PV-Integrated Smart Shading Systems – Addressing the Conflict Between Efficiency and User Comfort

Abstract

Building-integrated photovoltaics are crucial in urban areas to meet rising energy demands. Combining PV with sunshades offers energy generation and overheating prevention, necessitating intelligent control. This paper explores the use of indoor lighting sensor data as a proxy for user comfort in AI-based control of PV-integrated sunshades, addressing the conflict between PV optimization and user well-being. A living lab field test with user diaries and sensor data shows promising alignment, suggesting that sensors can effectively capture relevant aspects of user comfort. This approach offers a pathway to integrate user needs into the intelligent control of these dual-purpose building elements.