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The application of a photovoltaic (PV) system for zero energy buildings is crucial to balance energy consumption. This paper investigated the potential of PV systems for buildings in different climate zones of China. The tilt angle, orientation, plot ratio, PV conversion efficiency and location were selected to study their influences on electricity production. The performance of the PV system was analyzed based on a residential building, and employed RETScreen in combination with TRNSYS. The results indicate that southwest China is the best place to develop zero energy buildings. Low-rise residential buildings can realize zero energy in China when the PV conversion efficiency is higher than 20%. However, an energy balance only occurs in the southwest when the PV conversion efficiency is 10%. For different building heights, with a high conversion efficiency (20%), the energy consumptions rates are less than 15 kW h/m2a all over China. In the southeast, the effect of the building shape on energy generation can be ignored due to the high solar elevation angle in the summer. Although the optimal tilt angle varies for different cities, the energy deviations are less than 10% when tilt angle is within 10° of the optimal angle. This study proposed a formula to evaluate the potential of a building PV system. The maximum difference between the simulated and calculated results is approximately 10%, which is reasonable and acceptable. This paper provides some references for the application of PV systems in zero energy buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This research experiment is the first study to provide detailed insights into resource use by guests staying in self-contained B&B style accommodation. Self-contained accommodation is a neglected yet important sub-industry in the hospitality sector, as it represents the largest and fastest growing share of accommodation providers in many regions. The study provides valuable data from a smart metering system, collecting data every minute over four seasons and indicates sustainable consumption opportunities using renewable energy, guest behaviour change and eco-conservation. Our results reveal that guests, when exposed to sustainability advice and communication (i.e. Intervention Group), saved 27% electricity, 22% gas, 22% water and 10% firewood. Differences between Intervention and Control Groups were also observed in terms of daily peak consumption and seasonal patterns. There are further saving opportunities, but findings also highlight social practice complexities to navigate guests' individual thermal comfort knowledge and daily routines. Transitions can be achieved through advanced smart services for direct and indirect customer feedback and host training. This paper is the first to detail findings from smart meter monitoring using high resolution at tourist accommodation, providing new insights into social practices and analysis of water energy nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]