Recently, the International WELL Building Research Institute (IWBI) and BuildingAction, a non-profit alliance focusing on sustainable construction, co-hosted a webcast. The broadcast discussed the topic “Climate change requires healthier and more sustainable buildings”. Construction industry experts discussed how the construction industry should respond to a series of crises brought about by climate change. Russ Carnahan, co-founder of BuildingAction, suggests that construction has always been an under-discussed part of the sustainability process, yet in reality, building safer, healthier and more sustainable buildings is very helpful in dealing with climate change and public health issues in the future. Kevin Kampschroer, Sustainability Officer at the US General Services Administration (GSA), also pointed out that decarbonization of buildings will be the next cutting edge trend in the industry.

Climate-resilient buildings will be the future of the industry

According to the “2022 Report on the Status of the Global Construction Industry” released by the United Nations Environment Programme in November last year, the building and construction industry accounted for more than 34% of global energy demand in 2021. Among them, the industry's energy-related operating emissions reached 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent last year, which is 2% higher than the peak before the pandemic. Furthermore, energy demand for heating, cooling, lighting, and other equipment in buildings also increased by about 4% and 3% in 2021 compared to 2020 and 2019, respectively. The industry's rising demand for energy is not only causing it to drift away from its 2050 decarbonization target, but is also having a serious impact on climate change.

At the same time, the frequency of severe weather events due to climate change is increasing year by year. Andrew Biro, a writer at GB&D magazine (“Green Building and Design” magazine), said, “The demand for flexible, energy-efficient buildings has never been more obvious.” Faced with the interaction between construction and climate, “architectural design needs to be adjusted.”

The external environment is changing. Prasoon Shrivastava, CEO and founder of UAE architectural design firm Prasoon Design Studio, said, “More and more architects and designers are aware that architectural design needs to reflect the conditions in their region.” On the one hand, buildings need to have the ability to adapt to the unique environment of the destination while being able to withstand extreme weather; on the other hand, buildings also need to reduce energy consumption and make maximum use of renewable resources to reduce negative impacts on the climate. Andrew Biro and engineering firm Utilities Ones both believe that building climate-resilient buildings is the future of the industry.

According to Utilities One, there are five main features of climate-adaptable buildings. The first is passive design, which prioritizes passive heating, cooling and ventilation strategies, such as adjusting the orientation of the house and the position of windows, to minimize the use of refrigeration and heating equipment; the second is considering energy efficiency and using innovative energy systems and materials, such as using solar photovoltaic cells, energy-saving appliances, etc., to reduce consumption of fossil fuels; third, adapting to local conditions, optimizing passive heating and cooling strategies by examining the environment and climate of the site; fourth, introducing green around the building Space, thereby achieving shading effects, reducing heat island effects, and promoting biodiversity; the fifth is to introduce intelligent technology to optimize energy use without sacrificing user comfort.

Photo Credit: Re-Thinkingthefuture

According to US energy solutions provider Energy5, climate-adaptable buildings can maximize comfort while minimising energy consumption. To achieve these goals, learning to use solar energy is the key. Varsha Mini Veronica, author of the architectural design website Re-Thinkingthefuture, points out that solar energy is transforming cities and buildings around the world and is becoming a solution to global climate disasters and greenhouse gas emissions.

Solar energy plays two roles in climate-adaptable buildings. Firstly, through passive solar design, that is, adjusting window orientation, wall materials, etc., so that solar energy can directly bring heat and light to the house, thereby reducing the use of heating and lighting systems and reducing the energy consumption of the house; secondly, according to Emily Newton, the editor-in-chief of the sustainable construction website Construction21, solar energy can be used as a renewable energy source, and the installation of solar photovoltaic panels can effectively integrate solar energy and supply electricity to the house, reducing or even breaking away from dependence on traditional energy.

Photo Credit: onswitchenergy.com

How can solar technology help “transform” buildings?

Emily Newton explained that building climate-adaptable buildings first requires site analysis and layout according to the site environment, so new buildings can utilize natural conditions at the beginning of construction and use solar energy as a renewable energy source on the basis of introducing passive solar design, thereby reducing electricity-related emissions. In addition, Emily Newton also said that reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with heating, cooling, and lighting is the main goal of climate-adaptable buildings. For old buildings that have already been built and cannot use passive solar design, the introduction of solar photovoltaic panels can also help them move closer to climate-adaptable buildings.

Solar energy is a common renewable energy source, and the United Nations ranks solar energy as the most resource-rich type of energy of all energy sources. Solar photovoltaic panels, on the other hand, can convert solar energy into usable electricity to power buildings. Catherine Lane, content director of SolarReviews, a consumer review website for the US solar industry, explained that the higher the efficiency level of solar photovoltaic panels, the more electricity the same sunlight can convert. At this stage, the efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels has improved significantly. Currently, the efficiency level of most household solar photovoltaic panels is between 19% and 21%. Among them, the maximum efficiency of the photovoltaic modules HI-MO X6 and HI-MO7 of the Chinese solar energy technology company, Longji Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Longji Green Energy”), has reached 22.6%.

Japan's Aoki Pharmaceuticals introduces HI-MO X6 photovoltaic modules Image source: Longji Green Energy

Currently, there are two main types of solar photovoltaic panels used in buildings. One type is BAPV (solar photovoltaic power generation system attached to the building), and the other type is BIPV (a solar photovoltaic power generation system designed, constructed, and installed at the same time as the building, and can be perfectly combined with the building). According to Utilities One, the BAPV system allows solar photovoltaic panels to be added to existing structures, so it is more flexible, has relatively low installation costs, and is more scalable and easy to maintain. The BIPV system is an integral part of the building structure. The integrated structure is more beautiful and the power generation efficiency is higher.

BIPV systems are more suitable for introduction in new climate-resilient buildings. For example, during the construction of Ocean Family Zhoushan Premium Park, since Zhoushan is surrounded by the sea on all sides and has a subtropical oceanic monsoon climate, it is necessary not only to consider how to withstand typhoons when constructing the park's photovoltaic system, but also to consider using solar power as much as possible to reduce carbon emissions. The BIPV product components and metal plates provided by Longji Green Energy and Center Co., Ltd. (Construction Metal Enclosure Company) are integrated using structural adhesives. The wind resistance is more than four times higher than that of similar products. Furthermore, the system's frameless design can reduce dust accumulation and thereby improve power generation efficiency. According to statistics, the total installed capacity of the project reached 892,936 MW, with a power generation capacity of 223.08 million kilowatts in 25 years and a reduction of carbon dioxide by 222,000 tons.

Ocean Family Zhoushan Premium Park Photo Source: Longji Green Energy

Of course, at this stage, the reality that cannot be ignored is that around the world, after nearly 50 years of rapid urbanization development, today's cities have moved from the “era of increment” to the “era of stocks.” Therefore, starting from existing buildings, it is even more important to transform existing buildings in the direction of climate-adaptable buildings. As American writer and social activist Jane Jacobs said, “Old ideas and ideas can sometimes be implemented in new buildings, but new ideas must use old buildings.”

On the one hand, the renovation of existing buildings can start with the building structure, and introducing a BIPV system for large-scale transformation to make it a climate-adaptable building. Longji Green Energy teamed up with Center to introduce a large number of BIPV products such as Longjin and Longding in the Boao Zero Carbon Demonstration Zone in Hainan, and designed photovoltaic roofs, glass curtain walls, photovoltaic glass, photovoltaic power generation railings, etc., to perfectly integrate photovoltaic products with buildings.

Hainan Boao Zero Carbon Demonstration Zone Photo Source: Longji Green Energy

On the other hand, in residential renovation projects, starting with the overall structure of the building is too complicated. Compared to installing a BAPV system, that is, a solar photovoltaic panel attached to the building is a simpler and easier model to operate, and it can also reduce energy consumption while adapting to local conditions, moving closer to climate-adaptable buildings. User homes in Danderyd, Stockholm County, Sweden have begun to use the HI-MO X6 Scientist Series launched by Longhi Green Energy. This series has strong light absorption capacity and excellent power generation performance, which has a significant effect on reducing the energy consumption of houses, and the high-value components can also be adapted to the house's original minimalist style in Northern Europe.

User homes in Danderyd, Stockholm County, Sweden use Longji Green Energy's HI-MO X6 scientist series photovoltaic modules Image source: Longji Green Energy

Since the 80s of the last century, solar photovoltaic panels have been quite popular, but the usage rate in homes has not been high. American architect Jon Gardzelewski pointed out that economic costs and unaesthetic characteristics were important factors that limited solar PV panels from becoming “standard” in homes in the past. In fact, Akshay VR, a digital marketer at ARKA 360, a software supplier for the solar industry, said that as the industry continues to develop, new and more efficient solar technology not only makes it cheaper to install solar energy, but solar photovoltaic panels are also moving closer to being both practical and beautiful. In future architecture, solar photovoltaic panels can not only help transform buildings into climate-adaptable buildings, but also “add color” to buildings with their more artistic and aesthetic shapes.

Title description: The Boao Zero Carbon Demonstration Zone in Hainan uses BIPV photovoltaic power generation products supplied by Longji Green Energy and Center. Source: The picture of Longji Green Energy is from Longji Green Energy and the Internet, and the copyright belongs to the original author.