This book focuses on solar energy conversion systems that can be implemented in the built environment, at building or at community level. The quest for developing a sustainable built environment asks for specific solutions to provide clean energy based on renewable sources, and solar energy is considered one of the cleanest available energy on Earth. The specific issues raised by the implementation location are discussed, including the climatic profile distorted by the buildings, the available surface on the buildings for implementation, etc. This book also discusses the seasonal and diurnal variability of the solar energy resource in parallel with the variability of the electrical and thermal energy demand in the built environment (particularly focusing on the residential buildings). Solutions are proposed to match these variabilities, including the development of energy mixes with other renewables (e.g. geothermal or biomass, for thermal energy production). Specific solutions, including case studies of systems implemented on buildings all over the world, are presented and analyzed for electrical and for thermal energy production and the main differences in the systems design are outlined. The conversion efficiency (thus the output) and the main causes of energy losses are considered in both cases. The architectural constraints are additionally considered and novel solar energy convertors with different shapes and colors are presented and discussed. The durability of the solar energy conversion systems is analyzed considering the specific issues that occur when these systems are implemented in the built environment; based on practical examples, general conclusions are formulated and specific aspects are discussed in relation to experimental results and literature data. With renewables implemented in the built environment likely to expand in the near future, this book represents welcome and timely material for all professionals and researchers that are aiming to provide efficient and feasible solutions for the sustainable built environment.

This book presents novel findings concerning the systems, materials and processes used in solar energy conversion in communities. It begins with the core resource – solar radiation – and discusses the restrictions on the wide-scale implementation of conversion systems imposed by the built environment, as well as potential solutions. The book also describes efficient solar energy conversion in detail, focusing on heat and electricity production in communities and water reuse. Lastly, it analyzes the concept of sustainable communities, presenting examples from around the globe, along with novel approaches to improving their feasibility and affordability. Though chiefly intended for professionals working in the field of sustainability at the community level, the book will also be of interest to researchers, academics and doctoral students.

Solar energy conversion requires a different mind-set from traditional energy engineering in order to assess distribution, scales of use, systems design, predictive economic models for fluctuating solar resources, and planning to address transient cycles and social adoption. Solar Energy Conversion Systems examines solar energy conversion as an integrative design process, applying systems thinking methods to a solid knowledge base for creators of solar energy systems. This approach permits different levels of access for the emerging broad audience of scientists, engineers, architects, planners, and economists. Traditional texts in solar energy engineering have often emerged from mechanical or chemical engineering fields. Instead, Solar Energy Conversion Systems approaches solar energy conversion from the perspectives of integrative design, environmental technology, sustainability science, and materials science in the wake of amazing new thin films, polymers, and glasses developed by the optoelectronics and semiconductor industries. This is a new solar text for the new generation of green job designers and developers. It’s highlighted with vignettes that break down solar conversion into useful stories and provides common points of reference, as well as techniques, for effective estimation of evolving technologies. Contextualizes solar conversion for systems design and implementation in practical applications Provides a complete understanding of solar power, from underlying science to essential economic outcomes Analytical approach emphasizes systems simulations from measured irradiance and weather data rather than estimations from "rules of thumb" Emphasizes integrative design and solar utility, where trans-disciplinary teams can develop sustainable solar solutions that increase client well-being and ecosystems services for a given locale

This book addresses the main challenges faced today in implementing the Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) concept. The book starts with a chapter that addresses problems related to the energy demand and renewable energy sources available in the built environment, along with the restrictions and opportunities in developing sustainable, efficient and affordable solutions, also gaining aesthetic and architectural acceptance. Advanced solutions to cover the energy needs by using various renewable-based energy mixes are presented in two chapters. These two chapters discuss the problem of conversion efficiency at the level of components and systems, aiming at giving value to the variable renewable energy sources, in producing thermal and electric energy. The concept is discussed further in a chapter on advanced solutions for water re-use and recycling wastes as second raw materials. The need for new strategies and implementation tools, for education and training is addressed in the final chapter as part of the nZEB concept, towards sustainable communities. The sub-chapters of the book were openly presented during the 4th Edition of the Conference for Sustainable Energy, held 6-8 November, 2014 and organized by the R&D Centre Renewable Energy Systems and Recycling at the Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania. This event was developed under the patronage of the International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science (IFToMM), through the Technical Committee Sustainable Energy Systems.

Humanity's current problems related to global warming and energy sources' security for present and future generations can be solved only by reconsidering our position towards the environment. The profit cannot be measured anymore only in terms of capital gained but also in terms of life quality, proper air we breath or our children's future. Renewable energy sources are meant to help the society to develop, to secure the energy needs and also to preserve a cleaner environment, therefore this work treats the implementation of the solar radiation conversion systems within the built environment, showing the savings obtained through their deployment. The area's solar potential was determined from the daily solar radiation values recorded in a considered region. Out of this potential, I established the solar energy gain of a solar thermal collector and of a photovoltaic module. The region taken into account was the mountainous area of Brasov city. Necessary collectors' and modules' surfaces have been determined, together with the energy and monthly amounts saved after their implementation.

A complete overview of solar technologies relevant to the built environment, including solar thermal energy for heating and cooling, passive solar energy for daylighting and heating supply, and photovoltaics for electricity production Provides practical examples and calculations to enable component and system simulation e.g. Calculation of U-values, I-V curve parameters and radiance distribution modelling Discusses the new trends in thermal energy use, including the architectural integration of collector systems, integrated ventilation photovoltaics facades and solar powered absorption cooling systems Coverage of cutting-edge applications such as active and passive cooling techniques and results from ongoing research projects