Comparative Performance Analysis of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics and Conventional Envelope Materials: Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment

Abstract

The use of photovoltaic technologies in building envelopes has attracted more and more interest as a promising solution to building sustainability by considering energy efficiency, economic feasibility, and environmental impact issues altogether. This paper will provide an overall comparative analysis on Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems versus traditional building envelope materials based on a multi-dimensional analysis model. It is demonstrated in the analysis of energy performance that BIPV systems contribute greatly to building energy performance by capturing on-site renewable energy and reducing cooling loads through shading and regulated solar heat gain, in contrast to traditional materials, which only provide passive thermal insulation and energy conservation. Life cycle-based economic analysis shows that despite the higher initial costs of BIPV systems, thematic savings in long-run operations and lower requirements of electricity mean BIPV systems have better economic performance during the life of building services as compared to traditional envelopes, which offer lower upfront costs but have greater cumulative energy costs associated with their application. Environmental performance scorecard BIPV systems are shown to lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the replacement of grid-based electricity, and even though greater energy use is involved in the manufacturing and installation of BIPV systems, the operational carbon savings outweigh these effects in a relatively short time, leading to a net-positive lifecycle environmental impact. The overall multi-criteria comparison established an integrated viewpoint to demonstrate that BIPV systems generally outperform traditional envelope materials in energy, economical, and environmental aspects. The results underline the significance of lifecycle and context-related design approaches to building envelope solution choices in assisting the achievement of energy efficiency, economic stability, and environmental sustainability in the long term.