To support the early planning of solar neighborhoods, a tool was developed that offers a structured approach to selecting sustainable solar strategies for neighborhood development, catering to professionals such as architects, urban planners, energy planners, and policymakers. This MS Excel tool considers various passive and active solar strategies, including window placement, solar chimneys, PV systems, and solar thermal collectors, to enhance building performance and reduce energy consumption.
The tool’s output provides recommendations for suitable solar strategies based on user inputs, helping users make informed decisions towards achieving their sustainability goals. Examples demonstrate how the tool can select solar strategies for specific objectives in different climate types, providing valuable insights for sustainable neighborhood development.
Check out more:
The Solar Neighborhood Decision Making Tool: https://task63.iea-shc.org/decision-making-tool
User Manual: https://doi.org/10.18777/ieashc-task63-2024-0004