Tools and methods used by architects for solar design

Kanters, Jouri; Horvat, Miljana; Dubois, Marie-Claude

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.05.031

Cited by 75 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…This commercial demand has led into the development of many PV analysis and planning software packages, mainly designed to be used for the composing of technical and economical essays by the PV installers and architects, especially during the initial design phases of a project [16]. Despite the vast growth of PV installations and the evergrowing number of available commercial software for their simulation and economic assessment, there has been little to no research regarding the calculative accuracy of commercial PV simulation software packages.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accuracy analysis of software for the estimation and planning of photovoltaic installations

Axaopoulos

Fylladitakis

Gkarakis

2014

Int J Energy Environ Eng

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As the use of photovoltaics expands, with more and more commercial and residential users investing on solar energy systems around the globe, there is substantial demand for relatively simple, easy-to-use software packages, for the planning and performance estimation of photovoltaic installations by installers and architects. In this paper, the calculative accuracy of TRNSYS, Archelios, Polysun, PVSyst, PV*SOL and PVGIS is being examined in comparison to the real electrical energy generated by a grid-connected 19.8 kW p photovoltaic installation. The assessment has been performed by using the climatic data which have been recorded at the site of the real PV park over the same calendar year. Our results displayed that the software packages tend to overestimate the global irradiation received by the PV modules, but still significantly underestimate the electrical energy generated by the installation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accuracy analysis of software for the estimation and planning of photovoltaic installations

Axaopoulos

Fylladitakis

Gkarakis

2014

Int J Energy Environ Eng

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“…According to the American institute of architects AIA [2007], this design approach leads to optimized project results and increased worth to the owner. However, the needed collaboration in the early design phase is not easy for the architects as engineers 'speak another language', which are often 'too specialized', and they are often 'not willing to compromise on certain issues' [Kanters et al 2014].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodological Start-Up of Student Design Projects: Effects of a Systematic Approach

Zeiler¹

2017

ICERI Proceedings

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In connection with the Integral design research project for professional in the Dutch building industry, an educational project was developed, the multidisciplinary master project Integral Design. The concept of the integral design workshop for professionals was implemented within the start-up workshop of our masters' project. The frame work of the approach will be described as well as the positive effect on the collaboration between the design team members as result of the morphological approach of the Integral Design method. During the start-up workshop professionals participated in the student's design teams and this specific intervention within the design process has been investigated.

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“…Hybrid concepts that emerge out of this integration will be the logical path for improving existing simulation tools' features and user satisfaction resulting in better and more sustainable building designs. In order to understand the relationship between solar and architectural design, the same task conducted international survey [19] [18]. This survey showed that currently available software and digital tools are not well adapted to deal with the solar strategies including BIPV simulation and more effort is needed to design new or improve existing tools.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, the most related state-of-the-art review is carried out within the IEA SHC Task 41 -Solar Energy and Architecture [17] [18] [19]. It was definitely the most comprehensive review done so far, with extensive descriptions for many software tools regarding solar architectural design that includes daylighting, visualisation, BIPV and 3D modelling tools.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

State-of-the-art review of solar design tools and methods for assessing daylighting and solar potential for building-integrated photovoltaics

Jakica

2018

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

129

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Solar design can take many different forms across disciplines with different methodologies and goals, ranging from acquiring architectural visual effects to assessing illumination for daylighting and solar radiation potential on building surfaces for PV implementation. Furthermore, a capability of solar design methodologies and tools to accurately and time efficiently simulate light phenomena can greatly influence performance results and design decisions. This is especially important in complex cases such as dense urban settings with the significant surface shadowing, and vertical facades including daylighting devices and photovoltaics. Consequently, choosing a suitable approach and tool for each design phase is essential for achieving unique design and performance goals. This paper was carried out within the framework of IEA-PVPS Task 15 -BIPV and it aims to facilitate this decision for all parties involved in solar design process. Here presented, is an overview of almost 200 solar design tools, analyzing their numerous features regarding accuracy, complexity, scale, computation speed, representation as well as building design process integration in about 50 2D/3D, CAD/CAM and BIM software environments. Furthermore, tools from various fields have been analysed in a broad interdisciplinary context of solar design with a particular attention for being used for Daylighting and Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) purposes. This approach should open many new perspectives on a potentially wider multidisciplinary usage and interpretation of solar design tools, sometimes well beyond their initial scope of work.

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Tools and methods used by architects for solar design

Cited by 75 publications

References 17 publications

Accuracy analysis of software for the estimation and planning of photovoltaic installations

Accuracy analysis of software for the estimation and planning of photovoltaic installations

Methodological Start-Up of Student Design Projects: Effects of a Systematic Approach

State-of-the-art review of solar design tools and methods for assessing daylighting and solar potential for building-integrated photovoltaics

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