1st Environmental conference of Thessaly region, 8–10 September 2012, Hotel Skiathos Palace,Koukounaries, Skiathos Island,Greece

This study was conducted with the aim to assess the potential performance of a photovoltaic thermal mechanical ventilation heat recovery (PV/T MVHR) system. The device is currently considered for the application to the Z-en house project undertaken by Scottish homebuilder. The house’s whole energy demand was calibrated based on the UK Government’s standard assessment procedure for energy rating of dwellings, while the PV/T performance was estimated using an ‘EESLISM’ energy and environmental design simulation tool developed by Kogakuin University. This study concluded that PV generates heat, which makes the fresh air running under the PV roof 10–15?°C warmer than the outside temperature even during the Scottish winter and this warm air extracted from roof-integrated PV modules can be used to help reduce the domestic space-heating demand. Thus, the building-integrated PV/T MVHR system was considered as one of the effective means to assist the net zero energy operation of housing in cool and cold climates, whose dominant domestic energy comsumption derives from space heating.