Advanced Sustainable Integrated Systems for Total Building Energy Supply

The paper will discuss a number of new technologies for total building energy supply and describe the progression from single energy generator to integrated space and water heating and power generation systems. Currently, the residential and commercial buildings are being constructed with a high level of insulation, which significantly lowers the space heating loads; at the same time the recyclable building materials have been increased drastically. This progress has provided opportunities for new, innovative approaches to be applied to the mechanical system design. The paper will discuss the current commercialized integrated space and water heating systems, the residential fuel cell co-generation system and self-powered systems involving such technologies as thermophotovoltaics and thermoelectrics for limited power generation on-site.