Solar Power Building Design (2008).pdf

Endorsements for Solar Power in Building Design

Dr. Peter Gevorkian’s Solar Power in Building Design is the third book in a sequence of compre-

hensive surveys in the ﬁeld of modern solar energy theory and practice. The technical title does little

to betray to the reader (including the lay reader) the wonderful and uniquely entertaining immersion

into the world of solar energy.

It is apparent to the reader, from the very ﬁrst page, that the author is a master of the ﬁeld and is weav-

ing a story with a carefully designed plot. The author is a great storyteller and begins the book with a

romantic yet rigorous historical perspective that includes the contribution of modern physics. A

description of Einstein’s photoelectric effect, which forms one of the foundations of current photo-

voltaic devices, sets the tone. We are then invited to witness the tense dialogue (the ac versus dc debate)

between two giants in the ﬁeld of electric energy, Edison and Tesla. The issues, though a century old,

seem astonishingly fresh and relevant.

In the smoothest possible way Dr. Gevorkian escorts us in a well-rehearsed manner through a fascinat-

ing tour of the ﬁeld of solar energy making stops to discuss the basic physics of the technology, manu-

facturing process, and detailed system design. Occasionally there is a delightful excursion into subjects

such as energy conservation, building codes, and the practical side of project implementation.

All this would have been more than enough to satisfy the versed and unversed in the ﬁeld of renew-

able energy. But as all masters, Dr. Gevorkian wraps up his textbook in relevance by including a thor-

ough discussion of the current solar initiatives (California being a prototype) and the spectrum of

programs and ﬁnancial incentives that are being created.

Solar Power in Building Design has the seductive quality of being at once an overview and course

in solar energy for anyone with or without a technical background. I suspect that this book will likely

become a standard reference for all who engage in the emerging renewable energy ﬁeld.

D R . D ANNY P ETRASEK , M.D., P H .D.

California Institute of Technology

Dr. Gevorkian’s Solar Power in Building Design is a great read. If you are able to envision a relatively

arcane subject such as solar energy and photovoltaic applications as a compelling, page-turning read,

this is your book.

Dr. Gevorkian is a very lucid writer. A dedicated grammarian as well as a master of a multiplicity of

scientiﬁc disciplines, Dr. Gevorkian has crafted a text that broadens even the most jaded reader’s per-

spective on the subject of solar power. He ranges from storytelling, as with his brief characterization

of the controversy between early innovators Nikolai Tesla and Thomas Edison in the pioneering

years of the modern Energy Age, to a full-blown historical tracing of the rapid advances of the expan-

sive diversiﬁcation of energy applications within the past 50 years.

Throughout the book, Dr. Gevorkian espouses a didactic approach that is thoroughly inductive.

A wide swath of information, integral to the exposition of the text, is presented in survey fashion.

Many questions are both asked and answered, which provides any level of audience with a great deal

of satisfaction as they pour over the wide variety of data needed to complete this intriguing story.

Very little of this complex domain is left to speculation. The layperson drawn to this subject matter

should be appreciative, as Dr. Gevorkian prepares any reader to be able to intelligently communicate

with a consultant hired to install a solar power system, or to even install a system themselves.

Myriad examples of the range of installations, replete with visual support in the form of graphs, charts,

renderings, and color photographs, serve to provide even the most technically inept audience with the

certainty that they can adeptly navigate their way around a solar power system. That is the true beauty

of Solar Power in Building Design : a gem of a book for even armchair wannabe experts.

D R . L ANCE W ILLIAMS

Executive Director

US Green Building Council

Los Angeles chapter

I think the best way to summarize Solar Power in Building Design is “more than you thought you

needed to know.” Dr. Gevorkian has covered many areas of the solar power design in a manner that

allows the reader to really have a remarkable, practical understanding of solar renewable energy as

it now exists in North America. Anyone getting into the business should really consider this book as

a “must read,” a super primer for a thorough understanding of the industry. In addition to covering

the historical perspective, the book reﬂects a fresh perspective of the future direction of where the

industry will be in 25 years.

In addition to magniﬁcent coverage of technology issues, the reader is introduced to the critical

underlying intricacies of capital assets management such as long functioning life and speciﬁcity of

unique factors that must be taken into account for ﬁnancial analysis. In addition the book skillfully

covers asset proﬁling economics for the present and future and reﬂects a unique perspective as to

how solar power cogeneration ﬁts into the energy needs of the future.

Congratulations for another ﬁne scholarly work!

G ENE B ECK

President

EnviroTech Financial, Inc.

I have never before enjoyed reading a technology book that could deliver so much information down

to the core without once becoming boring and complicated.

The book takes the reader through the challenges of solar energy technology, engineering, and design

and its applications, providing every detail and an in-depth perspective from the basic to the most

complex issues.

Although it has been written for solar energy professionals, this book is a resource for anyone inter-

ested in solar energy technologies as Dr. Gevorkian has described the concepts of solar power engi-

neering and design precisely and clearly.

The highly informative diagrams and illustrations with each chapter help in understanding the

dynamics of solar power.

I also strongly recommend Solar Power in Building Design as a standard curriculum and guide on

renewable energy for architectural and engineering schools and colleges as a resource for students.

D R . F ARHAT I QBAL

President

Silica Solar LLC

The passion of the author in preservation of our ecological system, and in renewable energy in par-

ticular, is obvious in the pages of this scholarly text. His knowledge in the subject matter of solar

energy is evidenced in the clear presentation that can be understood by the general populace, yet

technological experts will appreciate the in-depth discussions.

The wealth of information and the abundance of resources contained in this volume will establish it

as an encyclopedia for solar energy design.

Congratulation for a great landmark work! Save our planet! Keep it green!

E MILY L UK , M.D.

Dr. Gevorkian’s Solar Power in Building Design is a very well written, scientiﬁcally sound, and techno-

logically proﬁcient book that should appeal to scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, and

laypersons alike. It is written in a simple, easy-to-read, and straightforward style that introduces the the-

ory and then delves, immediately, into the practicalities. It is also replete with suitable illustrations.

Energy is crucial for economic growth, but, as it now exists, extracts a heavy price in terms of environ-

mental degradation. Solar energy offers an attractive mitigation here, albeit partially. But then, in an age

of almost universal concerns about energy and environment, the fact is that a wide gulf separates our

awareness of the need to use solar power and our familiarity with the nuts and bolts of harnessing this

power. Dr. Gevorkian’s book bridges that and can therefore be as much a resource for the solar energy

professionals as for the solar energy enthusiasts as well as curious onlookers.

D R . P AL P OORNA , M.S., M.B.A., P H .D.

Chair

Physical Science

Glendale Community College

Glendale, CA

It is an honor to be asked to review your latest book Solar Power in Building Design.

This book is systematically and simply presented to acquaint any student with the procedures nec-

essary to incorporate solar power in the design of buildings.

The book covers straightforward delineation from basic physics through technologies, design, and

implementation and culminates in an appreciation of our environment, and diminishing our depend-

ence on fossil fuels, while punctuating the ultimate economics involved in preserving our planet.

The capturing of solar energy has been around for a long time, and educating the people of this planet

as to how to utilize this natural resource remains a paramount task. This book is essentially a com-

prehensive educational resource and a design reference manual that offers the reader an opportunity

to learn about the entire spectrum of solar power technology with remarkable ease. The book is a

magniﬁcent accomplishment.

W ILLIAM N ONA

Architect

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

The author has provided very comprehensive material in the ﬁeld of photovoltaic and solar systems

in the text, starting from the basic knowledge on silicon technology, solar cell processing, and mod-

ule manufacturing to the cutting edge and most aesthetically pleasing BIPV (building-integration

photovoltaic) systems and installations. The content given has all the necessary tools and informa-

tion to optimize solar system designs and integration. To all professionals interested in having a thor-

ough knowledge in photovoltaic systems design, integration, and engineering, this book is a must.

F RANK C. P AO

Chairman Atlantis Energy Systems, Inc.

Solar Power in Building Design is a must-read primer for any professional or professional-to-be,

who wants to learn about challenges and opportunities associated with design implementation or

economics of solar systems.

The author emphasizes how engineering design is impacted by economics, environment, and local

government policies.

The book precisely shows the current state of solar and renewable energy technology, its challenges,

and its up-to-date successes.

Trivia facts and history of solar technology make this book fun to read.

A NDRZEJ K ROL , P.E.

President

California Electrical Services

Glendale, CA

Producing electricity from the sun using photovoltaic (PV) systems or solar thermal systems for

heating and cooling has become a major industry worldwide along with many helpful multilingual

solar system simulation software tools. But engineering, installing, monitoring, and maintaining

such systems requires constant knowledge update and ongoing training.

Dr. Gevorkian’s Solar Power in Building Design makes a superb reference guide on solar electricity

and offers a unique combination of technical and holistic discussion on building rating systems such

as LEED with practical advice for students, professionals, and investors.

Well-illustrated chapter sequences with built U.S. examples offer step-by-step insights on the theory

and reality of installed renewable energy systems, solar site analysis, component speciﬁcations, and

U.S.-speciﬁc system costs and economics, performance, and monitoring.

T HOMAS S PIEGELHALTER

Professor

School of Architecture

University of Southern California

R.A. EU, ISES, LEED

Freiburg, Germany, and Los Angeles

Solar Power in Building Design is a comprehensive book that is an indispensable reference for students

and professionals.

Each of the topics is presented completely, with clear and concise text. A history of each subject is

followed by both a global and a detailed view. The invaluable historical background amazingly spans

topics as diverse as the centuries-old Baghdad battery to the photoelectric effect.

The ﬁgures in the text are excellent: the diagrams and illustrations, with the accompanying text in

the book, walk the reader through each section, resulting in a better understanding of the concepts

presented. The photographs are also excellent in that they clearly show their intended subject. In

addition, the author has clearly thought through each topic, ensuring that there are no surprises for

the professional embarking on incorporating a solar power system into a building’s design.

D R . V AHE P EROOMIAN , P H .D.

Professor of Physics

University of California (UCLA)

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