Sustainable Building Awards 2017

6 BUILD / Sustainable Building Awards 2017 , Best Global Photovotlaic Glass Provider 2017 Onyx Solar designs andmanufactures photovoltaic glass for construction purposes. We invited AdrianoMuñoz to tell us more about the company and what makes them successful. key factor in the struggle against climate change.” Discussing recent projects, the company undertook a challenging but exciting project, revitalising a facility into a mixed- use metroburb, with the project involving the largest photovoltaic skylight in the world. Adriano describes the challenges and requirements that the firm faced and how the team managed to overcome these unique problems. “One of our last projects has involved the largest-of-its- kind photovoltaic skylight in the world. As a part of the complete revitalization of the two-million square-foot former Bell Labs facility into an iconic mixed-use metroburb located in Holmdel, New Jersey, Onyx Solar is supplying Bell Works with 5,500 sqm of amorphous Silicon photovoltaic glass. Upon completion, the PV skylight will both naturally illuminate the complex while generate free, clean electricity from the sun. It will simultaneously offset approx. 60 tons of annual CO2 emissions, drastically improving the building’s energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint. “Bell Works’ skylight will feature 24 different glass units from Onyx Solar to cover the various unique skylight schemes at the Eero Saarinen-designed architectural gem. Each will be comprised of amorphous Silicon thin film photovoltaic (a-Si PV) active glass, laminated between two sheets of tempered safety glass, allowing for 20% Visual Light Transmittance (VLT) to reduce solar heat gain while producing energy, all while preserving Bell Work’s historical design.” Within Spain, there are many benefits to working in the region but also there were challenges that the company had to overcome, particularly the economic crisis in the country. Praising the staff, Adriano explains that Onyx Solar were always confident that there was talent within the region. “When Onyx Solar was established in Spain in 2009, the country was in the midst of the worst economic crisis the country has suffered in decades. We were able to become what we are today through a combination of hard work and international vocation. Despite the fact that the economic situation is still not ideal, we were always certain that the country does not have a shortage of talent. We like to think our staff is proof of that.” Ensuring that the firm is able to meet the needs and demands of its clients, the company works hard to provide solutions which are environmentally friendly but do not compromise architectural and structural requirements. There are many opportunities Onyx Solar’s PV glass generates free and clean energy from the sun, providing high thermal and acoustic insulation and protection from harmful solar radiation (filtering out 99% of ultraviolet radiation and 95% of infrared radiation). The company minimises the energy demand of any property, whilst increasing its value. Furthermore, the glass can be produced using two cutting- edge technologies (amorphous silicon and crystalline silicon) and is fully customisable in terms of size, shape, colour, degree of transparency and finishing, meaning it is able to replace conventional glass in different parts of the buildings (skylights, curtain walls, canopies, and the building envelope in general). The firm have also developed the first photovoltaic walkable floor, as well as photovoltaic furniture, capable of charging electronic devices. Adriano outlines what the firm’s overall mission is and how it plans to achieve it. “At Onyx Solar, we aspire not only to meet our client’s expectations but to surpass them, always delivering the most advanced photovoltaic glass in the market. This means keeping up with market trends, clients’ needs and investing in R+D+I will always be pillars of our success. Our aim is to enable the buildings of the future to be self-sufficient from an energetic point of view, a within the sector which Adriano highlights that the firm would like to get involved in, whilst also listing some of the challenges that the company faces. The company is always looking for ways to implement more sustainable buildings all around the globe. “Nowadays, buildings of our cities are responsible of 75% of electricity consumption and nearly half of CO2 emissions. As energy costs and sustainability concerns rise, it becomes imperative to employ new solutions that increase energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions without compromising architectural and structural requirements. Onyx Solar’s photovoltaic glass is a prime example of such solutions, and we work hard to fulfil every need architects, constructors and clients might have in a world where change occurs at a rapid pace. “Other renewable energy sources such as solar farms or wind farms are not so effective at solving this problem since they cannot replace conventional materials used in construction and they do not produce energy within cities, and 15% of all the energy generated is lost in distribution. The main obstacle to overcome this problem is to convince building owners and policy makers that our society should move to photovoltaic SU170003