracking is actually not needed. During cloudy days, the results show that the
xed horizontal photovoltaic module has a better energy response
(166 Wh/day) than the tracked one (148 Wh/day). This may be
explained considering that the xed system receives solar diffuse
energy during the entire day from the entire sky dome when horizontally positioned, while the mobile system reaches this condition
only at noon when its position is horizontal. These data indicate that
in cloudy days tracking is not recommended. Therefore, specic
actions are implemented in the tracking algorithms for days with
low solar radiation, for getting the optimal photovoltaic response;
additionally, this will reduce the overall power consumed for tracking, reduces the wear of the actuators and of the elements in relative
motion and improves the dynamic resistance to wind (with usual
higher values in cloudy days).
Based on these data, an average amount of energy ranging from
8 to 8.5 MWh/year is expected, that covers most of the energy
demand, making the Solar House a Nearly Zero Energy Building,
with less than 3% of the Energy Demand covered by grid (Table 2).
4. Conclusions

Fig. 5. Comparative electrical energy output of a tracked and of a horizontal xed

module.

The paper introduces a novel method for transforming buildings with implemented renewable energy systems in Nearly Zero
Energy Buildings. The method consists of three steps that sequentially evaluate the current energy status, identify tailored measures

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I. Visa et al. / Energy and Buildings 68 (2014) 7278

for reducing the energy demand, followed by the development of

on-site optimized renewable energy mixes, by extending the existent ones and/or by adding new renewables.
The Solar House is discussed as a case study, outlining the decisions that can be done, considering both efciency and costs. By
applying the proposed methodology, the Solar House reaches the
NyZEB status by extending the existent renewables mix (solar and
geothermal) with a photovoltaic string platform that has a tracking
algorithm optimized considering the climatic prole.
This method can be applied to any building that already
has installed renewables, by identifying the possible alternatives,
optimizing them according to the on-site data and selecting the appropriate one, based on technical and economic
criteria.
Acknowledgements
This paper is supported by the Sectoral Operational Program
Human Resources Development (SOP HRD), nanced from the
European Social Fund and by the Romanian Government under
the contract number POSDRU/89/1.5/S/59323 and by the project
project EST IN URBA, No. 28/2012, PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-1235,
developed within the program PNII Partnership in priority
domain, with the support of ANCS, CNDI-UEFISCDI.
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