Tools and methods for solar building design: Results of IEA Task 41 international survey

As part of the IEA-SHC Task 41 'Solar Energy and Architecture' an international survey was carried out. This paper presents its results for Subtask B which especially focuses on methods and tools for solar design applied by architects. Building professionals, mainly architects, were contacted via email and asked to participate in a web-based questionnaire about their use of methods and tools for solar design and related themes, such as barriers for the use of tools or their design process. In addition, general data concerning the architectural office (size, type of buildings) and personal facts (age, experience and profession) were collected. Fourteen countries participated in the survey and a total of 627 responses were received, but only 350 were filled out completely or almost completely and therefore analysed in detail. Although the response rate was lower than expected, the results clearly point out that there is a high awareness of the importance of solar energy use in buildings, but that a number of barriers regarding the widespread application of digital tools for solar design during the design process still exist. The survey confirms results of former investigations, done by other researchers, presented in a literature review in the second official report of Subtask B, which shows that architects are lacking of digital tools for solar design especially adequate for the Early Design Phase (EDP). The identification of opportunities, obstacles, and requirements expressed by professionals and suggestions for improvements will help to formulate the next step of the Subtask B work plan, which will consist in developing guidelines for both professionals and software tool developers in order to encourage and accelerate the development and application of solar energy design in building projects.