Innovative Solar Products for Architectural Integration: A Joint Task 41 and Task 51 IEA Website
Abstract
Despite all the available solar technologies, solar energy systems are still not used enough in cities today. Two IEA SHCP projects, “Task 41: Solar Energy and Architecture” and Task 51 “Solar Energy in Urban Planning”, were initiated to face and help overcome the various barriers slowing down the spread of active solar technologies in architecture (mainly photovoltaics and solar thermal). One of the main barriers is the low number of products conceived for building integration, and the related lack of knowledge among building professionals. A website has been set up in order to address these issues by presenting on one hand the innovative solar products available on the market today and, on the other hand, the information needed to optimally integrate them in the architecture of a building. The design of the website has been conceived to be ergonomic and attractive to architects and their clients, and is structured around the three main active solar technologies: photovoltaics, solar thermal and hybrid systems. By choosing a specific technology and integration approach (roof, façade, balcony…) the user gets access to a selection of appropriate products, presented in the form of synthetic A4 sheets. These sheets include architect oriented information, contact details and pictures, both on the product alone and situation examples in buildings. The website is completed by a set of architects’ oriented documents on the specificities of the different technologies, available for download in the related sections
Keywords
Solar energy, Architecture, Integration, Product, Website, Integrability