Page 20 - Solar Power in Building Design The Engineer's Complete Design Resource

xviii INTRODUCTION

In order to curb the waste of fossil fuel energy, it is imperative that our nation, as a
whole, from politicians and educators to the general public, be made aware of the dire
consequences of our nation’s energy policies and make every effort to promote the use
of all available renewable energy technologies so that we can reduce the demand for
nonrenewable energy and safeguard the environment for future generations.
The deterioration of our planet’s ecosystem and atmosphere cannot be ignored or con-
sidered a matter that is not of immediate concern. Our planet’s ozone layer according to
scientists has been depleted by about 40 percent over the past century and greenhouse
gases have altered meteorological conditions. Unfortunately, the collective social con-
sciousness of the educated masses of our society has not concerned itself with the disaster
awaiting our future generations and continues to ignore the seriousness of the situation.

About This Book

During years of practice as a research and design engineer, I have come to realize that
the best way to promote the use of solar power as a sustainable energy design is to
properly educate key professionals, such as architects, engineers, and program man-
agers whose opinions direct project development.
I have found that even though solar power at present is a relatively mature technology,
its use and application in the building industry is hampered due to lack of exposure and
education. Regardless of present federal and state incentive programs, sustainable design
by use of renewable energy will not be possible without a fundamental change in the way
we educate our architects, engineers, and decision makers.
In two earlier books titled Sustainable Energy Systems in Architectural Design and
Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering, I attempted to introduce architects, engi-
neers, and scientists to a number of prevailing renewable energy technologies and their
practical use, in the hopes that a measure of familiarity and understanding could per-
haps encourage their deployment.
This book has been specifically written to serve as a pragmatic design resource for
solar photovoltaic power systems engineering. When writing the manuscript, I
attempted to minimize unnecessary mathematics and related theoretical photovoltaic
physics, by only covering real-life, straightforward design techniques that are com-
monly practiced in the industry.
As scientists, engineers, and architects, we have throughout the last few centuries been
responsible for the elevation of human living standards and contributed to advancements
in technology. We have succeeded in putting a human on the moon, while ignoring the
devastating side effects to the global ecology. In the process of creating the betterment and
comforts of life, we have tapped into the most precious nonrenewable energy resources,
miraculously created over the life span of our planet, and have been misusing them in a
wasteful manner to satisfy our most rudimentary energy needs.
Before it is too late, as responsible citizens of our global village, it is high time that
we assume individual and collective responsibility to resolve today’s environmental
issues and ensure that future life on Earth will continue to exist as nature intended.