Green Facade and Photovoltaic: a Multifunctional System

Abstract

Cities are growing all over the world and the increasing number of inhabitants requires ever more dense development. As a result, more and more green spaces had disappeared. Not only does climate change, but also the increased Urban Heat Island Effect leads to ever higher temperatures in urban areas. This affects the quality of life and living, as well as the environment and economy. In addition to this, the world is in an ever-growing need for renewable energy. Photovoltaic Systems (PV) and Green Facades (GF) are well-known systems that are used as strategies to increase building efficiency, thermal performance, noise reduction, and quality of life. In this paper, the focus is on a review of the combination of PV and GF, the so-called Multifunctional System (MFS), and its impact and influence on the building facade (BF) temperatures. Furthermore, several options for integrating these systems and their possible future outcomes are discussed.