BIPV Systems: Advances in Building Integrated Photovotaics
BIPV: Solar Energy that is built in
Advances in home solar energy
Materials that can currently be manufactured with photovoltaics (solar cells) built in:
> Glass (windows, skylights, etc) - solar cells can be built in to class with little effect on the visibility
> Solar cells can be built into roofing tiles and panels for flat roofs or very large roofs that do not show from ground level
> Solar roofing shingles can look exactly like conventional roofing shingles. Your residential roof look almost identitical to conventional roofs (except that this BIPV home solar energy can make your electric meter spin backwards!)
> Awnings with built in solar photovoltaics may even look better than conventional wanings
> Exterior solar tiles that are decorative and can be used for the entire facade
> Even concrete has been made with BIPV solar cells integrated
> Siding is being designed that will cover a house with solar cells!
Its not so much the solar energy materials themselves that are getting more advanced, its the technology involved in integrating the photovoltaics (solar cells).
BIPV is continually growing, so this list of building integrated solar will be updated often!
