Development of Requirements for a Solar Building Conceptual Design Tool

This paper is focused on a discussion of the requirements and specifications for the development of a design tool that can be used for solar-optimized building design. The tool will initially be focused on single family houses and later on small commercial buildings. The solar optimization process refers to optimization of form so as to (i) capture as much solar radiation as possible on the two main surfaces facing near south – a façade and a suitably oriented roof section, and (ii) to utilize as much as possible of the captured solar energy as daylight and/or to be converted to electricity and heat. The first requirement refers to building form while the second refers to solar utilization systems such as building-integrated photovoltaics, solar thermal systems and fenestration systems, as well as energy storage systems. It is concluded that the developed design tool, in order to have as much impact on the design as possible should permit some degree of detailed analysis at the early design stage. Two approaches are possible – development of a customized simulation-design tool, or utilization of detailed simulation tool with a front end that defines most of the required inputs from standard requirements or rules of thumb