Prototype of net zero residence for hot & dry climate in Indian context

Abstract

India is the seventh largest country in the world in terms of area and home to over a billion people. It is estimated that the total constructed built-up area would increase about 5-fold from the year 2005 to 2030. According to the Central Electricity Authority (India), residential sector accounts for 21% of the total electricity consumption. Energy efficient buildings are the future imperative for the proposed building stock in India. This paper presents a design process for developing a Net Zero Energy home prototype that is affordable for the higher middle-class families. It is an urban single-family home in the hot and dry climate which also achieves zero water discharge to respond to water scarcity in Jaipur, Rajasthan in India. The building works in mixed-mode operation providing comfortable & World Health Organization (WHO) suggested air quality standard, despite degraded outdoor air quality in Jaipur. It was designed by performing parametric analysis and assessing comfort hours by simulating different options for building form, envelope, passive and active cooling approaches. An Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 20 kWh/m2/year was achieved, that is balanced by an 8-kW rooftop photovoltaic system. The designed home will act as an affordable energy efficient prototype that can be used by developers in India.