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Solar energy

Solar Energy Application in Buildings Reduces Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted in Xi'an, People's Republic of China, has shown that the application of solar energy, particularly photovoltaic technology, in buildings leads to a significant reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions. The study demonstrated that ventilated photovoltaic walls combined with non-balanced thermal insulation (VPW-NB) can achieve a 46.99% heating energy saving rate and a 49.65% carbon reduction rate compared to non-balanced insulated wall structures.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study highlights the potential of solar energy application in buildings to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, with a focus on photovoltaic technology and non-balanced thermal insulation structures.
  • The research used numerical simulations on the TRNSYS platform to examine the energy-saving and carbon-reduction effects of VPW-NB in the Lhasa region, demonstrating its potential for widespread application.
  • The results show that VPW-NB offers benefits including non-balanced thermal insulation, photovoltaic power generation, and photovoltaic heat utilization, meeting the building's own energy demands and supplying surplus energy outward.
  • The study recommends VPW-NB as a reference for solar energy application and insulation design in low-carbon buildings within solar-rich regions.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and provides a valuable contribution to the field of energy and buildings.
  • The authors of the study include Xinrong Zhu, Yan Liu, Liu Yang, Jiaping Liu, Daijun Huang, Yanyan Niu, and Yanping Yuan.

Statistics:

  • The VPW-NB system achieved a 46.99% heating energy saving rate compared to non-balanced insulated wall structures.
  • The VPW-NB system achieved a 49.65% carbon reduction rate compared to non-balanced insulated wall structures.
  • The combined system met the building's own energy demands and supplies surplus energy outward, realizing an additional energy supply rate of 46.58% for the VPW-NB system in the project.
  • The study used numerical simulations on the TRNSYS platform to examine the energy-saving and carbon-reduction effects of VPW-NB.

Sources:

  • Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction Benefits of Ventilated Photovoltaic Walls Combined With Non-balanced Thermal Insulation In Lhasa Residential Buildings. Energy and Buildings, 2025;341.
  • Elsevier Science Sa, PO Box 564, 1001 Lausanne, Switzerland. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Energy and Buildings - www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-and-buildings/)
  • NewsRx LLC. Study Results from State Key Laboratory Broaden Understanding of Energy and Buildings (Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction Benefits of Ventilated Photovoltaic Walls Combined With Non-balanced Thermal Insulation In Lhasa Residential Buildings). Global Warming Focus. August 18, 2025; p 619.

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