Advances in photovoltaics

There's no doubt that glazing is a mixed blessing for all buildings. Windows bring in needed daylighting but have poor insulating qualities. It's always a balancing act when attempting to earn green points with a building design. A recent forum at the McGraw-Hill Construction website explored many aspects of this very issue. 


Applying solar panels to the roofs or even exterior walls of buildings as facades and curtain walls is nothing new. Using transparent photovoltaic glass in skylights brings a whole new level to Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). This triple laminated glass claims to allow daylight through while repelling the UV and infrared rays that cause interior space to heat up, all while generating 52 kWh per square meter a year. One of the more remarkable applications of this technology the skylight designed by Onyx Solar at the San Anton Market in Madrid. Naturally, innovations like this could be of great benefit in Denver where we receive 300 days of sunshine a year.