Solar for nearly every façade surface

A study of the potential energy offset utilizing ClearVue Solar Vision Glass and Spandrel for the façade of a 6-story mixed use building.

Footprint was engaged by ClearVue Technologies Ltd. to develop an
energy efficient archetype model with the objective of evaluating the
efficacy of selected energy strategies in pursuit of a net zero energy
design.

Integral to the design was the ClearVue PV building integrated
photovoltaic (BIPV) system. This current report examines a 6-story mixed use building which has BIPV in both glazing and spandrel panels. The model presents the energy performance of a low carbon energy efficient design along with the renewable energy generation of the on-site photovoltaic arrays.

Energy modelling was used to quantify the energy consumption of the
proposed design. Footprint follows a rigorous process for reviewing the
building parameters, operational schedules and controls to determine total
energy load, as well as renewable power generation capacity and output.
The Archetype Model was simulated in 15 international locations to
evaluate the performance of the BIPV and building energy use in varying
climate regions and under differing solar resources.

• This report identifies and compares the renewable output between
  Archetypes 1 and 2.
• The ClearVue PV model is achieving Toronto Green Standard Tier 4
  performance* on:
  • Total Energy Use Intensity (TEUI)
  • Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI), and
  • Greenhouse Gas emissions Intensity (GHGI)
    * Before including the electricity generated from only the ClearVue PV glazing.
• For Archetype 1, the roof mounted Photovoltaic (PV) array and Building
  Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) arrays provide 50% of the building’s annual
  energy requirements. Achieving net zero energy with on-site renewables
  requires canopy PV arrays above 112 parking spots in addition to the
  building mounted PV systems.
• After including the BIPV on the spandrel panels on all sides of the
  building, Archetype 2 generated 85% of the annual building energy
  consumption, and the number of parking spots was reduced to 41.
• From the 15 international cities analyzed, four are able to achieve Net
  Zero Energy without the addition of parking canopy with photovoltaics and
  all had over 70% of their annual consumption generated by the building
  mounted photovoltaic systems.