In BriefNew Task Planned on Analysis Tools
A large number of computer-based tools have been developed for use in building energy performance evaluation. However, the penetration of these tools into the building design professions has generally been poor. A new Task, currently in the planning stage, will try to increase confidence in computer design tools and improve the integration between building energy analysis tools and the CAD tools used by architects and engineers.
The focus of the future Task will be (1) continuation of the work of Task 12 in evaluating building energy analysis tools through analytical, comparative, and empirical methods and (2) collection and documentation of engineering models of widely used solar and low energy concepts for use in the next generation of modular building energy analysis tools.
The poster exhibition of the winners of the Task 16 Architectural Ideas Competition: "Photovoltaics in the Built Environment" has been wandering across Europe. One recent stop was the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. An official opening of the 10-day exhibit, organized by the ETH Solar Architecture Group, was held on 19 April and featured a lecture on the topic of building integration of photovoltaics. The attendance of 30 students and professionals grew to over 60 for the official opening with wine. An ideal location, in front of the entrance to a main lecture hall for architecture and engineering students, has assured good exposure for the exhibition.
Natural Resources Canada and IEA SHC Task 18 were the hosts of the "Window Innovations Conference '95," the world's largest conference to data on window technologies and their applications. The conference, which took place June 5-6, 1995 in Toronto, focussed on state-of-the-art in energy efficient windows, manufacturing processes, innovative residential and commercial building applications and regulations and codes affecting the fenestration industry.
The response to the conference was very gratifying, with several hundred delegates from 20 countries in attendance who were given an exceptional opportunity to glimpse the future of window technologies. Official industry sponsors were Libbey Owens Ford Company, one of the world's leading manufacturers of float glass and Edgetech IG, manufacturer of Super Spacer, pioneer of warm-edge technology in North America.
More on the conference in the next Solar Update.
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