Architectural Integration and Design of Solar Systems, a new book

© 2011 EPFL

Solar thermal systems are today the most efficient renewable choice for hot water production. In a richly illustrated book edited by PPUR, Maria Cristina Munari Probst and Christian Roecker of the Solar Energy and Buildings Physics Laboratory show that the technology can be integrated in building envelopes in both aesthetically attractive and efficient ways.

Although solar thermal systems are technologically mature and cost effective, they have not yet been sufficiently used in building design, where they should be playing a greater role in the reduction of fossil-fuel consumption. One main hindrance to adoption is the generally low architectural design quality of the building integration of these thermal systems. As confirmed by the application of photovoltaic elements in buildings, improving the architectural quality of building integrated systems leads to the adoption of a given solar technology even more than price reduction or technical advances. And in the case of solar thermal collectors, which for technical reasons have to be mounted very close to the point of consumption – i.e., on the building itself – the architectural integration issue becomes determining.

To inspire the readers and help them implement the integration guidelines given in the beginning of the book, numerous examples of architectural integration are presented as well as a systematic collection of innovative products available in the market.