Patent Abstract:
A structurally integrated solar collector. Roof and wall covering components are integrated with solar collectors to permit solar energy to be converted to heat, electricity and hot water for use within a building. A roof truss is described that additionally captures sunlight for illuminating a building. The roof and wall components are adaptable to heating and cooling seasons so as to minimize the loss of air-conditioned air in the summer time and to maximize solar heating during cold months. Solar energy captured by a structurally integrated solar collector can be directly converted to electricity through use of photovoltaic materials or by harnessing airflow through structurally integrated solar collector to obtain electricity through mechanical conversion.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from provisional application No. 60/326,297 filed Oct. 1, 2001. The No. 60/326,297 provisional application is incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety, for all purposes. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to building construction and the placement of solar energy collectors thereon. More specifically, the present invention relates to integrating solar collectors with building components so as to permit the simultaneous solar harvesting of heat and light, the conversion thereof to electrical energy, and the selective use of heat for heating and cooling.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Traditional roof technologies construct elevated covers to buildings. A roof typically comprises a layer of impermeable tar, tarpaper or concrete laid over a wood or metal platform (deck) of corrugated metal sheeting. While a roof seals a building from the environment, it also results in substantially reduced daylight illumination, the loss of a heat source in cool seasons and the collection of heat in warm seasons. Skylights may or not be fitted to improve illumination but may add to the heat gain in the warmer months. Similarly, wall construction is primarily a means of sealing out the elements from the inside of a structure.  
           [0004]    Solar energy is tantalizing in both its promise and its evasiveness. The ultimate objective is to utilize solar energy to heat, cool, provide electricity, and light structures efficiently and to reduce the need for energy from other sources. Various approaches have been suggested for achieving each of elements of this objective.  
           [0005]    In a “German Roof” a series of windows are present on the roof of a building. In cross section these appear as a saw tooth pattern on the roof. They provide both light and heat (but usually only when they face the sun).  
           [0006]    Referring to FIG. 1, the “Minnesota window heater” is illustrated. This unit is placed in a window  27 . The suns rays are absorbed on a black (or dark)) panel  25  heating the air in the vicinity of the panel. The air rises through the heater (as noted by the arrows, causing more cool air to be drawn into the heater through opening  24 . Heated air is expelled through opening  26  into the room.  
           [0007]    Technologies that collect some aspect of solar energy introduce some negative side effects that require energy consumption to offset. Solar heat exchangers for water and space heating or for electrical energy collection cause a build up of heat in summer months. This heat needs to be actively dissipated or mechanically cooled at an expense. Similarly, solar technologies that are designed to heat water and convert solar energy to electrical energy ignore winter heating needs. Skylights and solar daylighters provide illumination but just as often add heat (via direct sunlight) as fast as illumination and increase the “solar oven” effect of most buildings.  
           [0008]    At additional expense and effort, solar photovoltaic panels may be laid horizontally or framed to sit at an angle. For example, photovoltaic (amorphous) on plastic substrate is available to lay in pans of standing seam metallic roofing. While photovoltaic panels permit the production of electricity, the per-kilowatt cost of generation is high. Additionally, the panels block solar illumination of the structure thereby trading off one form of solar energy for another.  
           [0009]    “The SOLARWALL® Solar Heating System” made by Conserval Engineering (Conserval Engineering) heats air in the winter. A southern wall is metal clad (aluminum or steel) on its exterior. A cavity is formed between the building&#39;s southern wall and the metal cladding. A ventilation fan, positioned at the top of the cavity creates reduced pressure within the cavity. Outside air is drawn in through holes in the metal cladding due to air pressure differential. The dark colored cladding is heated by solar radiation. The external air that is drawn over the metal cladding is heated and captured by openings in the metal cladding and collected in the wall cavity. The warmed air from the wall cavity rises to a plenum at the top of the cavity and is ducted to a circulation fan. The warmed air is circulated throughout the building. Applications include using the metal cladding as roofing material and overlaying the metal cladding with photovoltaic panels to produce electricity.  
           [0010]    The Conserval Engineering approach, described above, is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,728 to Peter et. al, entiled “Method and Apparatus for Preheating Ventilation Air for a Building”, (&#39;728) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,338 to Hollick et. al, entitle, “Method and Apparatus for Preheating Ventilation Air for a Building”, (&#39;338). The description for patents &#39;338 and &#39;728 are virtually the same (the &#39;338 patent is a divisional of the &#39;728 patent). Effectively, both citations are for an exterior wall passive solar heat collector for heating outside air.  
           [0011]    In Canadian Patent 1,196,825 issued to Hollick and entitled “Method for Preheating Ventilation Air in a Building” (&#39;825), describes an outer transparent glazing to a south wall that allows solar energy to penetrate the glazing material (glass, plastic or the like) and be absorbed on a black painted building wall. There is a space between the glazing material and the building wall forming an air chamber. Outside air is drawn into the air chamber through an opening at the bottom of the glazed material. The air is heated by the building wall which has become heated from absorbing solar energy. The air rises and is distributed by fan and duct work through the building for heating purposes. If heating is not desired, the hot air is allowed to vent to the outside.  
           [0012]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,347 issued to Rooney and entitled “Solar Collection Building Truss,” (&#39;347) describes a solar collector integrated into a building truss that can be fabricated at a building site or pre-fabricated at a factory. The &#39;347 patent teaches use of reflective surfaces to direct light to a heat absorbing member connected to a heat exchanger or other means for storing heat generated by the heat absorbing member. A similar truss was described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,869 also issued to Rooney, entitled “Solar Collector.” 
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,179 issued to Dalacu and entitled “Array Of Photovoltaic Modules For A Integrated Solar Power Collection System,” describes a solar powered collection system comprising a variety of arrays for generating electricity.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,244 issued to Francovitch and entitled “Roof Construction Having Insulation Structure Membrane And Photovoltaic Cells,” teaches a means for roof construction that integrates photovoltaic cells into the roof structure.  
           [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,939 issued to Nath et. al., and entitled “Photovoltaic Roof Method Of Making Same,” describes a roof structure comprising panels in which a photovoltaic layers has been incorporated.  
           [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,710 issued to Palmer and entitled “Self Sufficient Apparatus And Method For Conveying Solar Heat Energy From An Attic,” (&#39;710) describes a solar energy absorbing roof that heats air in the attic below the roof. In &#39;710, solar-generated heat is collected from the attic stored and/or distributed within the building. Fans and other electrical apparatus needed to capture, distribute, and store the collected heat are powered by photovoltaic cells placed on the roof.  
           [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,424 issued to Lockwood and entitled “Solar Collector System For Standing Seam Roofs,” (&#39;424) describes a solar collector system incorporated into a standing seam roof. The collector is formed by securing two transparent sheets to the standing seams of a roof panel to form two channels, one acting as a heat exchanger and the other an insulating chamber. Sun light impinges on the bottom of the roof panel and heats it. Air travels over the heated surface of the bottom of the roof panel and is heated and collected by ductwork located near the center ridge of the roof.  
           [0018]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,825 issued to Zornig and entitled “Solar Heated And Cooled Dwelling,” describes means for collecting heated attic air during the heating season and removing unwanted heated attic air during the cooling season.  
           [0019]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,188 issued to Cummings and entitled “Solar Collector And Heat Trap,” describes a solar collector and heat trap for the collection of heat in an attic area of the home for subsequent distribution throughout the home.  
           [0020]    Finally, French Patent 2,621,943 was issued to Hernecq for a heat collection system in the attic of a home for distribution throughout the home.  
           [0021]    While these inventions are useful for producing heat or photovoltaic energy, they do not represent an integral construction member that has the capability of not only collecting heat for use in heating inside air but also producing electrical energy from the heat air collected.  
           [0022]    What would be useful is a means of integrated solar collection into construction that would make efficient use of sunlight for illumination and solar energy for generation of heat and electricity without unwanted structural heating, and that would intercept sunlight generated heat for capture and use during winter and diversion away during summer. It would also be useful if sunlight and solar generated heat could be used to generate electricity and hot water under all seasonal conditions during daytime periods of peak electrical power consumption.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0023]    An embodiment of the present invention is a roof component that integrates a solar collector into the structure of the roof itself. Another embodiment of the present invention is a wall component that integrates a solar collector is built into the structure of an exterior wall.  
           [0024]    It is an object of the present invention to integrate solar collection capability into roof and wall building components.  
           [0025]    It is an object of the present invention to minimize roof shading by indirect day lighting and to obviate daytime artificial lighting requirements.  
           [0026]    It is another object of the present invention to minimize the direct solar heating of the enclosed structure.  
           [0027]    It is a further object of the present invention to capture sunlight generated heat for diversion away from the enclosed structure during the summer, in order to minimize required cooling load and for use within the structure during winter in order to minimized the heating load.  
           [0028]    It is yet another object of the present invention to use the captured sunlight generated heat to generate electricity and hot water for the structure year round.  
           [0029]    It is still another object of the present invention to minimize electrical demand and reduce electrical lighting and mechanical space conditioning to ‘stand-by-status.’ 
           [0030]    These and other objectives of the present invention will become apparent from a review of the general and detailed descriptions that follow. In one embodiment of the present invention, a combined solar collector is built into two sides of an integrated truss collector structure, in lieu of a built up platform of roof decking and tar, etc. This truss structure rests upon the load bearing walls, apex up, orienting panels to the south and panels the north. The southerly facing solar energy collection panels collect solar energy for conversion to heat and/or electricity. The northerly facing sunlight collection panels (daylighter panels) collect light for illumination of the interior of an enclosed structure.  
           [0031]    In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a solar collector is built into a roof panel that is used over a conventional roof deck. In another embodiment of the present invention, a solar collector is built into a wall panel that is used to cover an exterior wall, oriented vertically on the side of a building. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 illustrates a “Minnesota Window Heater” 
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 illustrates the integrated truss of the present invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the present invention having a series of collectors.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the present invention further illustrating airflow, turbine and electrical production elements.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the present invention wherein heated air is recirculated back into the building.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the present invention showing airflow and heat collection means.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the present invention having photovoltaic cells on one surface of the collector.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 illustrates the flat roof collector.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 9 illustrates the flat roof collector and associated flow of heated air.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the flat roof collector.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 11 illustrates a building having heat/electricity producing double walls.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0043]    An embodiment of the present invention is a roof structure that integrates solar collectors into the structure of the roof itself. Referring to FIG. 2 a cross section of an integrated truss collector  8  is illustrated. The integrated truss collector  8  illustrated comprises two lower rails  6 , a cross member  12 , a truss air duct  10 , solar energy collection panel  16  and daylighter panel  18 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the solar energy collection panel  16  is oriented in a southerly direction and the daylighter panels  18  are oriented in a northerly direction. Each end of the integrated truss collector  8  is supported by a weight-bearing structure.  
         [0044]    As illustrated In FIG. 2, the integrated truss collector  8  comprises a single panel length, however this is not meant as a limitation. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art of the present invention, the number of panels may be determined by the producer of the integrated truss collector  8 , subject to limitations of structural strength and loading. Additionally, integrated truss collector  8  may comprise supporting structures in addition to the lower rails  6  and, cross member  12 , which supporting structures would be apparent to those skilled in the art of the present invention. Additionally, truss air duct  10 , which as will be described in detail below receives heated air from solar energy collection panel  16 , is illustrated as tubular in cross section. However, this is not intended as a limitation. Other means of receiving heated air from solar energy collection panel  16  may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, the truss air duct  10  is integrated with the solar energy collection panel  16 .  
         [0045]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a plurality of integrated truss collectors assembled on a building is illustrated. The integrated truss collectors  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  are generally oriented east-west with the sloped portions facing south for collecting solar energy and north for collecting light for illumination. A roof air duct  76  for collecting and distributing warm air runs in a north-south direction above the trusses  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 . The roof air duct  76  connects to each of the roof trusses at the truss air duct  10  (illustrated in FIG. 1). This roof air duct  76  may be steel, aluminum or other suitable material, including entirely or partially transparent material to allow further air heating. The roof air duct  76  may extend all the way to the south side of the roof, if a “South Wall” (described below) is fitted to the south face of the structure.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIG. 4, warm collected from each of the integrated truss collectors is used in an electrical generator  82  to generate electricity for building use or/and distribution to an electrical grid. The electrical generator  82  comprises a low-pressure turbine  83  that is turned by the warm air flowing through the roof air duct  76 . The low-pressure turbine  83  in turn drives an electrical generator  84 . A louver  86  (illustrated in the closed position) or similar device directs the hot air exhaust to chimney  88  for venting into the atmosphere.  
         [0047]    Referring now to FIG. 5, warm collected from each of the integrated truss collectors and flowing through the roof air duct  76  is used for heating the internal structure. In this embodiment, louver  86  is open to direct warm air into the internal structure through vent  90 . Low-pressure turbine  83  is not configured to produce electricity in this embodiment.  
         [0048]    Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the airflow of an embodiment of the present invention is further illustrated. Oriented in the northerly direction is daylighter panel  30 . Oriented in the southerly direction is solar energy collection panel  40 . (In the southern hemisphere, the north-south designations are reversed.)  
         [0049]    The daylighter panel  30  comprises outer glazing  32  and inner glazing  34 , however this is not meant as a limitation. Additional glazing may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Outer glazing  32  and inner glazing  34  form channel  58  that directs air from the daylighter panel  30  to solar energy collection panel  40 . The daylighter panel  30  allows daylight to enter the structure to illuminate the spaces within. The daylighter panel  30  is vented to draw inside air  36  from intake vent  38  (located in proximity to bottom rail  6 ) and to vent the air to solar energy collection panel  40  via the air gap  72  located below and external to the truss air duct  10 . In another embodiment, where the daylighter panel is triple glazed, air intake vent  38  would be located near the apex of the triangular cross-section of the integrated truss collector. In this embodiment, a second channel would be formed in daylighter panel  30  (not illustrated) and the air would flow down this second channel to channel  58  before flowing to the solar energy collection panel  40  as previously described.  
         [0050]    Solar energy collection panel  40  comprises a single transparent layer  42  comprising glass, plastic or other transparent material that allows the sun to illuminate a light-absorbing layer  44 . In an embodiment according to the present invention illustrated in FIG. 7, a daylighter panel  30  and a solar energy collection panel  40  are deployed as described in reference to FIG. 6 with the exception that light-absorbing layer  44  is a photovoltaic (PV) material that absorbs solar energy to produce electricity. Solar energy not converted to electricity is converted to heat that is collected as described below.  
         [0051]    In another embodiment, light-absorbing layer  44  is a rigid material that is optimized for heat absorption. By way of illustration not as a limitation, light-absorbing layer  44  is a metal or wood sheet that is painted black. A bottom layer  46  is solid, with an optionally silvered interior to enhance the reflectance characteristics from daylighter panel  30 .  
         [0052]    Referring again to FIG. 6, the three layers of solar energy collection panel  40  form two channels, channels  60  and  62 . In operation, sunlight passes through the transparent panel  42  of the solar energy collection panel  40  and is absorbed by light-absorbing layer  44 . As the air within channel  60  is heated it expands, rises and induces a movement toward the top of the truss. This in turn causes air to move through channel  62  downward through an opening  64  in the light-absorbing layer  44  to be heated by the absorption panel. Air is drawn to the solar energy collection panel  40  through air gap  72  in the daylighter panel  30  on the north-facing surface. Relatively cool inside air  36  is drawn into channel  58  though inlet  38 . Air that is drawn into the system of the present invention travels through channel  58 , which is connected to channel  62 . Thus a low pressure region, formed by the heated air of the solar energy collection panel  40 , causes air to be transported through channels  58  and  62  from the daylighter panel  30  to the solar energy collection panel  40  through opening  64  at the bottom of the south facing solar energy collection panel  40 . The heated air is then accumulated at truss air duct  10 . Heated air is then collected from a plurality of integrated truss collectors  8  by roof air duct  76  through collection vents  78  in each of the plurality of truss air ducts  10 . Heated air travels to the roof air duct  76  through channel  80 .  
         [0053]    When heating of the interior structure is desired, inside air  36  is drawn into the previously described channels, heated and distributed for return to the internal structure. During the middle of the day, warm air is from the roof through bypass  70  located on the solar energy collection panel  40  near lower rail  6 . This avoids removing all the cool air from inside the building during hot weather.  
         [0054]    The intake capture of external heated air is dictated by bypass  70 . In one embodiment of the present invention, bypass  70  is opened or closed by the use of a bimetal hinge. The two metals of the hinge have differing expansion and contraction coefficients. It is the greater heat of summer time that opens the bypass. This is not meant as a limitation however. For example, bypass  70  may be mechanically or electrically actuated by a thermostat or other heat  
         [0055]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the heated air from the roof air duct  76  is directed to a heat exchanger where the heated air is used for hot water production. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the heated air is used to operate a low-pressure turbine that in turn drives an electrical generator to produce electricity.  
         [0056]    As noted previously, in one embodiment (see FIG. 7) of the present invention, light-absorbing layer  44  comprises a PV panel. Electricity from the PV panel and from the electrical generator (see FIG. 4), feed into the structure&#39;s electrical system for dedicated internal load, with heavy amperage leads inside the structure dedicated to the external utility grid.  
         [0057]    Referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, an integrated flat roof collector  92  comprises a panel having two vertical side components  90  connected near the midpoints of each side component by a horizontal component  96 . The vertical side components  90  are divided by the horizontal component into an upper segment  92  and a lower segment  94 . In another embodiment, a bottom component (not shown) connects the bottom of each side component to form a base. A single transparent layer  98  covers the top of the tray and is supported by the upper segments  92  of the vertical side components  94  of the panels.  
         [0058]    Referring to FIG. 9, horizontal light-absorbing layer  100  is attached to or formed on horizontal component  96 . The panels are installed on roof decking, preferably facing south, side-by-side, forming parallel rectangular trays that extend for the full pitch of the roof. The vertical side components  90  are supported by decking  102  and form a first channel  112  bounded by the decking  102  (or, if implemented, the bottom component), the bottom of horizontal component  96  and the inside surfaces of the lower segments  94  of the vertical side components  96 . A single transparent layer  98  covers the top of the tray and is supported by the upper segments  92  of the vertical side components  94  of the panels. A second channel  114  is formed by the inside surfaces of the upper segments  94 , the top of the light-absorbing layer  100 , and the bottom of the transparent layer  98 .  
         [0059]    Transparent layer  98  comprises glass, plastic or other suitable transparent material that permits the passage of the suns rays. Light-absorbing layer  100  (which is not transparent) is supported by or formed on the horizontal component  96  and comprises photovoltaic (PV) material or a light absorbing material. In one embodiment, the light absorbing material is a layer of dark paint applied to horizontal component  96 .  
         [0060]    In this configuration, air is drawn in from the attic space  108  through opening  110 . Air rising on the upper side of the panel through second channel  114  draws air from the attic space  108  through first channel  112 , through a junction  64  connecting first channel  112  and second channel  114 , and into second channel  114  The heated air from second channel  114  rises and passes into a roof cap collector  104 . At this point, the heated air is available for use. In one embodiment, the heat air drives a low-pressure turbine that in turn drives an electrical generator. In another embodiment, the heated air is passed through a heat exchanger to heat water. In yet another embodiment, the heated air is returned through ductwork to heat the inside of a building. The airflow path is completed by chimney  106  that allows the air to vent to the outside. In another embodiment, airflow path is completed through a vent in roof cap collector  104 .  
         [0061]    In an alternate embodiment, flat panels are used to create an integrated wall collector (or “south wall” collector) as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The integrated wall collector may be used as a standalone collection system or in conjunction with an integrated truss collector or an integrated flat roof collector as previously described.  
         [0062]    Referring to FIG. 10, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, a solar collector comprises a panel having two vertical side components  190  connected near the midpoints of each side component by a horizontal component  196 . The side component  190  is divided by the horizontal component into an upper segment  192  and a lower segment  194 . In another embodiment, a bottom component (not shown) connects the bottom of each side component to form a base. Horizontal light-absorbing layer  200  is attached to or formed on horizontal component  196   
         [0063]    The panels are installed on an exterior wall of a building, preferably a southerly facing wall, side-by-side forming parallel rectangular trays that extend for the full height of the wall. The lower segments  194  are supported by exterior wall  202  (FIG. 11) and form a first channel  212  bounded by the exterior wall  202 , the bottom horizontal component  196  and the inside surfaces of the lower segments  194  (FIG. 10). A transparent layer  198  covers the top of the tray and is supported by the upper segments  192  of the panels. A second channel  214  is formed by the inside surfaces of the upper segments  192 , the top of the light-absorbing layer  200 , and the bottom of the transparent layer  198 .  
         [0064]    It should be noted that production of the various wall can occur in a number of ways. For example the vertical components and horizontal component can be of a single piece of metal that is formed with the various angles required. However, where manufacturing concerns dictate, especially where a coating is to be applied to the metal components, the vertical components and the horizontal component can be constructed of a number of separate pieces that are assembled to achieve the angles and surfaces noted in FIG. 10.  
         [0065]    Transparent layer  198  comprises glass, plastic or other suitable transparent material that permits the passage of the suns rays. Light-absorbing layer  200  is supported by the base of the panel and comprises photovoltaic (PV) material or a light absorbing material. In one embodiment, the light absorbing material is a layer of dark paint applied to horizontal component  196 .  
         [0066]    In this configuration, air is drawn in from the interior space  208  through opening  210 . Air rising on the upper side of the panel through second channel  214  draws air from the interior space  208  through first channel  212 , through a junction  164  connecting first channel  212  and second channel  214 , and into second channel  214  The heated air from second channel  214  rises and passes into a wall collector  204 . At this point, the heated air is available for use. In one embodiment, the heat air drives a low-pressure turbine that in turn drives an electrical generator. In another embodiment, the heated air is passed through a heat exchanger to heat water. In yet another embodiment, the heated air is returned through ductwork to heat the inside of a building. If the integrated wall collector is used in conjunction with an integrated truss collector or a flat panel, the heated air received at wall collector  204  may be conveyed to the either roof air duct  76  (see FIG. 6 and related description) the or roof cap collector  104  (see FIG. 9 and related description).  
         [0067]    Referring now to FIG. 11, a conceptual view of the present invention when employed in a full building wall is illustrated. A building employing the present invention has a first surface of glass  302  at least on the south facing wall of the building (in the northern hemisphere for example). When the sun&#39;s ray impinge on the glass wall  302  heat is produced and captured in the space between the glass wall  302  and glass surface of a second wall  303  that constitutes the wall of the offices floors  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 .  
         [0068]    Each office floor has vents  314 ,  316 ,  318 , and  320 , which vent to the space between glass wall  302  and office wall  303 .  
         [0069]    Heat produce between glass wall  302  and office wall  303  rises and is captures in air duct  312 . Air duct  312  is in turn connected to a turbine that causes electricity to be produced as described in FIG. 4. Further, because of the flow of warm air between walls  302  and  303 , air in the floors is circulated through the floor and vented to the space between the walls  302  and  303 . In this manner, there is a constant airflow through the floors cooling them and generating electricity that can be stored in ways known in the art.  
         [0070]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the number of floors in the building is not a limitation. This figure is for illustrative purposes only.  
         [0071]    Solar collectors integrated into roof and wall-building components have now been illustrated. As described herein, the integrated solar collectors provide efficient means for collection of solar energy for conversion to heat and electricity and for collection sunlight for building illumination. It will be understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed and that the examples and embodiments described herein are in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art of the present invention will recognize that other embodiments using the concepts described herein are also possible.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8