There are over 8 billion square meters of rooftops on which solar panels could be installed in the US alone. This represents over 1 terawatt of potential solar capacity, which is roughly equivalent to all the installed solar power on earth today, or 6% of global energy consumption. Furthermore, recent advances in solar panel efficiency and usability are dramatically increasing the energy generation potential in buildings and creating new opportunities beyond the rooftop. As electricity costs rise around the world and increasingly tech-rich buildings look for efficiency solutions, the conditions are primed for a new dawn for solar power in the smart buildings sector. “According to the United Nations’ 2019 report, energy consumption in the building and construction industry accounts for more than 40% of total global energy consumption. To achieve the objective of energy saving in buildings and indoor comfort improvement simultaneously, effective and reliable applications of renewable energy in buildings should be reasonably promoted,” reads the July 2022 special […]