Solar Buildings and Neighborhoods: Design Considerations for High Energy Performance (Green Energy and Technology)

This book presents the main principles for designing buildings and neighborhoods with increased potential to capture and utilize solar energy. It discusses practical issues in the design of the built environment and their impact on energy performance; and a range of design considerations, from building components (e.g. the building envelope) to urban planning issues (e.g. density and street layouts). In addition to design guidelines on how to increase buildings’ potential to capture solar energy, the book provides creative tips to increase the aesthetic value of solar technology integration in buildings. Helping readers plan energy-efficient buildings with innovative building envelope technologies, and to understand the impact of early-stage design considerations on the energy performance of buildings and communities, the book offers a valuable source of information for building professionals, including architects, engineers, and urban planners. It can also serve as a reference guide for academics and students of energy efficiency in buildings and urban planning. Preface 7 Contents 11 Abbreviations 15 List of Figures 17 1 Principles of Solar Design 25 1.1 Solar Energy: Brief Historical Overview 25 1.1.1 Examples from Ancient History 25 1.1.2 Examples in Modern History 27 1.2 Solar Energy Utilization 28 1.2.1 Solar Energy and the Built Environment 28 1.2.2 Passive Solar Energy Design 30 1.3 Selected Applications 34 1.3.1 Passive Heating 34 1.3.2 Passive Cooling 38 1.3.3 Daylighting 43 1.4 Building Design and Its Impact 45 1.4.1 Building Site Setting 45 1.4.2 Building Shape 46 1.4.3 Building Envelope 47 1.4.4 Passive Design in Commercial and Larger Buildings 49 References 49 2 Introduction to Building Envelope 52 2.1 Building Envelope Characteristics 52 2.1.1 Function and Performance 53 2.1.2 Trends in Building Envelope 55 2.2 Overview of Building Envelope Heat Transfer 58 2.2.1 Heat Loss and Gain Through Building Envelope 58 2.2.2 Solar Radiation and Heat Transfer 60 2.3 High Energy Performance: Main Considerations 61 2.3.1 Overview 61 2.3.2 Thermal Insulation 62 2.3.3 Windows 63 2.3.4 Thermal Bridging, and Air Infiltration 75 2.4 Building Envelope Integrated Passive Systems 77 2.4.1 Thermal Mass 77 2.4.2 Ventilated Concrete Slab 84 2.4.3 Advanced Insulation Materials 85 References 86 3 Selected High-Performance Building Envelopes 89 3.1 Low-Rise Building Envelope Systems 89 3.1.1 Double-Stud Wall 89 3.1.2 Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) 92 3.1.3 ICF Construction 95 3.2 Multistory Buildings 100 3.2.1 Double-Skin Facade 100 3.2.2 Climate Responsive Building Envelopes 109 3.2.3 Modularity and Multifunctionality 118 References 120 4 Active Solar Technologies 123 4.1 Introduction to Active Solar Systems 123 4.1.1 Thermal and Electrical Systems 124 4.1.2 Active Daylighting Systems 125 4.2 Photovoltaic Systems in Buildings 126 4.2.1 Basics of Photovoltaics and Methods of Operation 127 4.2.2 Applications of PV Technologies 134 4.2.3 Integration of PV in the Building Envelope 137 4.3 Solar Thermal Collectors (STC) 144 4.3.1 Air-Based Collector Systems 144 4.3.2 Water-Based Collectors 146 4.3.3 Integration of STC in Buildings 150 References 152 5 Advanced Solar Envelope Design 155 5.1 Simple and Advanced Roof Design 155 5.1.1 Basic Surface Parameters and Their Effect 155 5.1.2 Design of Solar Optimized Roofs 158 5.1.3 Roof Applied BIPV/T System 165 5.2 Advanced Facades for Multistorey Buildings 166 5.2.1 Flat Facades 168 5.2.2 Multifaceted Facade Design 171 5.2.3 Performance of Multifaceted Facades 173 5.3 Impact of Building Layout 178 5.3.1 Low Rise, Small Buildings 178 5.3.2 High-Rise Multistorey Buildings 182 5.3.3 Applications to Architecture 186 References 188 6 Introduction to Solar Neighborhoods 189 6.1 Energy and Neighborhoods 189 6.1.1 Neighborhood Characteristics 190 6.1.2 Neighborhood-Scale Energy 190 6.2 Solar Neighborhoods 197 6.2.1 Impact of Urban Design 197 6.2.2 Advanced Neighborhoods 202 6.3 Simulation of Neighborhood Performance 206 6.3.1 Solar Potential in Urban Areas 208 6.3.2 Energy Performance 209 References 210 7 Residential, Low-Density Neighborhoods 215 7.1 Parameters of Solar Energy Access 215 7.1.1 Urban Characteristics of the Selected Examples 216 7.1.2 Housing Units’ Shapes 217 7.2 Main Parameters and Their Impact 219 7.2.1 Shading Effects 219 7.2.2 Site Layout 221 7.2.3 Density 227 7.2.4 Evaluation of Energy Balance of Neighborhoods 233 7.3 Design Guidelines 236 7.3.1 Design Considerations 236 7.3.2 Solar Neighborhood Design Methodology 244 References 249 8 Mixed-Use Solar Neighborhoods 250 8.1 Introduction to Mixed-Use Neighborhoods 250 8.1.1 Overview of Mixed-Use 250 8.1.2 Benefits and Challenges 253 8.2 Solar Access and Energy Performance 254 8.2.1 Density 255 8.2.2 Neighborhood Shape Effect 257 8.2.3 Energy Performance 257 8.3 Active Solar Energy Collection 261 8.3.1 Thermal Energy Potential 261 8.3.2 PV Potential 263 8.3.3 Integration of PV and Thermal Collection in a Neighborhood 266 8.4 Building Type Mixture 271 8.4.1 Summary of the Investigation 272 8.4.2 Main Observations 274 8.5 Miscellaneous Impacts of Neighborhood Design 275 8.5.1 Impact of Land Use on Energy and Transport 277 8.5.2 Impact of Mixed-Use Design on Resilience 279 References 283 Front Matter ....Pages i-xxiv Principles of Solar Design (Caroline Hachem-Vermette)....Pages 1-27 Introduction to Building Envelope (Caroline Hachem-Vermette)....Pages 29-65 Selected High-Performance Building Envelopes (Caroline Hachem-Vermette)....Pages 67-100 Active Solar Technologies (Caroline Hachem-Vermette)....Pages 101-132 Advanced Solar Envelope Design (Caroline Hachem-Vermette)....Pages 133-166 Introduction to Solar Neighborhoods (Caroline Hachem-Vermette)....Pages 167-192 Residential, Low-Density Neighborhoods (Caroline Hachem-Vermette)....Pages 193-227 Mixed-Use Solar Neighborhoods (Caroline Hachem-Vermette)....Pages 229-264