| The Off-Grid Zero Emissions Building (OGZEB), a project undertaken by the Energy and Sustainability Center (ESC) at Florida State University, was designed, constructed and operates as a completely solar-powered building that achieves LEED-NC (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design-New Construction) platinum certification. The 1064 square foot building is partitioned such that 800 square feet is a two bedroom, graduate student style flat with the remaining 264 square feet serving as office space. This arrangement allows the building to serve as an energy efficient model for campus designers in student living and office space.
The building also serves as a prototype for developing and implementing cutting edge, alternative energy technologies in both residential and commercial settings. For example, hydrogen is used extensively in meeting the energy needs of the OGZEB. In lieu of high efficiency batteries, the excess electricity produced by the building’s photovoltaic (PV) panels is used to generate hydrogen via water electrolysis for long term energy storage. The hydrogen is stored on-site until needed for either generating electricity in a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack or combusted in natural gas appliances that have been modified for hydrogen use. Although commercial variants already exist, a highly efficient water electrolysis device and innovative PEM fuel cell are currently under development at SESEC and both will be implemented in the OGZEB. The use of hydrogen in modified natural gas appliances, such as an on-demand hot water heater and cook top, is unique to the OGZEB. Figure 1 shows the Final Power Systems Design. Figure 2 shows a picture of building.
The faculty for OGZEB include Eminent Scholar and Director Dr. Anjane'yulu' Krothapalli, Associate Director Dr. Brent Greska, Dr. Juan Ordonez, Dr. Ralph Dougherty , and Dr. Jose Vargas from the Universidade Federal de Parana, Brazil. The staff includes Robert Avant and Justin Kramer
Figure 1: Final Power System Design of OGZEB
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