Integrated Design Considerations for Solar Communities

This paper presents design considerations for an integrated design of solar communities highlighting the interactive nature of various design parameters to improve the energy performance of these neighborhoods. These considerations are illustrated through practical design examples of different neighborhood scenarios and individual buildings, based on extensive studies and analysis of energy performance of a wide spectrum of buildings and neighborhoods. The examples fall under two general categories – design at the neighborhood level, and design at the individual building level. Neighborhood design is illustrated by examples of homogeneous residential neighborhoods consisting of 2-storied housing units and of a mixed-rise neighborhood. Design of individual buildings focuses primarily on design of the envelope – consisting of roof and façades – for maximizing energy generation potential, as a function of height and relative position to adjacent buildings. In addition to examples of application of the design considerations, the paper outlines the process of design of solar communities and the role of simulations in the design process.