Abstract
BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) integration in urban spaces requires, not only careful technical, but also aesthetic considerations as its visual impact is seen as a kind of environmental effect. To manage this effect, different methods were developed to measure it; however, most existing evaluation methods are either based on subjective speculations and have no continuous criteria standards, or they do not show much relevance to neuropsychological findings. This paper presents an alternative and complementary method for evaluating the BIPV visual impact using the saliency method with an objective, quantitative and neuropsychological-based approach. The application of the method was tested and is discussed in the context of an example case study in Switzerland. Several different BIPV designs were developed for the case study, purposely in ways that made it difficult to rank their visual impacts with one’s subjective instinct. Using the proposed saliency method; however, the differences in BIPV visual impact across all designs could be identified, demonstrated and calculated sensitively. Potential applications of this proposed method include being a helping tool in deciding which BIPV design causes the least or most visual impact among others. Additionally, when combined with solar cadaster, the method enables a comprehensive estimation of BIPV potential in urban areas from both technical and societal aspects.
Highlights
The following reflections were made on the proposed evaluation method to guarantee more holistic analysis results in the future
The use of other perspectives and CIE sky conditions is necessary making the analysis comprehensive, because it is highly likely that the S results depend strongly on for making the analysis comprehensive, because it is highly likely that the S results depend strongly the simulation conditions
This paper proposed an alternative and complementary method to evaluate the BIPV visual impact
Summary
In 2009, the Swiss government decided that the electricity generated from BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) installations was to contribute 25% of the overall electricity production by 2030 [2]. Shaken by the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan in 2011, the Swiss Federal Council, Parliament and Federal Office of Energy created the Energy Strategy 2050, which were strategies on how Switzerland should slowly grow independent of nuclear energy. Among other renewable energies, the main alternative to nuclear energy and is expected to be an enormous development. The electricity production potential of PV in Switzerland is expected to reach up to 11.12 TWh/a by 2050 [4,5]. Analyses have been made regarding the solar energy potential on building rooftops throughout Switzerland called the “solar cadaster” and it will be used as Energies 2017, 10, 668; doi:10.3390/en10050668 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
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