Introduction of the Transpired Solar Collector into the market of the convergence areas of Wales

Drozynski, Charles; Brown, Catherine; Jones, Phil; Schmieder-Gaite, Tina; Dixon, Dylan; Jenkins, Huw; Perisoglou, Emmanouil; Waldron, Diana

Abstract

This paper investigates the process of implementing a retrofit - type technology (a transpired solar collector) into the convergence areas of Wales which is considered as an economically developing area in terms of sustainable interventions. This paper aims to discuss the disjuncture between the sustainable agenda and the regulation of the free market.
The concept of developing a low-carbon environment incorporates the efforts of developing technologies capable of reducing the carbon demand within existing buildings. One of such was the Sustainable Building Envelope Demonstration project which was set out in Cardiff University and supported by the Welsh European Funding Organisation. This project was convened with a industrial partner (Tata steel), which were given significant freedom to introduce the process. The research presented in this paper looks at a project that developed the technology in the specific climatic conditions of Wales and seeks to understand the way in which the industrial partner handled the task of it’s introduction with poor availability of skill, infrastructure, awareness and demand. The research looks at the architectural detailing and approach to the design and time-scale of procurement of the sites that the industrial partner was in charge of.
The observations suggest that the implementation process follows a free-market model and aims at attracting larger commercial industries as a start. It also suggests the NIMBY (not in my back yard) effect is subject to different regulations which might imply a change in the implementation model. By that the research engages with a discussion set out by Joseph Stiglitz on the role of free market economies in the progress of economically developing regions in Globalisation and its Discontents (2002).
The investigation is based on supervision of the implementation process as well as over 100 semi-structured interviews with inhabitants of Wales including by-standers, industrial partners and architects.

Citation

Drozynski, C., Brown, C., Jones, P., Schmieder-Gaite, T., Dixon, D., Jenkins, H., …Waldron, D. Introduction of the Transpired Solar Collector into the market of the convergence areas of Wales. Paper presented at ZEMCH, Melbourne

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: ZEMCH
• Conference Location: Melbourne
• Acceptance Date: Jan 1, 2018
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: economy, sustainability, retrofit, transpired solar collector, architectural detailing
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1494925
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Zero Energy Mass Custom Housing