Energy: Buildings are responsible for an enormous amount of global energy use, but solar energy is a readily accessible source of electricity generation. Solar panels, depending on the design and context of a structure, may not always be an option for curbing energy consumption from fossil fuels.
Technology Summary
Article – ‘Solar Ivy’ Photovoltaic Leaves Climb to New Heights http://inhabitat.com/solar-ivy-photovoltaic-leaves-climb-to-new-heights/
- Designed by Brooklyn based SMIT (Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology)
- Thin-film material on top of polyethylene with a piezoelectric generator attached to each leaf.
- Wind and solar power generating photovoltaic leaves can be easily integrated on the side of a building to produce energy
- When the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, energy is being generated via Solar Ivy.
- Easily mounted on a vertical wall due to its light weight.
Light-sourcing leaves move around and catch the sun from many directions
Organizational Stakeholders
Potential Stakeholders include:
- Architect/Designers
- Product Manufacturers
- Building Operators/Owners
- Energy Industry
Deployment
The next three stages in deploying this technology could be:
- Coordinate installations displaying viability of technology to investors/shareholders.
- Forge partnerships with institutions, agencies, and building companies to secure funding
- Expand scope and application of technology to maximize relevancy in marketplace.
See also:
http://www.usgbc.org/articles/green-building-facts Building Energy Consumption
http://inhabitat.com/smits-grow2-project-new-solar-and-wind-solutions/ Photovoltaic Leaves