Featured in The great integrator – 08-2022

History in the making

The urgency of rooftop solar uptake has only been accelerated by the current energy crisis, but the spread of PV to historic and landmarked buildings remains limited. In Europe, historic buildings constructed before 1945 represent at least a quarter of total building stock. To boost uptake, some municipalities are considering a loosening of their protection policies, while researchers are finding interesting byways for installation. Furthermore, building integrated PV solutions are being touted as the ideal compromise between aesthetic continuity and new generation opportunities.
Image: Gloucester Cathedral

In a letter written in 1860 to friend Harrison Blake, the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau asked the question: “What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” Just over 162 years later and that question is more pertinent than ever, and not just for new …

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