I started this site without commercial intention. Developments in large and small scale PV, combined with batteries and distributed generation technologies have been nothing short of phenomenal. Yet, this cleaner, cheaper, more secure energy generation is not reflected in new building designs. PV is still mostly perceived as an unsightly add-on, or for designers an inconvenience. In PV Design I have selected from around the world homes and buildings that have put PV front and centre, showing the elegant potential for PV in the built environment.

Neat, in the title of this site uses the informal, largely outdated definition meaning very good; excellent as in say: converting sunlight into electricity is a neat way to generate clean electricity.

In the PV Design section, mostly urban buildings, both small and large in scale that successfully integrate the latest net-zero, PV developments and ideas into the fabric of the building are posted. Hopefully readers will send in images and brief descriptions of projects in that could be included.

Developments gather links to articles on technology and policy developments.

Neat Products provides links to some of the products that show up in Neat Design buildings. Other products that are of interest might be included such electric vehicles, as these too might be part of the renewable energy network of the future. 

In 1998 my Fremantle, Western Australia office, (now EHDO) along with Architect, Marco Vittino (vittinoAshe) was selected to design the Environmental Technology Centre at Murdoch University, Western Australia. The budget was tight, but it was a rare opportunity, so we threw all we had at it. The obvious energy efficient, passive solar design and the material innovations, were capped by roof cladding that utilised the first generation of Built-In-Photovoltaics (BiPV) laminates developed by UniSolar. The power it generated fed into the University micro-grid. It was an inventive little building, but most importantly it was a good work environment and visually appealing.   

Since then, developments in PV module efficiency, the dramatic PV cost reductions combined with rapidly developing, small scale  on site power storage, micro grids, peer to peer solar trading make the aesthetic integration of PV a priority in design for the built environment. Buildings that generate and trade clean energy can also be inspiring and designed to the highest aesthetic standards.    Products that integrate PV into the fabric of a building,  such as curtain walls, canopies, facades, brise soleil, and even PV paving have laid the grounds for an exciting architectural paradigm shift. Creating this blog is a way to stay informed and share my enthusiasm. 

By 2013, 1.25 million Australian homes had retrofitted, roof mounted PV modules. Progress continues. If the next generation of developers, builders, designers and architects integrated photovoltaics, even at the most simple level of maximising efficiently oriented roof space, the visual fabric of the energy revolution could be as elegant as the technology that connects it. Given the benefits, the cost would be negligible. In new homes and buildings, solar power can be between 2% and 5% of construction cost. There seems to be growing evidence that the market is ready. 

Giles Hohnen, April, 2015