Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction

 

Date of this Version

4-22-2011

Comments

A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science, Major: Architectural Engineering, Under the Supervision of Professor Mahmoud Alahmad. Lincoln, Nebraska: May, 2011
Copyright 2011 Wisam Nader

Abstract

As the supply and demand of electrical energy is challenged within the context of environmental awareness and national security, the need to evaluate and advance each side is growing in importance. The electrical distribution system plays a critical role in the built environment as it is an enabling product, an intangible necessity used to power our systems. In order to manage our energy and prevent the consequences caused by energy wastage we need to develop tools for the built environment to become elastic with its consumption to respond to the national smart grid. To advance the research in this field, ZNETH‘s (Zero-Net Energy Test Home) Power Monitor (ZPM) is proposed and implemented in which end-use detailed energy consumption data is provided for each Node in the building. The data is shown on a display panel and stored as an Excel file to facilitate further processing. This data is displayed on the computer screen via a novel virtual environment building system. The virtual environment gives residents immediate access to the building power consumption information in a user-friendly format. This thesis details the ZPM system and the process that leads to its creation. The basic components of the proposed system were designed and tested using a prototype board.

Adviser: Mahmoud Alahmad

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