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Open public spaces and street furniture: the potential for increased use of photovoltaics in the built environment
Author(s) -
AbbateGardner C.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-159x(199607/08)4:4<269::aid-pip133>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - flexibility (engineering) , architectural engineering , adaptability , context (archaeology) , photovoltaic system , photovoltaics , environmentally friendly , quality (philosophy) , built environment , architecture , engineering , computer science , systems engineering , business , civil engineering , geography , ecology , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , electrical engineering , epistemology , biology , archaeology
The trend toward industrializing architectural components, the increasing complexity and multifunctional purpose of buildings and the concern for the CO 2 emissions common to our cities is pushing design research to experiment with new environmentally friendly construction technology. Current experiments in integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems in buildings and the built environment have already been proven to offer numerous advantages. This article focuses on the notable flexibility and adaptability of PV integration in urban structures due to the features of its industrial components. To illustrate this point, I should like to offer a brief overview of some selected examples of the use of PV in public open spaces to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve a positive integration with its environmental context, while enhancing the architectural quality of the PV material and respecting its technological efficiency.