Designing Indoor Solar Products : Photovoltaic Technologies for AES

The use of ambient energy systems (AES) for indoor applications is often limited to products of low power.

This exciting book defends the case that, under certain conditions, AES based on photovoltaic solar cells may be used for higher power devices.

The motivation for this argument is both financial and ecological, as two examples from the United States show that it has been estimated that a source energy saving of 55 billion US$ per annum, or the equivalent of 35 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions, could be made with building automation based on AES sensors.

Another example supports the case that using AES to extend battery life would reduce toxic waste as batteries represent less than one per cent of total municipal solid waste generated but accounted for nearly two-thirds of the lead, ninety percent of the mercury, and over half of the cadmium found in the waste.It features are: Co-ordinates a wide-reaching range of scientific information regarding photovoltaic technologies and their application to indoor spaces; Gives guidance to the designer in developing a design whilst clearly highlighting the difficulties involved with creating a product that will work reliably in a range of indoor environments; Argues that under certain conditions, AES based on photovoltaic solar cells may be used for higher power devices (milliwatts rating) as opposed to those of only lower power (microWatts) that they are traditionally only considered suited to; Shows which cells to use for a given purpose;Subject matter has applications to building control.

This book would be ideal for researchers, academics, graduate & postgrad students within related areas of environmental engineering, sustainable development, building design.

Also, designers of sensor systems planning on using photovoltaic technology for power.

In addition, it is useful for architects and building designers.