Florida State University
IN-4: Innovation 4

The Off-Grid Zero Emissions Building (OGZEB) can be categorized broadly under “Sustainable Housing”, terminology that incorporates design principles that combine environmental, economic and societal consciousness, thus ensuring the longevity of not only the house but the environment in which the house resides. The design of the OGZEB was guided by a sustainable development framework developed by Parris and Kates. A sustainable development framework was chosen based on a realization that energy concerns and environmental concerns go hand in hand. The OGZEB is a 1064 square foot building that is split into an 800 square foot graduate style flat and 264 square feet of offices. The building is a living laboratory that is operating 24 hours a day. All the energy in the building whether converted by geothermal, solar thermal panels, or photovoltaic panels is monitored and recorded. All electrical use is also recorded down to individual circuits in the house. This will allow research into new cutting edge technologies. Research at the OGZEB is ongoing as new technologies are implemented and tested. The most recent research involved the integration of solar thermal with the HVAC system. The house not only provides a test bed for the system but also the data required to determine its effects on the system and overall efficiency. Current data shows promising results.