AN OVERVIEW ON BUILDING INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC FAÇADES: AN ARCHITECTURAL PERSPECTIVE

One raging question asked globally is how to address the energy challenge; a quest for modernization, industrialization and sustainable development. Globally speaking, over 40% of energy consumed is related to buildings. Architects and building developers are professionally responsible for the transformation of the natural environment into the built environment. Strong advocacy for an architectural approach which embraces renewable energy solutions as a priority is therefore of immense importance to both humanity and the environment. This paper focuses on an overview of a contemporary method of incorporating renewable energy into the building envelope i.e. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). It details strategic environmental, economic and design benefits; and the multi-functional means of applying BIPV products using several global examples. Using the hot climatic region as a case study, a comparison is made between the field investigations on BIPV facades, with some architectural and sustainability issues. This comparison puts in context the direction of BIPV research in relation to architectural applications. The study highlights an inspiring challenge to researchers on the areas of sustainability which have not been sufficiently investigated within the present BIPV technological discourse. In conclusion the paper reflects on the opportunities and challenges of BIPV, and proposes a few recommendations which need to be addressed in advancing a greater global acceptance of renewable technology, specifically BIPV in 21st century architecture.