This document discusses the architectural integration of active solar energy systems into buildings. It begins with background on the need to utilize solar energy as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The document then outlines that its goal is to provide knowledge on integrating active solar technologies, like solar thermal and photovoltaics, into building envelopes. It is intended for architects and manufacturers. The document is divided into three parts. Part one provides information on solar energy types and active solar technologies. Part two gives recommendations to architects on criteria for integration. Part three makes recommendations to manufacturers on improving product integration. The overall aim is to increase the quality and flexibility of integrating active solar into buildings.

1. ARCHITECTURAL
INTEGRATION OF SOLAR
ENERGY
Integration of
Active Solar
Systems into
building’s
Envelope

2. Title: Architectural Integration of Solar Energy
Sub Title: Integration of Active Solar Systems into Building Envelope
Key Words: Sustainable Architecture, Active solar systems, architectural integration, solar thermal,
photovoltaic, solar products, Innovative products, building integrality, integration
Background:
The growing concerns for our environment, harmful impact of fossil fuels, increasing demand of
electricity, high price of oil are some of several factors that forcing us towards the uses of alternative
energy sources. Among all of renewable energy sources, solar energy is the most sustainable alternative
option that can be utilized in various ways and can be used for many applications including building’s
energy needs. Solar energy replaces conventional fuels in two distinct areas for the buildings: Electricity
generation and Hot Water (DHW). And the Energy efficiency of a building is the most important goal of
Sustainable Architecture.
Abstract:
According to EU EPDB (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) 2010, the goal in the next 10 years is:
net Zero –energy buildings (NZEB), means a very significant amount of energy in Zero Energy Buildings
or in Nearly Zero Energy Buildings has to be covered from renewable’s energy.
This very research shows that in all renewable energy resources, only the sun can meet all the building’s
energy demand and reduce our exposure to global warming impacts.
Lack of integration knowledge and lack of solar product integrative features are still the today’s major
barrier of wide spread of active solar energy use in the buildings. There is a need for architects and solar
product manufacturers to complete the competencies in this field.
The present research is conceived for architects /product manufacturer and made as practical as
possible by summarizing the knowledge that is needed to integrate the active solar technologies into the
buildings. At the same time, architectural integration issues and energy production requirements have
also been discussed.
The research contains three major parts following by a short background about need of solar energy use
in the buildings and explores the problems behind the limited use of solar energy in the Netherlands.
Part 1. (Chapter 1)
The chapter 2 - gives the outline of the prior knowledge of solar energy types that can be utilized in the
buildings.
Chapter 3 - contains the information of active solar technologies , the types of technologies ( solar
thermal and photovoltaic) , technology working principles, available sub-technologies, related basic
collector components, suitable application of energy – basic information about the efficiency and
performance of the systems , system sizing and positioning criteria, area and solar radiation availability,
solar fraction and storage issues , energy yield etc.

3. Chapter 4 - discusses about the integration of active solar energy issues – the quality of integration ¬–
constructive/ functional integration possibilities into building envelope. Solar thermal and photovoltaic
are treated differently because one technology produces heat and other electricity, with very different
way of transportation and that leads to different constrains and different integration possibilities.
The Second Part – proposing integration recommendations to architects –based on integration criteria –
supported with best examples in both technologies (A) Solar thermal-(B) Photovoltaic (Manual part 1)
The Third part - proposing integration recommendations to manufacturers to improve the integer-
ability of the products and systems – supporting with the examples of improved and innovative
available products, in both technologies (A )Solar thermal-(B) Photovoltaic.( Manual part 3)
The 2nd
part and 3rd
parts provide the possible practical ways –leading to the high quality outcomes of
active solar energy integration (into the envelope) - the good examples of integration offer the formal
(aesthetic) flexibility of the available and innovative products,- general design freedom and an optimized
use of sun exposed surfaces of the buildings.