BIPV Solutions: Three Top Choices to Consider for Your Building

 

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If you are planning to integrate highly efficient Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) into your building, it’s critical to research the different BIPV options available. Let’s discuss three building solutions worth considering.

What is BIPV?

BIPV systems are integrated into the exterior of a building, becoming key elements. For commercial buildings, they serve a dual purpose: power generation and protection against the elements. In addition, BIPV solutions save on building materials and electricity costs, reduce pollution, and enhance the building’s aesthetics.

Commercial buildings can utilize BIPV through skylights, facades, Insulated Glass Units (IGUs), and cool roof technology. BIPV systems are meticulously planned during the building design phase and implemented in the initial construction stage of the building.

Three Top BIPV Solutions

Building-integrated photovoltaics can integrate energy production into commercial structures through advanced functional building glass technology. Below are three top BIPV solutions you should strongly consider incorporating into your next commercial building project.

1. Cool Roof Technology

Commercial cool roofs offer several benefits, including:

• Extended Roof Lifespan: The more heat a roof absorbs, the more stress it undergoes, resulting in a shorter lifespan. Cool roofs absorb significantly less heat and therefore do not degrade as quickly.
• Energy Savings: Implementing cool roof technology can reduce energy costs by 10-30%. You’ll also avoid paying peak demand charges for electricity.
• Maintenance Savings: Additionally, commercial cool roofs require less maintenance, lowering maintenance costs and other expenses.
• Reduced Emissions: Cool roofs help mitigate air pollution and global warming by reducing emissions from power plants (such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury, etc.).
• Improved Comfort: Cool roofs keep interior building spaces cool and comfortable without the need for excessive air conditioning.
• Reduced Blackouts: Commercial cool roofs use less electricity, contributing to the reduction of peak electricity demand.
• Mitigation of Urban Heat Island Effect: Widespread installation of cool roofs can significantly lower local temperatures, particularly in densely populated areas.

Cool Roof Material Types

• Solar Panels
• EPDM Roofing Membrane
• Metal Sheets
• Asphalt Shingles
• Concrete Tiles
• Slate Tiles

2. Functional Building Glass – Insulated Glass Units (IGUs)

Below are the various benefits of Insulated Glass Units (IGUs):

• Improved Comfort: IGU windows keep your building comfortable for customers, employees, etc.
• Reduced Sound Transmission: IGUs benefit commercial buildings near busy streets or other noisy areas. The thick layers of glass prevent outside sounds and noise from penetrating the interior of the building, and the air between the glass also limits noise transmission.
• Enhanced Window Strength: IGUs protect your building from strong winds and other destructive elements.
• Energy Savings: IGU windows maintain building temperature, ensuring that your air conditioning or heating systems do not overwork. You will enjoy lower electricity bills after installing IGUs.
• Customizable Options: IGU windows are easily customized. For example, you can choose the number of glass panels and adjust the Low-E coating on the windows. You will also have different gas options and material choices.

3. Functional Building Glass – Skylights

Commercial building skylights offer a variety of advantages, including:

• Natural Light: Skylights add extra light without sacrificing privacy. They illuminate rooms in ways that traditional windows cannot. Furthermore, skylights are able to illuminate areas that would otherwise have no light, such as rooms in the middle of a building.
• Energy Savings: Skylights utilize passive cooling to help you maintain a comfortable temperature. A well-ventilated roof system keeps your commercial building cool and comfortable without the need for excessive air conditioning. This is especially effective in multi-story facilities. Therefore, skylights can significantly reduce your energy costs.
• Aesthetics: Installing skylight windows in your building can transform the entire atmosphere. Rooms with skylights are more spacious and comfortable, and the extra sunlight can even improve your mood. Additionally, skylights typically make rooms appear larger than they actually are.
• Fresh Air: Opening skylight windows provides fresh air to the room. This ventilation helps with natural cooling in summer or warmer climates year-round. Also, note that if you wish to use skylights for ventilation, you need to install them in easily accessible locations; otherwise, this useful function will be wasted.
• Increased Property Value: Installing several skylights in a commercial building can instantly increase its value. Therefore, if you plan to sell your building in the future, you can attract buyers by investing in skylights. Additionally, rooms with skylight windows typically appear larger than they actually are. Space and light are two major factors that potential buyers notice first when touring commercial properties.

Commercial Building Skylight Types

• Fixed Skylights
• Ventilating Skylights
• Dome Skylights
• Eaves Skylights
• Ridge Skylights
• Tubular Skylights
• Pyramid Skylights
• Custom Skylights
• Barrel Vault Skylights
• Hip Skylights

Partner With Us to Meet Your BIPV Needs

We offer cool roof and dual-pane technology solutions for commercial buildings. Our functional building glass IGU and skylight products are currently only sold and manufactured in Japan, but will soon be entering the US market.

Energy management solutions offer a first-class BIPV system for commercial buildings. We provide our clients with cool roofs and bifacial technology from the best contractors and suppliers on the market. In addition, our services include energy efficiency and performance value engineering, bid management, free on-site preliminary energy audits, and investment tax credit (ITC) monetization strategies.

As a zero-carbon enthusiast, Li Qing, I am deeply aware of the importance of BIPV in promoting the development of green, low-carbon buildings. Through my self-media platform, I will continue to disseminate this professional knowledge, inspiring more people to pay attention to energy saving and carbon reduction, and contributing together to the sustainable development of the earth.