Application of Photovoltaic Panels for High Rise Buildings
How practical would it be to incorporate photovoltaic panels into a curtain wall system for application on a high rise building in Kamloops BC? This question will be explored by determining the environmental benefits, economic costs, and physical viability.
The world is beginning to move towards a sustainable “green” lifestyle and is becoming more aware of the impacts of day-to-day activities on the environment. People are now beginning to drive less and take public transit more; cities are incorporating better recycling strategies into their waste management programs; and, energy efficient appliances are becoming more common. With this trend towards becoming more environmentally friendly, building footprints are becoming smaller, resulting in increased density and taller buildings. In an effort to recognize these trends and plan for the future, this report explores the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels to provide energy for a high rise building in Kamloops BC.
Solar energy is starting to become a viable energy source to supplement the world’s demands. Currently, Canada relies heavily on electricity produced from hydro dams, as shown in figure 1. Hardly any energy is produced by solar, wind or tidal energy sources. Solar energy has potential to become a main provider of “clean energy” due to the relatively low environmental impacts. This report will compare the carbon footprint of solar energy to that of mainstream energy generation techniques such as hydro dams and nuclear reactors. This information will be collected or determined and illustrated through the use of tables and graphs.
Developers are often reluctant to invest in technology with high risk margins. With the current economic climate, the economic benefits for installation of PV panels for this application must be proven. In this case, the extra cost of the PV panels is offset by removing the regular spandrel glass. Estimates will be obtained from the curtain wall manufacturer and the photovoltaic supplier to determine the cost difference. These values will be combined with other calculated costs, such as electricians and extra labor time, to provide an estimate for the overall cost.
With every new technology there is a need for new techniques and methods for application. By investigating current methods of placing photovoltaic panels, as well as methods used to insert the spandrel glass into curtain wall systems, recommendations for the best way to incorporate the two together will be made. One method of placing the PV panel in the curtain wall system is by simply replacing the spandrel glass with the PV panel. This method is expected to be the most efficient way because the insulation behind the panel is not exposed and the least modification to the existing system is required. Other methods, such as placing the PV panel on an angle to the building, will be investigated and wall details will be produced.
With the demand for energy increasing, as shown in figure 2, combined with resources becoming more limited, energy costs will likely rise. Figure 3 shows the cost of hydro electricity, one of the primary energy sources in British Columbia, continuously rising. Eventually there will come a point where energy costs will surpass the cost of incorporating PV panels. The report is expected to conclude that PV panels can be physically placed into a curtain wall system, but financial feasibility will likely be the determining factor for this application to be considered practical.
The world is beginning to move towards a sustainable “green” lifestyle and is becoming more aware of the impacts of day-to-day activities on the environment. People are now beginning to drive less and take public transit more; cities are incorporating better recycling strategies into their waste management programs; and, energy efficient appliances are becoming more common. With this trend towards becoming more environmentally friendly, building footprints are becoming smaller, resulting in increased density and taller buildings. In an effort to recognize these trends and plan for the future, this report explores the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels to provide energy for a high rise building in Kamloops BC.
Solar energy is starting to become a viable energy source to supplement the world’s demands. Currently, Canada relies heavily on electricity produced from hydro dams, as shown in figure 1. Hardly any energy is produced by solar, wind or tidal energy sources. Solar energy has potential to become a main provider of “clean energy” due to the relatively low environmental impacts. This report will compare the carbon footprint of solar energy to that of mainstream energy generation techniques such as hydro dams and nuclear reactors. This information will be collected or determined and illustrated through the use of tables and graphs.
Developers are often reluctant to invest in technology with high risk margins. With the current economic climate, the economic benefits for installation of PV panels for this application must be proven. In this case, the extra cost of the PV panels is offset by removing the regular spandrel glass. Estimates will be obtained from the curtain wall manufacturer and the photovoltaic supplier to determine the cost difference. These values will be combined with other calculated costs, such as electricians and extra labor time, to provide an estimate for the overall cost.
With every new technology there is a need for new techniques and methods for application. By investigating current methods of placing photovoltaic panels, as well as methods used to insert the spandrel glass into curtain wall systems, recommendations for the best way to incorporate the two together will be made. One method of placing the PV panel in the curtain wall system is by simply replacing the spandrel glass with the PV panel. This method is expected to be the most efficient way because the insulation behind the panel is not exposed and the least modification to the existing system is required. Other methods, such as placing the PV panel on an angle to the building, will be investigated and wall details will be produced.
With the demand for energy increasing, as shown in figure 2, combined with resources becoming more limited, energy costs will likely rise. Figure 3 shows the cost of hydro electricity, one of the primary energy sources in British Columbia, continuously rising. Eventually there will come a point where energy costs will surpass the cost of incorporating PV panels. The report is expected to conclude that PV panels can be physically placed into a curtain wall system, but financial feasibility will likely be the determining factor for this application to be considered practical.
Figure 1: Based on data from Stats Canada
Figure 2: Based on data from Stats Canada
Figure 3: Based on information provided from BC Hydro’s 2 Step Program
Academic References:
Anderson, Bruce (1990). Solar Building Architecture. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
British Columbia Building Code, 2006.
Glass and Metal Curtain Walls (2004). Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Hastings, Robert, & Well, Maria (2007). Sustainable Solar Housing Strategies and Solutions. Sterling Virginia: Earthscan.
Jarmul, Seymour (1980). The Architect's Guide to Energy Conservation - Realistic Energy Planning for Buildings. USA: Mc-Graw-Hill Inc.
Patel, Mukund R. (2006). Wind and Solar Power Systems. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press
Ross, Michael & Royer, Jimmy (1999). Photovoltaics in Cold Climates. London UK: James & James Ltd.
Smith, Peter F. (2007). Sustainability at the Cutting Edge. Burlington, Ma: Architectural Press.
Smith, Ronald C. & Andres, Cameron K. (1986). Principles and Practices of Heavy Construction.
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Williams, Daniel E. (2007). Sustainable Design - Ecology, Architecture, and Planning. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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