Often up until recently, photovoltaic panels were added to a building as an exterior afterthought upon completion of the construction process. But with the development of Building Integrated Photovoltaic Technology (BIPVs), collecting solar energy can become an integral function of a building’s envelope. BIPVs can be used as façade, roofing materials like shingles, and can even be integrated into glass windows! Because they actually form the building’s envelope in addition to generating energy, they reduce material use and all of the environmental impacts associated with transporting and discarding excessive building material, in addition to the whole energy conservation thing. (note: we don’t necessarily back the tract home development scheme pictured above, but we love the image of ubiquitous photovoltaics, even in a suburban sea.)
photo: SRS Energy