This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for a structural insulation assembly having a variable insulating value and being incorporated into a thermal envelope of a structure, the assembly comprising a first and second surface; a cavity between the first and second surfaces and at least partially filled with a gas; a plurality of insulating elongated fins fixed to distinct rotational axes parallel to each other, the plurality of elongated fins being continuously rotatable between a closed position, where the plurality of elongated fins are substantially vertical, and a fully open position, where the plurality of elongated fins are perpendicular to the first and second surfaces and parallel to each other; an actuator for controlling a rotational angle of the insulating elongated fins to effectuate the variable insulating value; and a controller configured to pass instructions to the actuator dictating the angle of the insulating elongated fins.

A building integrated photovoltaic and thermal energy system is disclosed. The system includes photovoltaic panels integrated into glass structures that may replace existing designs of skylights, atrium windows, building facades, and other applicable structures while converting sunlight to electricity. The system also includes a thermal energy system configured with the photovoltaic system to convert sunlight to thermal energy. The integration of the system into building structures provides an aesthetically pleasing structure while generating required power.

Three-dimensional solar power generation systems are described. The systems are characterized by a plurality of solar panels configured to include pole and equator facing panels and, in various embodiments additional top and/or side panels that form a segmented and dome-shaped assembly. The systems have improved efficiencies particularly with respect to early morning and evening power generation that enable improved power densities on a given land area as compared to traditional solar panel arrays. Methods of deploying the systems are also described.

Disclosed are methods and functional elements for enhanced thermal management of predominantly enclosed spaces. In particular, the invention enables the construction of buildings with reduced power requirements for heating and/or air-conditioning systems since under certain conditions less energy for heating or cooling is required to maintain, within certain boundaries, desirable temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other enclosed spaces.

In some instances the invention is in part based on dynamically changing functional elements with variable properties, or effective properties, in terms of their electromagnetic radiative behavior and/or their thermal energy storage properties, or the spatial distribution of the stored thermal energy, which permits the application of methods and algorithms to control the overall thermal behavior of the entire structure in such a way that desired levels of inside temperature can be reached with reduced consumption of external energy (typically electricity, gas, oil, or coal).

In some instances no conventional heating of cooling is required at all, whereas in other instances the expenditure of external energy for conventional heating or cooling is reduced. In some instances the invention enables the reduction of the time to reach desired temperatures inside such buildings, habitats, or other predominantly enclosed spaces.

A solar panel system comprises a base, the base attached to a building at a geographic location; a rotating crown having a rotating mechanism, the base supporting the crown; a solar panel device attached to the crown, the solar panel device having an exposed surface, the shapes of the base, crown and solar panel device positioning the exposed surface in a sloped orientation relative to a horizontal plane at the geographic location, the rotating mechanism rotating the solar panel device, the base and crown shapes positioning the rotating mechanism to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane and to maintain a consistent slope relative to the horizontal plane as the exposed surface rotates; and a control system controlling rotation from a first azimuthal direction to a second azimuthal direction that faces the exposed surface towards the Sun more normally than the first azimuthal direction.

A solar panel system comprises a base, the base attached to a building at a geographic location; a rotating crown having a rotating mechanism, the base supporting the crown; a solar panel device attached to the crown, the solar panel device having an exposed surface, the shapes of the base, crown and solar panel device positioning the exposed surface in a sloped orientation relative to a horizontal plane at the geographic location, the rotating mechanism rotating the solar panel device, the base and crown shapes positioning the rotating mechanism to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane and to maintain a consistent slope relative to the horizontal plane as the exposed surface rotates; and a control system controlling rotation from a first azimuthal direction to a second azimuthal direction that faces the exposed surface towards the Sun more normally than the first azimuthal direction.

A design for a micro-lens (i.e., a lens on the scale of micrometers) incorporates existing nanofabrication techniques and can be incorporated into High Concentrating Photovoltaic (HCPV), solar thermal collectors, and traditional flat PV systems. Using the theory of wave optics, the design is able to achieve a high numerical aperture, i.e., it can receive light over a wider range of angles. The design also reduces the distance the focal point shifts as the light source shifts; this eliminates the need for a tracking system in CPV and PV applications. Reducing the lens size also facilitates smaller, lightweight CPV systems, which makes CPV attractive for additional applications. Finally, these concentrators reduce the exchanging area of a typical flat solar thermal system where heat is received, which improves the overall system's efficiency and allows its use also during rigid winter time.

A design for a micro-lens (i.e., a lens on the scale of micrometers) incorporates existing nanofabrication techniques and can be incorporated into High Concentrating Photovoltaic (HCPV), solar thermal collectors, and traditional flat PV systems. Using the theory of wave optics, the design is able to achieve a high numerical aperture, i.e., it can receive light over a wider range of angles. The design also reduces the distance the focal point shifts as the light source shifts; this eliminates the need for a tracking system in CPV and PV applications. Reducing the lens size also facilitates smaller, lightweight CPV systems, which makes CPV attractive for additional applications. Finally, these concentrators reduce the exchanging area of a typical flat solar thermal system where heat is received, which improves the overall system's efficiency and allows its use also during rigid winter time.

A system of solar thermal collectors and an HVAC controller draw heated air through a solar thermal absorbing needle-punched propylene geotextile with limited permeability to air flow, into the interior of poultry livestock house. In various embodiments, the poultry livestock house is divided into zones. Groups of collectors are joined with breather holes on opposite sides of the collectors and solid sides on the ends of each group. Groups of collectors serve each zone of the poultry livestock house. In an embodiment of the system the Environmental Optimization System (“EOS”) provides a system for the intelligent control and monitoring the broiler poultry livestock structure environment through the utilization of a variety of environmental and livestock behavior sensors, apparatus for controlling the thermal collection and existing interior heating/air conditioning/ventilation (“HVAC”) systems, and Internet or cloud based intelligent control and monitoring capabilities of the system. In various embodiments central sensor data aggregation is utilized to provide improved optimization control for livestock zones within individual structures based on data from multiple structures.

An eco-smart panel is described comprising a solar thermal panel, a phase change material, a metal foil layer, and a structural frame constructed of materials including wood studs, gypsum, or fiberglass-reinforced concrete. The materials may be variously configured to create modular systems for fabricating buildings or structures. Eco-smart panels may be utilized to create buildings or structure with enhanced energy efficiency, increased fire resistance, increased flood resistance, and decreased construction cost and time.