Urban Wind Energy

Responding to growing international interest in wind energy and decentralized energy production, this book focuses on the potential for exploiting wind power in urban areas. With radical implications for the generation of renewable energy in the city and hence our environment as a whole, this landmark book paves the way for significant developments in low-energy design and high-rise architecture. Having outlined the fundamentals, the authors examine wind enhancement and integration techniques and address aesthetic, aerodynamic, architectural, environmental, and structural constraints. Turbulence levels are discussed in detail, design guidance is given to aid performance prediction, and a methodology is provided to assess UWECS (urban wind energy conversion systems) from economic and environmental perspectives. International case studies are included, complemented by the results from a project field-testing a two-story prototype building with an integrated wind turbine. Wind Energy in the Built Environment is suitable for researchers and students in wind energy, energy consultants, professionals in local government and urban planning, and architects and engineers with an interest in renewable energy and sustainable design.