“Integrating Solar Thermal in Buildings – A quick guide for Architects and Builders” aims at promoting solar water heating (SWH) systems to architects and builders from developing countries and help them consider integrating SWH applications in their designs. Intending to be a useful handbook, this “Quick Guide” provides a compact overview of the technology and its main characteristics; as well as the main requirements to be considered for its application in different types of projects and in different geographical locations. It was elaborated in order to increase awareness about SWH among important stakeholders, such as architects and builders; and encourage the use of this type of solar systems. Hence, it gives a synopsis of the technology and general requirements for integration in buildings. It also provides a quick reference guide to the practicing architects and builders, helping them to quickly identify relevant sources of additional information.

“Integrating Solar Thermal in Buildings – A quick guide for Architects and Builders” was developed as part of the Global Solar Water Heating (GSWH) Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative (GSWH Project), and as a result of a joint effort between The European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through its Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) and the Global Environment Fund (GEF).

Funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the GSWH project’s main goal is to accelerate the global commercialization and sustainable market transformation of SWH, thereby reducing the current use of electricity and fossil fuels for hot water preparation. It will build on the encouraging market development rates already achieved in some GEF programme countries and seek to further expand the market in others where the potential and necessary prerequisites for market uptake seem to exist.

The GSWH project consists of two components as follows:

  • Component 1 – Global Knowledge Management (KM) and Networking: Effective initiation and co-ordination of the country specific support needs and improved access of national experts to state of the art information, technical backstopping, training and international experiences and lessons learnt.
  • Component 2 – UNDP Country Programmes: Work in the country programmes revolves around addressing the most common barriers to solar water heating development: policy and regulations, finance, business skills, information, and technology. ESTIF, as one of the project’s regional partners, is committed to the development of knowledge products and services. And to this end, ESTIF has been entrusted with the task of elaborating this “Quick guide for solar thermal in Buildings for Architects and Builders”.