Photovoltaics are suitable for buildings where they can reside on the unused rooftop area. Instead, they can also utilize the car parking space, where along with producing energy, they offer protection to cars and individuals from rain and sun.
FREMONT, CA: A thrilling prospect for managing building energy needs is incorporating renewable energy resources into the built environment. Countless renewable technologies that are commercially available today can entirely cover the consumption needs of buildings. These renewable technologies are variable, intermittent energy producers containing primarily Photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine systems. There are numerous ways to achieve net-zero energy in buildings.
Photovoltaic or Solar
PV is the leading renewable energy technology for buildings. Photovoltaic energy production has quite a few benefits:
• Solar energy is limitless and available worldwide.
• It doesn't release Greenhouse Gases (GHG) or other pollutants during operation.
• PV systems need little maintenance.
• PV panels are silent.
• To make the tool even more engaging, the price of PV systems has significantly reduced in recent years, and the technologies also have become more competitive.
PVs are apt for buildings where they can reside on the unused rooftop area. Instead, they can also use the car parking space, where along with producing energy, they offer protection to cars and individuals from rain and sun. Another option for new PV integrations is to install them into the building architecture in what has become known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).
Combined heat and power (CHP)
CHP (Combined Heat and Power), or co-generation, is a system of energy production, producing heat and electricity from a single primary source. This technology is appropriate for buildings or complexes of buildings (a campus) where it answers the demand for heat and generates electricity. As a demonstrated energy-efficient technology, CHP raises primary energy utilization and decreases greenhouse gas emissions.
Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are also fast-growing renewable energy technology. However, not many wind turbines are found on building roofs or car parks, regardless of their vast energy potential. And when they are, they characteristically are classified by a small production capacity, usually not exceeding 10kW.
Since wind turbines are rolled to be competent in an environment characterized by uniform and relatively continual wind flow, they usually are located on hills, open plains, close to the sea, or offshore, in a set of wind turbines forming a wind farm.
