Tallest building in U.S. will add vertical solar farm

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Chicago’s Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), North America’s tallest building, is already an icon in the city. But it could soon be an icon for solar energy use in cities? A new project will take advantage of the tower’s vertical surface area by adding up to 2 MW of solar glass panels — equivalent to a 10 acre solar field — on the south side of the building’s 56th floor.

This pilot project will use photovoltaic glass units developed by Pythagoras Solar. From Inhabitat:

The new windows, dubbed

high power density photovoltaic glass units

(PVGU), are a clever hybrid technology that lays typical

monocrystalline silicon solar

cell horizontally between two layers of glass to form an individual tile. An internal plastic reflective prism directs angled sunlight onto the solar cells but allows diffuse daylight and horizontal light through. Think of it as a

louvered shade

which allows for views but cuts out the harsh direct sun.

If the project is successful, it could lead the way to other similar projects in cities. It’s a great way for cities to harvest energy without using up precious space in the city or limited rooftop space.

The product is also a potential breakthrough in energy efficiency in glass towers, where solar heat gain is the bane of energy-efficient design.

http://www.smartplanet.com/people/blog/cities/tallest-building-in-us-will-add-vertical-solar-farm/322/

[Ban Hammer 13,399]

whatcha talking about - willis?

[웃 910]

This is searsly awesome.

[Amby 490]

Cool! That pic made my head hurt.

[natty bumppo 297]

Chicago's Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), North America's tallest building, is already an icon in the city. But it could soon be an icon for solar energy use in cities? A new project will take advantage of the tower's vertical surface area by adding up to 2 MW of solar glass panels — equivalent to a 10 acre solar field — on the south side of the building's 56th floor.

This pilot project will use photovoltaic glass units developed by Pythagoras Solar. From Inhabitat:

the south side of the 56th floor has 10 acres of vertical space

[faust-yusov 103]

Presumably that ought to read "56 floors."

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Next Year's Headline: "Willis Tower's Solar Windows Increase Chances of Skin Cancer."

[JohnSmith2007 353]

How will this effect the view from the windows?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

How will this effect the view from the windows?

It might block the view of the all the automobile exhaust from below.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

It might block the view of the all the automobile exhaust from below.

It is a serious question. Companies pay a lot of money for the views from the tower. If this blocks that view how will it effect those that shelled out the big bucks?

Have you ever been to Chicago? I have been up this tower several times in my life. Trust me, the view is really something. I can understand why someone would pay a premium for that view.

[Zero Sum 305]

It is a serious question. Companies pay a lot of money for the views from the tower. If this blocks that view how will it effect those that shelled out the big bucks?

Have you ever been to Chicago? I have been up this tower several times in my life. Trust me, the view is really something. I can understand why someone would pay a premium for that view.

Have you been there recently? The step-out windows are something.

FWIW, 99.99% of visitors don't see any of the levels below the Skydeck.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

Have you been there recently? The step-out windows are something.

FWIW, 99.99% of visitors don't see any of the levels below the Skydeck.

I was there about 6 months ago. It was my 4th time going up. The step outs are a lot of fun. I couldn't get my wife to step out there.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Batman and Robin can finally get real jobs.