UNT Zero Energy Lab

3920 N. Elm St
Denton, TX 76207

Tour Hours: Tours every 30 minutes starting at 10:00 am until 4:00 pm

The UNT Zero Energy Lab is designed for study into sustainable human-building ecosystems (SHBE).

The lab is used for students to conduct research in various energy-related fields, such as alternative energy technology, energy storage, energy management, human comfort, the impact of weather, and environmental friendly materials.

 

Learn more about the UNT Zero Energy Lab on their website at

http://mechanicalandenergy.engineering.unt.edu/zøe-laboratory

Poster Displays featuring UNT Research Projects and DME and CoServ Programs

  • MEE Mechanical & Energy Engineering: Unique energy recovery ventilation materials for improved HVAC systems which exchange and recover thermal energy and moisture.
  • MEE: Design and Evaluation of the Fresnel-Lens Based Solar Concentrator System…, with the student author following his presentation at the Solar Power International conference.
  • Electrical Engineering: Distributed energy management in microgrids, used in the microgrid at the Texas Environmental Observatory located near the ZOE Lab just north of the greenhouse.
  • Other students will be present at times to explain some of their work.
  • DME: New solar PV incentive, interconnection process, and billing
  • CoServ: Certified solar installation program and current rebates.

Renewable energy features

Solar PV

kW: 5.6
Installation Date: April 2016
Installer: Axium Solar
Enlighten PV monitoring

Equipment

24 SCHOTT Solar 235W panels with 24 Enphase M215 microinverters

Wind

kW: 3 kW
Installation date: August 2016
Installer: BE Wind
Equipment: Vertical Axis Wind Turbine 

Solar Hot Water

Installation date: April 2012
Installer: Nouveau
Equipment: 20 evacuated tube with 60 gal storage tank. Backup system 36000 Btu/h water-to-water geothermal ground source heat pump

Geothermal Ground Source Heat Pump

Installation date: April 2012
Installer: UNT Facility
Equipment:  6 wells – 225 ft. deep each, 24000 Btu/h water-to-water heat pump, 24000 Btu/h water-to-air heat pump

Energy Recovery Ventilator

Installation date: April 2012
Installer: UNT Facility
Equipment:  Energy Recovery Ventilator

Rain water catchment

Installation date: April 2012
Installer: H2Options
Equipment: 3,000 gal storage tank, V-shaped roof to optimize catchment

Retail Electric Provider

Denton Municipal Electric

Energy Monitoring

Installation date: April 2012
Installer: Schneider Electric
Equipment: TAC Vista control system; over 90 sensors installed throughout the building

 

Green features

  • Passive Solar Design: Building faces south; Low-E Windows
  • Standing seam metal roof
  • Some LED lighting
  • Energy Recovery Ventilation
  • Recycled glass countertop in kitchen
  • Bamboo flooring and millwork
  • Local materials

 

Host Comments

The UNT Zero Energy Lab is designed for study into sustainable human-building ecosystems (SHBE). The lab is used for students to conduct research in various energy-related fields, such as alternative energy technology, energy storage, energy management, human comfort, the impact of weather, and environmental friendly materials. The building is designed to be “net zero”, which means that the energy used over the course of a year should be less than or equal to the energy produced over that same year. The lab contains both a living/kitchen area and a workspace area for research. The lab is designed to test a multitude of energy conservation measures. Thus, it serves to show examples of measures someone might take to build an energy efficient home or office; however, the actual measures used by an individual will depend on factors such as location, budget, and expected energy needs.

 

Where to visit next?

Here is a list of other DFW Solar Tour sites close to here: