The direction and environment of photovoltaics (PVs) may influence their energy output. The practical PV performance under various conditions should be estimated, particularly during initial design stages when PV model types are unknown. Previous studies have focused on a limited number of PV projects, which required the details of many PV models; furthermore, the models can be case sensitive. According to the 18 projects conducted in 7 locations (latitude 29.5–51.25N) around the world, we developed polynomials for the crystalline silicon PV energy output for different accessible input variables. A regression tree effectively evaluated the correlations of the outcomes with the input variables; those of high importance were identified. The coefficient of determination, indicating the percentage of datasets being predictable by the input, was higher than 0.65 for 14 of the 18 projects when the polynomial was developed using the accessible variables such as global horizontal solar radiation. However, individual equations should be derived for horizontal cases, indicating that a universal polynomial for crystalline silicon PVs with a tilt angle in the range 0°–66° can be difficult to develop. The proposed model will contribute to evaluating the performance of PVs with low and medium tilt angles for places of similar climates.
An investigation into the effectiveness of bioretention cells (BCs) under potential climatic changes was conducted using representative concentration pathways. A case study of Guangzhou showed changes in peak runoff in climate change scenarios, with obvious growth in RCP8.5 and slight growth in RCP2.6. The performance of BCs on multiple parameters, including reduction of runoff volume, peak runoff, and first flush, were examined in different design storms using a hydrology model (SWMM). The effectiveness of BCs varied non-linearly with scale. Their performance fell by varying amounts in the various scenarios. BCs could provide sufficient effects in response to short-return-period and short-duration storms, but the performance of BCs decreased with heavy storms, especially considering climate change. Hence, BCs cannot replace grey infrastructure but should be integrated with them. The method developed in this study could be useful in the planning and design of low impact development in view of future climate changes.
Hot and humid areas experience constant high temperatures and high humidity during summer, causing widespread concern about outdoor thermal discomfort. This paper investigates the effects of landscape design strategies on outdoor thermal environments during typical summer and winter weather conditions in the hot–humid areas of China. The physiological equivalent temperature (PET) is used for evaluating the thermal performance of the proposed outdoor environments. ENVI-met software was validated via field measurements for this study and was used to evaluate the outdoor thermal environment under typical summer and winter weather conditions. Three kinds of common landscape elements were analyzed: tree species, pavement, and water bodies. The results show that (1) by properly arranging landscape elements, the PET can be reduced by up to 1.6 °C in summer without sacrificing relevant thermal comfort during winter. (2) Arbors with high leaf area density (LAD) values performed better than those with a low LAD value for improved outdoor thermal comfort. (3) The influence of pavement on outdoor thermal comfort differs when under conditions with and without shade. This study provides practical suggestions for landscape design in open spaces within hot–humid areas.
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