In the total ecosystem of the earth the light and the energy of the sun are the most important external factors, while air, water and earth are the important elements inside the ecosystem. And also the micro-ecosystem of a building can not function without sun. Designing without taking the the possibilities and problems of sun heat and sunlight into account is practically impossible and in any case not very smart. Playing with fire - finding smart solutions for heating, cooling and natural lighting - actually is the central activity in searching for a renewing ecological architecture.
The
sun is our most important source of energy. Our supply of fossil fuels
couldn't be created without the sun. But the sun can also be used as an
inexhaustible source of energy without this detour.
Different methods exist to convert sun-energy in electricity (photovoltaic
systems) or in heat (photo-thermal systems).
Moreover, over the years several more of less complicated systems have
been developed in which the sun plays an important factor in natural (non-mechanical)
cooling and/or heating of a building, such as the atrium and the conservatory.
Local heat differences can start flows of air that can naturally ventilate
the building.
The sun is also a source of natural light. If we could have this natural light available to us always and everywhere in our buildings, then our energy usage could be drastically limited. Until recently, even in moderate climates such as Western Europe, we mainly tried to keep out the sun, and with that the light, since the invention of electricity. A smart architecture brings the natural sunlight back into the building. But the sun doesn't shine at night and generally can't reach deep into our buildings. Moreover, the light also brings heat into the building. That is nice in the winter, but unfortunate in the summer.
The challenge is to play smart with fire. To allow the sun heat to enter the building in the winter, and to let it out in the summer (or store it to use it in the winter) while at the same time letting the light pass to be able to use natural lightning as much as possible.
pv