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Based on the findings from a recent study by the authors which examined factors affecting diffusion of photovoltaics (PV), while comprehensively considering the local PV and construction industry as well as characteristics of the built environment, this paper proposes a holistic strategy for PV implementation into Singapore’s built environment. It consists of (1) a multilevel mechanism framework, encompassing eleven mechanism categories of instruments and activities and (2) a general design framework including design principles, general project instructions and the main design guidelines. Relying on a survey conducted among PV experts on established mechanisms, the present study suggests that building codes (e.g., fire safety, structural safety, etc.) and initiatives and incentives related to PV/building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) should be the highest priority for authorities, followed by assessment of BIPV/PV properties, working toward social acceptance, conducting research projects and information exchange, and education and training activities. Considering all three pillars of sustainability, the design framework is based on the following interrelated design principles: (1) compatibility and coherence with the local context, (2) technical soundness, (3) economic viability, (4) user-centered design, (5) connecting with community and socio-cultural context, and (6) adaptability and flexibility. Despite Singapore’s scarcity of land, the established design guidelines cover a wide spectrum of solutions, including PV integration into both buildings and non-building structures. The synthesis of the two interconnected and inseparable frameworks aims to create an environment conducive to long-term widespread PV integration and stimulate the deployment of BIPV, which should help Singapore and other cities reduce their dependency on imported fossil fuels, while also making them more livable and enjoyable.
Vesna Kosorić; Siu-Kit Lau; Abel Tablada; Monika Bieri; André M. Nobre. A Holistic Strategy for Successful Photovoltaic (PV) Implementation into Singapore’s Built Environment. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6452 .
AMA StyleVesna Kosorić, Siu-Kit Lau, Abel Tablada, Monika Bieri, André M. Nobre. A Holistic Strategy for Successful Photovoltaic (PV) Implementation into Singapore’s Built Environment. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6452.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVesna Kosorić; Siu-Kit Lau; Abel Tablada; Monika Bieri; André M. Nobre. 2021. "A Holistic Strategy for Successful Photovoltaic (PV) Implementation into Singapore’s Built Environment." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6452.
Despite the steady growth of grid-connected installed capacity in Singapore in the last decade and intensive government effort towards “solarization”, implementation of photovoltaics (PV) and especially building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) into the built environment has not gathered as much momentum as would have been expected given the country’s ample solar energy resource potential, strong economic fundamentals and the robust real estate sector. Based on a conducted web-survey and qualitative interviews among local professionals, this paper examines the obstacles, potentials and drivers that could facilitate and accelerate BIPV and PV façade integration, as well as needs that could encourage wider PV use. In order to define a unified strategy, aligning the stakeholders’ views, the following disputable factors are pointed out and discussed: (1) incomplete understanding of BIPV and building-applied photovoltaics (BAPV) among stakeholders, (2) costs of BIPV systems, (3) low awareness of and confidence in “integrability” of PV modules, (4) incomplete knowledge about and insufficiently investigated PV performance and (5) potential of PV façade and roof integration. Since the costs are the key identified factor for BIPV implementation, life-cycle cost (LCC) assessments of PV façade and roof integrations have been performed, which supported the search for solutions to identified problems. The performed analysis and findings present the basis for the development of a long-term holistic strategy for PV implementation in Singapore that could help the highly-urbanized, tropical resource- and land-constrained island city-state reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and achieve the climate change targets, thus promoting a more sustainable built environment.
Siu-Kit Lau; Vesna Kosorić; Monika Bieri; André.M. Nobre. Identification of Factors Influencing Development of Photovoltaic (PV) Implementation in Singapore. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2630 .
AMA StyleSiu-Kit Lau, Vesna Kosorić, Monika Bieri, André.M. Nobre. Identification of Factors Influencing Development of Photovoltaic (PV) Implementation in Singapore. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (5):2630.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSiu-Kit Lau; Vesna Kosorić; Monika Bieri; André.M. Nobre. 2021. "Identification of Factors Influencing Development of Photovoltaic (PV) Implementation in Singapore." Sustainability 13, no. 5: 2630.
Research shows that in most cases occupants are not actively involved in the design process but only informed about the decisions already made. This paper proposes a framework for the early phases of socially sustainable renovation design of multifamily buildings enabling occupants’ active and timely involvement by defining appropriate mechanisms for participation in a structured manner. It further considers the interdependence of the social, environmental and economic aspects of renovation design and underlines the significance of their simultaneous consideration. The presented research shows the existence of significant heterogeneity, complexity and interdependence of a number of factors that need to be considered in order to adequately conceptualize sustainable building renovations. Finally, the paper discusses future directions for the development of the proposed model.
Kosa Golić; Vesna Kosorić; Siu-Kit Lau. A Framework for Early Stages of Socially Sustainable Renovation of Multifamily Buildings with Occupants’ Participation. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8823 .
AMA StyleKosa Golić, Vesna Kosorić, Siu-Kit Lau. A Framework for Early Stages of Socially Sustainable Renovation of Multifamily Buildings with Occupants’ Participation. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (21):8823.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKosa Golić; Vesna Kosorić; Siu-Kit Lau. 2020. "A Framework for Early Stages of Socially Sustainable Renovation of Multifamily Buildings with Occupants’ Participation." Sustainability 12, no. 21: 8823.
Productive façades (PFs) that integrate photovoltaic (PV) panels and vertical farming (VF) planters are designed to act as sustainable, multi-functional, modular building envelope systems. Singapore is the second most densely populated country in the world and its high-rise buildings play a critical role in the urban context offering a significantly larger surface area of walls than roofs. PFs represent an appropriate, novel technological response to a number of issues Singapore is facing such as a high dependence on imported energy and food, scarcity of land, planned reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the increase of high-rise greenery coverage. The potential of PFs in harvesting solar energy, which is currently the most viable renewable energy source (RES), and in utilizing the characteristics of the urban context, is promising. The study analyses the acceptance of the developed PF concept by its potential future users—residents of high-rise public housing blocks. A door-to-door survey was conducted among the residents of the Housing & Development Board (HDB) buildings (consisting of apartments or flats) with two main purposes: examining whether the residents accept or are positively inclined towards the PF concept and its implementation and secondly, identifying their preferences related to aesthetical qualities, use and maintenance of PF designs. The results indicate a highly affirmative response among a very high percentage of respondents towards gardening. They also indicate that PF concepts promoting small-scale VF adequately fit the needs of HDB residents. The preferences of the potential future users regarding PF types are further presented and discussed. The insights obtained will help further the knowledge on PFs and directly assist planners, architects, contractors and decision makers (DMs) as guidelines in the design of PFs in the tropics, enabling such systems to meet the needs, expectations and preferences of users and to address their concerns.
Vesna Kosorić; Huajing Huang; Abel Tablada; Siu-Kit Lau; Hugh T.W. Tan. Survey on the social acceptance of the productive façade concept integrating photovoltaic and farming systems in high-rise public housing blocks in Singapore. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2019, 111, 197 -214.
AMA StyleVesna Kosorić, Huajing Huang, Abel Tablada, Siu-Kit Lau, Hugh T.W. Tan. Survey on the social acceptance of the productive façade concept integrating photovoltaic and farming systems in high-rise public housing blocks in Singapore. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2019; 111 ():197-214.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVesna Kosorić; Huajing Huang; Abel Tablada; Siu-Kit Lau; Hugh T.W. Tan. 2019. "Survey on the social acceptance of the productive façade concept integrating photovoltaic and farming systems in high-rise public housing blocks in Singapore." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 111, no. : 197-214.
Singapore’s high dependence on imported energy and food resources, and the lack of available land requires an efficient use of the built environment in order to increase energy and food autonomy. This paper proposes the concept of a productive façade (PF) system that integrates photovoltaic (PV) modules as shading devices as well as farming planters. It also outlines the design optimization process for eight PF prototypes comprising two categories of PF systems: Window façade and balcony façade, for four orientations. Five criteria functions describing the potential energy and food production as well as indoor visual and thermal performance were assessed by a parametric modelling tool. Optimal PF prototypes were subsequently obtained through the VIKOR optimization method, which selects the optimal design variants by compromising between the five criteria functions. East and West-facing façades require greater solar protection, and most façades require high-tilt angles on their shading PV panels. The optimal arrangement for vegetable planters involves two planters located relatively low with regard to the railing or window sill. Finally, the optimal façade designs were adjusted according to the availability of resources and the conditions and context of the Tropical Technologies Laboratory (T2 Lab) in Singapore where they are installed.
Abel Tablada; Vesna Kosorić; Huajing Huang; Ian Kevin Chaplin; Siu-Kit Lau; Chao Yuan; Stephen Siu-Yu Lau. Design Optimization of Productive Façades: Integrating Photovoltaic and Farming Systems at the Tropical Technologies Laboratory. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3762 .
AMA StyleAbel Tablada, Vesna Kosorić, Huajing Huang, Ian Kevin Chaplin, Siu-Kit Lau, Chao Yuan, Stephen Siu-Yu Lau. Design Optimization of Productive Façades: Integrating Photovoltaic and Farming Systems at the Tropical Technologies Laboratory. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (10):3762.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAbel Tablada; Vesna Kosorić; Huajing Huang; Ian Kevin Chaplin; Siu-Kit Lau; Chao Yuan; Stephen Siu-Yu Lau. 2018. "Design Optimization of Productive Façades: Integrating Photovoltaic and Farming Systems at the Tropical Technologies Laboratory." Sustainability 10, no. 10: 3762.
A. Krstic Furundzic; V. Kosoric; K. Golic. Potential for reduction of CO2 emissions by integration of solar water heating systems on student dormitories through building refurbishment. Sustainable Cities and Society 2012, 2, 50 -62.
AMA StyleA. Krstic Furundzic, V. Kosoric, K. Golic. Potential for reduction of CO2 emissions by integration of solar water heating systems on student dormitories through building refurbishment. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2012; 2 (1):50-62.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Krstic Furundzic; V. Kosoric; K. Golic. 2012. "Potential for reduction of CO2 emissions by integration of solar water heating systems on student dormitories through building refurbishment." Sustainable Cities and Society 2, no. 1: 50-62.
The building sector, which accounts for about 40% of total energy consumption in Europe, offers various possibilities for achieving higher energy efficiency by introducing distributed RES. As 20% of total energy consumption in this sector is used for water heating, it follows that 8% of total energy in Europe is consumed for water heating purposes, which provides great opportunities for energy savings. Solar water heating systems (SWHSs) are a suitable technology for renewable energy source (RES) exploitation to be applied in residential building refurbishment that generate both fossil fuel savings and reductions in CO2 emissions. Due to its complexity, SWHS integration requires a comprehensive approach including consideration of the functional and aesthetic, energy performance, and economic and ecological aspects from conceptual design through to design realization. This article defines a general model of SWHS integration in residential building refurbishment. The model is divided into several basic phases in order to facilitate problem-solving and to enable the individual optimization processes for variant design. The phases are systematically analyzed and a proper procedure and/or methods are established to solve them. At the very beginning of the suggested problem-solving procedure, the measures ‘Building Potential’, P˜B, and ‘Degree of Feasibility’, pB, are first introduced in order to estimate the suitability of SWHS integration. A Multi-Criteria compromise ranking method, is recommended for a comprehensive evaluation of design variants and for the selection of the optimal SWHS integration Design Variant. The proposed general model is also applied for solving a real problem – namely, the integration of SWHS through the refurbishment of residential buildings in the suburb of “Konjarnik” in Belgrade, Serbia, which is one of the many that were built in Belgrade after the Second World War.
K. Golić; V. Kosorić; Aleksandra Krstic-Furundzic. General model of solar water heating system integration in residential building refurbishment—Potential energy savings and environmental impact. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2011, 15, 1533 -1544.
AMA StyleK. Golić, V. Kosorić, Aleksandra Krstic-Furundzic. General model of solar water heating system integration in residential building refurbishment—Potential energy savings and environmental impact. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2011; 15 (3):1533-1544.
Chicago/Turabian StyleK. Golić; V. Kosorić; Aleksandra Krstic-Furundzic. 2011. "General model of solar water heating system integration in residential building refurbishment—Potential energy savings and environmental impact." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 15, no. 3: 1533-1544.