Decision Making Model for the Architectural Integration of Photovoltaic (PV) Panels in buildings: The Case of Single Family Detached Housing Units in Northern Cyprus

The rate at which fossil fuels are used for electricity generation is alarming. If this is not carefully checked, it will strain the resources and degrade the environment. In addition to that, the impact of climate change has become more obvious resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. Buildings are said to account for more than 40% of Europe’s energy consumption. With all of these happenings, it has become evident that we need to seek more renewable means of energy generation. PV has been identified as one of the most important means of generation renewable energy especially when they are integrated into buildings. This research proposes a decision making model for the architectural integration of PV in single family detached housing units in Famagusta Northern Cyprus. The research focuses on BIPV as a decentralized means of generating cleaner and cheaper electricity. The findings of this thesis presents a decision making model for the integration of PV in single family detached housing units across the world. We used This model to evaluate a case study of a single family detached house in Famagusta Cyprus. The simulation result derived from the study presents 10 options on how PV panels can be architectural integrated on roof, facades, shading devices and canopies in single family buildings in Famagusta. In conclusion, the 7 stage decision making model presented in this study haven been tested in the case of Famagusta is a major contribution to the integration of PV in the residential sector. Keywords: Building Integrated Photovoltaic, Building Model, Decision-Making, Northern Cyprus, Strategies for PV Integration