THE INTEGRATION OF PHOTOVOLTAICS WITHIN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS IN THE DENSE URBAN ENVIRONMENTS OF SE ASIA, CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION TO PROMOTE IT AND TO MAINTAIN SOLAR-ENERGY ACCESS

The consensus of the '92 Rio summit was that all development should ai m for sustainable development. The major growth region for the next de cade is SE Asia, particularly the cities of South China for which Hong Kong is a role model. Current buildings are heavily dependent on ail- conditioning while planning legislation plus cost factors have inhibit ed the use of external shading devices and building codes have failed to introduce comprehensive integrated standards for energy conservatio n. Photovoltaics an a renewable energy resource without harmful effect s on the environment. The technology is maturing and high efficiency l ow-cost cells starting in commercial production. Opportunities exist f or photovoltaic arrays as shading and cladding panels in high-rise con struction. Hong Kong's solar radiation has been analysed, and the powe r potential of photovoltaic cladding and shading of a commercial build ing simulated. A 12 month study of photovoltaics has been set up to mo nitor real values in the urban context. Changes in present energy gene ration strategies are discussed, through NFFO and DSM, to assist the t ake-up of photovoltaics in buildings as well as the need for legislati on to maintain solar access.