DOE Releases New Building Best Practices Handbook for Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems
July 17, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program has released a new best practices handbook for builders, High-Performance Home Technologies: Solar Thermal & Photovoltaic Systems. The guidebook explains current photovoltaic and solar thermal building practices and provides useful tips for builders and homebuyers. The book also enhances the information contained in the previous Best Practices volumes which give climate-specific tips for energy-efficient building in five climate zones.
The publication contains chapters for every member of the builder's team, including supervisors, architects, designers, site developers, marketers, managers and homeowners. Many of the building tips and information are illustrated with real-life case studies of builders who design and construct energy-efficient homes in all climate zones.
Solar thermal photovoltaic technologies are designed to gather energy from the sun and transform it into harnessed useable energy to heat and light buildings. For more information about the Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems Best Practices guide, download the document from the Building America website: http://www.buildingamerica.gov.
The Department of Energy's Building America program develops energy solutions for new and existing homes. By 2020, the Building America project seeks to enable the production of cost-effective net Zero Energy Homes, which will annually produce as much energy as they use. Zero Energy Homes combine state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems such as solar water heating and solar electricity. The program's primary goal is to enable industry to adopt systems engineering approaches to the design and construction of a large portion of all new housing.
