Building Energy System

Abstract

There is disclosed a building energy system comprising a building enclosure having an insulated building envelope that incorporates at least one perimeter fenestration assembly, and an integrated mechanical system that provides heating and cooling. The integrated mechanical system comprises a cold thermal storage tank, a hot thermal storage tank, and a heat pump that transfers heat from the cold thermal storage tank to the hot thermal storage tank. The building enclosure also comprises an air stratified ventilation system comprising at least one upper exhaust outlet and at least one lower supply intake. The upper exhaust outlet incorporates a heat exchanger that recovers heat from outgoing air. The heat exchanger is connected to the cold thermal storage tank. Energy performance of the at least one fenestration assembly may vary or be automatically controlled such that the heating and cooling loads of the integrated mechanical system are at least partially balanced.

1 . A building energy system comprising:
 a building enclosure having an interior and exterior, and comprising:   an insulated building envelope that incorporates at least one perimeter fenestration assembly;   an integrated mechanical system that provides heating and cooling for various functions, and comprises:   a cold thermal storage tank;   a hot thermal storage tank; and   a heat pump that transfers heat from the cold thermal storage tank to the hot thermal storage tank;   an air stratified ventilation system comprising at least one upper exhaust outlet and at least one lower supply intake that connect to the exterior of the building enclosure, wherein said upper exhaust outlet incorporates a heat exchanger that recovers heat from outgoing air, and wherein said heat exchanger is connected to the cold thermal storage tank of the integrated mechanical system;   wherein energy performance of said at least one fenestration assembly may vary or be automatically controlled such that the heating and cooling loads of the integrated mechanical system are at least partially balanced.   
     
     
         2 . The building energy system of  claim 1  wherein electrical use and peak load demand are at least partially reduced. 
     
     
         3 . The building energy system of  claim 1  comprising at least one central space that is connected to said lower supply intake and one or more perimeter rooms located adjacent to said central space, wherein said one or more perimeter rooms comprises:
 one or more lower wall vents that connect to said central space; and 
 one or more upper vents connected to said upper exhaust outlet. 
 
     
     
         4 . The building energy system of  claim 3  wherein said building enclosure comprises two or more levels, and wherein said central space is continuous at least in part between said two or more levels. 
     
     
         5 . The building energy system of  claim 4  wherein said central space comprises an open staircase. 
     
     
         6 . The building energy system of  claim 3  wherein said one or more upper vents is connected to said at least one upper exhaust outlet via a duct that is separated off from said central space. 
     
     
         7 . The building energy system of  claim 3  wherein any of said one or more lower wall vents is a gap between a floor and a door wherein said gap connects said central space with one of said perimeter rooms. 
     
     
         8 . The building energy system of  claim 3  comprising at least one exhaust fan in any of said perimeter rooms for at least partially venting to the exterior of the building enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The building energy system of  claim 1  wherein said insulated building envelope comprises at least in part one or more vacuum insulation panels. 
     
     
         10 . The building energy system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one fenestration assembly comprises at least one moveable and motorized, top supported horizontal sliding insulating glass unit that at least partially overlaps a fenestration opening of said at least one fenestration assembly, and that slides into a pocket located adjacent to the fenestration opening, for varying or controlling the energy performance of said at least one fenestration assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The building energy system of  claim 10  wherein at least one moveable and motorized top supported horizontal sliding insulating glass unit is a vacuum insulating glass unit. 
     
     
         12 . The building energy system of  claim 10  comprising a conventional window on the exterior side of the fenestration opening and the moveable insulating glass unit on the interior side of the fenestration opening. 
     
     
         13 . The building energy system of  claim 10  comprising two moveable insulating glass units, wherein a double glazed insulating glass unit is located on the exterior side of the fenestration opening, and a double-glazed insulating glass unit is located on the interior side of the fenestration opening. 
     
     
         14 . The building energy system of  claim 13  comprising a Venetian blind located between the two insulating glass units. 
     
     
         15 . The building energy system of  claim 3  wherein said one or more perimeter rooms are heated or cooled by radiant heating or cooling sources. 
     
     
         16 . The building energy system of  claim 15  wherein said radiant heating or cooling sources comprise in part hydronic panels or radiators. 
     
     
         17 . The building energy system of  claim 15  comprising in each perimeter room one or more room controllers that at least partially control the radiant heating and cooling sources, an exhaust fan and said at least one fenestration assembly for maintaining comfort conditions. 
     
     
         18 . The building energy system of  claim 17  wherein the one or more room controllers are linked to a central controller that controls operation of the integrated mechanical system such that the heating and cooling loads of the integrated mechanical system are at least partially balanced. 
     
     
         19 . The building energy system of  claim 18  wherein the central controller is linked to an electrical supply grid such that the integrated mechanical system may be operated in a manner that reduces at least one of electrical use or peak load demand. 
     
     
         20 . The building energy system of  claim 1  wherein the various heating and cooling functions comprise at least one of space heating, space cooling, domestic hot water, ventilation air heat recovery, greywater heat recovery, clothes drying heat recovery, and food refrigeration. 
     
     
         21 . The building energy system of  claim 1  wherein electrical power generated from solar energy is used to operate the heat pump. 
     
     
         22 . The building energy system of  claim 1  wherein incoming air at the at least one lower supply intake is preheated or precooled using ground source heating or cooling sources. 
     
     
         23 . The building energy system of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one exhaust fan at least partially vents to the exterior of the building enclosure pollutants generated inside the building enclosure. 
     
     
         24 . The building energy system of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the solar-generated electrical power is thermally stored and later used for one or more heating and cooling functions. 
     
     
         25 . An integrated mechanical system for providing heating and cooling functions in a building energy system comprising:
 a cold thermal storage tank;   a hot thermal storage tank; and   a heat pump that transfers heat from the cold thermal storage tank to the hot thermal storage tank;   wherein said building energy system comprises:   a building enclosure having an interior and exterior, and comprising:   an insulated building envelope that incorporates at least one perimeter fenestration assembly;   the integrated mechanical system;   an air stratified ventilation system comprising at least one upper exhaust outlet and at least one lower supply intake that connect to the exterior of the building enclosure, wherein said upper exhaust outlet incorporates a heat exchanger that recovers heat from outgoing air, and wherein said heat exchanger is connected to the cold thermal storage tank of the integrated mechanical system;   wherein energy performance of said at least one fenestration assembly may vary or be automatically controlled such that the heating and cooling loads of the integrated mechanical system are at least partially balanced.   
     
     
         26 . A fenestration assembly for use in a building energy system comprising:
 at least one moveable and motorized, top supported horizontal sliding insulating glass unit that at least partially overlaps a fenestration opening of said fenestration assembly, and that slides into a pocket located adjacent to the fenestration opening, for varying or controlling the energy performance of the fenestration assembly;   wherein said building energy system comprises:   a building enclosure having an interior and exterior, and comprising:   an insulated building envelope that incorporates at least one of said fenestration assembly;   an integrated mechanical system that provides heating and cooling for various functions, and comprises:   a cold thermal storage tank;   a hot thermal storage tank; and   a heat pump that transfers heat from the cold thermal storage tank to the hot thermal storage tank;   an air stratified ventilation system comprising at least one upper exhaust outlet and at least one lower supply intake that connect to the exterior of the building enclosure, wherein said upper exhaust outlet incorporates a heat exchanger that recovers heat from outgoing air, and wherein said heat exchanger is connected to the cold thermal storage tank of the integrated mechanical system;   wherein energy performance of said at least one fenestration assembly may vary or be automatically controlled such that the heating and cooling loads of the integrated mechanical system are at least partially balanced.   
     
     
         27 . An insulated building envelope for use in a building energy system comprising:
 at least in part one or more vacuum insulation panels;
 wherein said building energy system comprises: 
 a building enclosure having an interior and exterior, and comprising: 
 an insulated building envelope that incorporates at least one fenestration assembly; 
 an integrated mechanical system that provides heating and cooling for various functions, and comprises: 
 a cold thermal storage tank; 
 a hot thermal storage tank; and 
 a heat pump that transfers heat from the cold thermal storage tank to the hot thermal storage tank; 
 an air stratified ventilation system comprising at least one upper exhaust outlet and at least one lower supply intake that connect to the exterior of the building enclosure, wherein said upper exhaust outlet incorporates a heat exchanger that recovers heat from outgoing air, and wherein said heat exchanger is connected to the cold thermal storage tank of the integrated mechanical system; 
 wherein energy performance of said at least one fenestration assembly may vary or be automatically controlled such that the heating and cooling loads of the integrated mechanical system are at least partially balanced. 
   
     
     
         28 . A central controller for use in a building energy system wherein:
 said central controller controls operation of an integrated mechanical system and is linked to an electrical supply grid such that the integrated mechanical system may be operated in a manner that reduces at least one of electrical use or peak load demand; and
 said building energy system comprises: 
 a building enclosure having an interior and exterior, and comprising: 
 an insulated building envelope that incorporates at least one fenestration assembly; 
 the integrated mechanical system that provides heating and cooling for various functions, and comprises: 
 a cold thermal storage tank; 
 a hot thermal storage tank; and 
 a heat pump that transfers heat from the cold thermal storage tank to the hot thermal storage tank; 
 an air stratified ventilation system comprising at least one upper exhaust outlet and at least one lower supply intake that connect to the exterior of the building enclosure, wherein said upper exhaust outlet incorporates a heat exchanger that recovers heat from outgoing air, and wherein said heat exchanger is connected to the cold thermal storage tank of the integrated mechanical system; 
 wherein energy performance of said at least one fenestration assembly may vary or be automatically controlled such that the heating and cooling loads of the integrated mechanical system are at least partially balanced. 
   
     
     
         29 . The central controller of  claim 28  wherein the central controller is linked to an electrical supply grid such that the integrated mechanical system may be operated in a manner that reduces at least one of electrical use or peak load demand.