Abstract
BIPV has gained a lot of attention in the solar world especially in recent times as the push for Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) and concerns about landscape aesthetics increases. Aesthetics plays a critical role in the adoption of BIPVs as it is one of the fundamental components architects and home owners look out for. This paper discusses the primacy of aesthetics by using the elements and principles of design as guide in BIPV applications. Essential elements of design such as colour, shape, and texture have been discussed. Principles of design such as variety, balance, rhythm, contrast and proportion have also been discussed as useful tools in BIPV adoption by home owners and architects. It is emphasised that the essence of BIPV is to introduce ‘beauty’ in Photovoltaic application and the earlier aesthetic is treated as ‘Gold’ and given primacy, the better for BIPV adoption. This paper identifies the basic elements and principles of design as the “building blocks” of BIPV design, application and adoption. Finally, it is argued that aesthetics plays a cardinal role in consumer purchasing decision. This paper offers an exceptional design perspective to BIPV application as various attempts have been made by several researchers to address the issue of aesthetics in BIPVs.
Highlights
Climate change and its ramifications have forced the world to adopt various Green House Gas (GHG) abatement approaches of which Renewable energy is part
This paper has highlighted the role of aesthetics in Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPVs) adoption
It is argued that the choice of BIPV over its counterpart Building Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV) is mainly based on Aesthetics, compromising the final outlook of BIPV system is disastrous
Summary
Climate change and its ramifications have forced the world to adopt various Green House Gas (GHG) abatement approaches of which Renewable energy is part. The Photovoltaic (PV) technology after its emergence in the 19th century, has gone through massive growth in areas of efficiency, aesthetics, market penetration and cost [2,3,4,5,9,17]. Advancement in solar technology has seen the emanation of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPVs), a modern and economical way of utilising solar energy [8]. The idea of BIPV is to introduce a more efficient way of utilising solar Photovoltaics (PVs) to produce electricity in buildings while considering architectural appeal. There have been several studies highlighting fundamental issues in BIPV adoption such as cost, reliability and efficiency [2,9,17], same cannot be said for aesthetics.
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