1. SUSTAINABLE SMALL HOUSE
Ambient Energy for Buildings: Beyond Energy Efficiency July 12-13, 2023
Dr. Bing Chen (University of Nebraska)

2. SUSTAINABLE SMALL HOUSE (SSH): Omaha
campus University of Nebraska fall 2022

3. SSH CONCEPTION AND EARLY DESIGN
▪ Design an ADA Compliant Studio Sized 400 SF Space with Smart
Building Attributes to Improve Inhabitant Safety
▪ Reduce Carbon Footprint by Utilizing PV panels, passive solar
energy and super insulation
▪ Develop a roof rain water collection system into a buried cistern
that reduces dependence on community drinking supplies that
delivers safe and pure drinking water
▪ SSH should be Manufacturable,Customizable and Deliverable
(hence reusable when no longer needed)
▪ Primary application is as an Accessory Dwelling Unit where
permitted by zoning ordinances or in a Cluster Group

4. EARLY WORK: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE (1976)
▪ Visit to LASL’s J. Douglas Balcomb
▪ Plans to LASL test buildings were
used to build an initial 4 test
buildings 1976
▪ Early validation that LASL
predictions held true for a “real”
northern climate
▪ By 1983 Omaha had 14 test
buildings including a modified roof
pond and earth covered test cell.
▪ Path to Passive written by Passive
Solar Research Group 1981

6. SUSTAINABLE SMALL HOUSE (SSH) CONCEPT IS CONCEIVED
IN 2016 TO BUILD,TEST AND DEMONSTRATE A SUSTAINABLE
SMALL HOUSE IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA
▪ Passive Solar Research Group (PSRG) is
a multi campus, multi university
collaboration of faculty and students to
promote renewable energy with
technical advising from NREL.
▪ UNO School of Gerontology,Chemistry
and Biology Departments are new
members of the PSRG
▪ SSH is to be ADA compliant, NET zero,
Water Conserving (rain water) and
Manufacturable incorporating Smart
Building technologies,aka a “Granny
Pod on Steroids”

7. SSH DESIGN SKETCH and FLOORPLAN LAYOUT

8. SSH – Bath

9. SSH BEING MANUFACTURED AT A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE 2020 – 2022 under Covid restrictions
February 15, 2021
March 27th 2021 preparing for PV roof
installation

10. SSH being rollered onto the foundation 2022

11. SSH basement with 1725 gallon cistern and SE profile at UNO
with 31.5” average annual rainfall in Omaha this will produce near 15K gallons of water and with water conservation measures
in place the average 100 gallon/person/day rate could be reduced to 25 gpd and can supply annual needs for two people

12. SSH – PV Electrical
Off Grid Capable
▪ PV specifications:
▪ 14Trina PV Panels (~295W/ea.)
▪ 36 A plus roof embedded
panels
▪ LG Chem RESU Solar Battery
(Nine+ kWh)
▪ Sol Ark 12 kW and Solar Edge
8 kW inverters
▪ 20 kWh AGM battery
▪ Cummins 10 kW back up
generator

13. SSH BUILDING PREDICTED PERFORMANCE from Path to Passive by Solar EnergyAssociates 1981
▪ 70 SF of Direct Gain Passive Solar Energy
Harvesting on a 400 SF Living Space (155 SF utility
space).for 555 SF total area
▪ Omaha heating degree days: 6049
▪ Design Heat Load: 5.6 kbtuh (0.1 ACH)
▪ Building Load Coefficient: 1746 btu/DD
▪ Solar Savings Fraction: 30% direct gain
▪ Thermal Integrity Factor:TIF = 1.33 btu/DD/SF
▪ Super Insulation (R 50 walls and R 100 roof)
▪ R7 and R10 Alpen windows and SEEMRAY R 7 ADA
compliant sliding glass door
▪ R 7 Insulated Door (courtesy AlpenWindows)
▪ Insulated basement and subgrade walls

14. SSHWITH ENERGY EFFICIENT HVAC AND DHW
HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
CARRIER DUCTLESS Mini Split 9,000
Btuh “Infinity” heat pump (42 SEER)
RHEEM HEAT PUMP “PLATINUM”40 gallon HOT
WATER HEATER (3 COP) with PREHEATTank

15. EV SL 70L –
Renewaire
ERV Energy
Recovery
Ventilator -
•Typical Airflow Range: 51 - 76
cfm
OA Filter(s):Total Qty: 1, Merv 8:
spun polyester media, 7 1/2" x 10
1/2" x 1"
RA Filter(s):Total Qty: 1, Merv 8:
spun polyester media, 7 1/2" x 10
1/2" x 1"
Unit Dimensions & Weight:27 1/4" L
x 20 3/8" W x 9 1/2" H, 32 lbs.

16. ADA FEATURES (SOME EXAMPLES): COMPATIBLE KITCHEN SINKS and
PULL DOWN RACKS (WithVoice Activated Doors, Blinds, Showers)

17. SSH DEMONSTRATION PROJECT GOALS
▪ NET ZERO with 12 kW PV arrays and 30 kWh
battery storage coupled to direct gain passive
solar heating and super insulation for cold
weather climates.
▪ WATER ZERO with RoofWater Collection into a
1725 gallon cistern that is earth tempered.
▪ CARBON ZERO (SSH will be off grid)
▪ AGRIVOLTAICVICTORYGARDEN
▪ XERISCAPE Landscape to MINIMIZEWATER
AND FERTILIZER USAGE common to LAWNS
▪ Note theTraneTrace Simulation diagram on the
right for a typical January day to harvest sunny
day solar for night time use from Rheem hot
heat pump tank (courtesy GraysonArnold ECE
team capstone project 2023)

18. SSHTESTINGAND FUTURE PROJECTS
▪ Monitor building thermal performance beginning winter 2023-24
▪ Begin roof water collection system and initiate contaminant monitoring for PV and roof
coating materials leaching into the cistern as well as atmospheric contaminants and evaluate
effectiveness of biological and PFA/microplastics mitigation filters.
▪ Test Fall and Call devices and develop a radar driven system by ECE capstone team (2023-
24). Add to the Smart Building inventory (automated shades, voice activated shower and
door).
▪ Test the radiant ceiling panel capstone project that harvests excess passive solar gain and
stores the heat in a preheat tank to the Rheem hot water heat pump.
▪ Evaluate performance of RenewAire ERV system and ability to detect trace gases from SSH
building materials, carpets and cooking and monitor IAQ.
▪ Agrivoltaics coupled to raised bed “Victory Garden” capstone project (2024-25)

19. MEETING IEA 2050 STANDARDS and Enhancing Senior Quality of
Life Benefits with the SSH
▪ WITH 70 MILLION SENIORS BY 2030 a small homes with the SSH profile can
save 7.5 tons of CARBON Dioxide (EPA); each million SSH structures will save 7.5
mega tons.
▪ Residential sector of fossil fuel consumption could be impacted by the senior
marketplace. This could be a way for seniors to leave a legacy to their children
and their families to combat global climate change. Adopting SSH energy
conserving attributes significantly reduces residential carbon impact.
▪ An SSH mated to the existing home of a family member could reduce the energy
and water consumption footprint of both buildings to affect a larger number of
residential buildings.
▪ Quality of Life enhancement for seniors wishing to live in closer proximity to
loved ones coupled with smart building technology.

20. QUESTIONS
AND
DISCUSSION?
SSH (University of Nebraska at
Omaha Center Street campus
June 2023