BUILDING INTEGRATION OF SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS

Abstract

A solar thermal system (STS) is considered to be building integrated, if for a building component this is a prerequisite for the integrity of the building’s functionality. If the building integrated STS (BISTS) is dismounted, dismounting includes or affects the adjacent building component which will have to be replaced partly or totally by a conventional building component. This applies mostly to the case of structurally bonded modules but applies as well to other cases, like in the case of replacing with BISTS one of the walls in a double wall facade. Generally, the benefits of building integration include: building envelope, thermal and optical performances, costs and aesthetics. The objective of this paper is to present some innovative designs that are used worldwide so far.