Building Integration of Active Solar Energy Systems in the Urban Fabric: Façade Renovation Using Building Integration of Active Solar Systems and Effects on Thermal Comfort in Public Spaces

In the last few years, the negative externalities brought about by climate change are becoming evident. Moreover, in 2030, 80% of the world’s population will live in cities, opposed to today’s 50%, which explains the fact that cities are responsible for over 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, given that the built environment accounts for 24% of the greenhouse gas emissions and for over 40% of the total primary energy consumption in the world, some changes need to take place in the building sector towards the building integrated renewable energy production. In addition, the building stock of the European cities is getting old, thus bringing aspects of energy renovation, and building integration of active solar systems on existing buildings to the forefront of discussions. The research performed herein, investigates the effects on thermal comfort in public spaces caused by integrating active solar energy systems on the facades of neighbouring buildings in Naples, a coastal city in south-eastern Mediterranean region. A typical area indicating the prevailing urban organizational system for Naples is chosen, and a simulation of the integration of active solar systems on the facades of buildings framing the public spaces was carried out. The thermal conditions on the street level are then simulated, using Envi-MET. The aim of the research is to compare the thermal conditions in the public space, before and after the integration of these solar systems, evaluated through different filters of solar urban planning / building integration of active solar systems, with a view to proposing viable combinations for the integration of these systems as part of environmental renovation strategies in the urban planning and regeneration of cities.