Feasibility Study of Self-Sufficient Solar Cooling Façade Applications in Different Warm Regions

Small-scale systems and integrated concepts are currently being explored to promote the widespread application of solar cooling technologies in buildings. This article seeks to expand application possibilities by exploring the feasibility of solar cooling integrated façades, as decentralized self-sufficient cooling modules on different warm...

Solar façades: Main barriers for widespread façade integration of solar technologies

Solar façades: Main barriers for widespread façade integration of solar technologies

Solar energy has been actively promoted as a clean energy source since 1973’s oil crisis, evidenced by the emergence of initiatives such as the Solar Heating & Cooling Programme of the International Energy Agency or the US Department of Energy. Nonetheless, solar technologies have not been widely used in the built environment, limiting their...

Solar coolfacades: Framework for the integration of solar cooling technologies in the building envelope

Solar cooling systems have gained increased attention these last years, for its potential to lower indoor temperatures using renewable energy. However, architectural integration of these systems in buildings has not been fully explored. Current developments such as small scale solar driven heat pumps and solar cooling kits commercially available...

Solar Thermal Collector in Facades

A venetian blind, which can be located in front or in between the façade panes, is proposed to do the task of a shading system and solar thermal collector, transferring the collected heat through a thermal network, so that it can be stored and used later for solar heating and cooling purposes. It is proposed that such venetian blind is enabled...