Objective:

The objective of this project is to compare and document the energy, economic, and environmental performance of two Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) to two homes with the same floor plan in the same subdivision occupied by similar families at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Technology Description:

Zero Energy Homes generate as much power as they consume from the grid through a combination of energy efficient design, use of renewables, and energy conservation practices by the homeowners. Fort Campbell Family Housing LLC, the Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) partnership between the Department of Defense and Actus Lend Lease, plans to invest an additional $500,000 to convert the design and construction of junior noncommissioned officer (JNCO) duplexes to net-zero energy. The current estimate is that approximately five ZEH duplexes (10 homes) can be built for this additional investment. The Fort Campbell ZEHs will be the first built on a military installation. Building a ZEH involves two steps. The first is to reduce energy demand by 70-80% through good design and construction and installation of energy efficient building equipment and appliances. The second is to furnish the remaining energy requirement through on-site renewables adapted for the site. Photovoltaic, micro-hydro, and micro-wind are some of the renewable technologies that will be considered and modeled for use in the Fort Campbell homes. After they are built, two ZEHs and two conventional homes will be monitored for twelve months to determine the relative costs and benefits. Monitoring criteria will include energy consumption and use patterns, energy cost, energy generated on-site, maintenance costs and man-hours, and monthly feedback from families about their overall satisfaction with the homes and perceived comfort of the indoor environment.

Expected Benefits:

Benefits from the use of ZEHs on military installations include a return on investment in 25 years or less, potential revenues from carbon trading, increased energy security, better operational cost predictability, reduced water consumption, and reduced air emissions. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2012)

Principal Investigator:
Mr. Richard Sinclair
US Army Installation Management Command Southeast
1593 Hardee Avenue SW
Fort McPherson, GA 30330
Telephone: (404) 464-0787
E-mail: richard.sinclair@us.army.mil