Applications of Energy Harvesting Technologies in Buildings

This book focuses on available energy sources within commercial and residential buildings and various technologies for energy harvesting. It contains case studies on solar cell powered sensor nodes for emotion monitoring systems in ambient assistive living environments, thermoelectric energy harvesting and power management circuits design, inductive/RF power transfers and airflow and vibration energy harvesting. The book concludes with a discussion on the future of energy harvesting in buildings and new technological developments in the field. It should be of great interest and value to many engineers in the building technology and power engineering field. This new book edited by Joseph Matiko and Steve Beeby, represents the right book at the right time. The Renewable Energy Technology sector is heaviliy working on new storage systems to use in buildings, while building designers need to familiarize and learn how to introduce storage systems in buildings. Topics such as Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting or Power Management are extensively investigated in this book. This book will be a fundamental resource in the decade to come. -- Dr. Umberto Berardi, Professor of Building Science, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science * Ryerson University * Overall my impression is that the book presents a systematic review of current technology which can have applications for energy harvesting in buildings. Given the increased emphasis on Smart Buildings (and Smart Cities), energy is a challenge yet to be truly addressed when it comes to ubiquitous sensors and systems, and thus the book is timely in its nature. The structure is logical, the writing style is clear and concise, and in most cases it seems accessible for relative new-comers to the topic. It would make an excellent supporting material for a University programme within an electronic engineering discipline for example, as well as doctoral/post-doctoral researchers. -- Dr. Alex Mason, BSc, PhD, PGCE, FHEA, MIET, CEng, Department of Built Environment * Liverpool John Moores University *

Energy Harvesting in Built Environment; Case Study: Solar cell powered sensor node for an emotion monitoring system in Ambient Assistive Living Environment; Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting and Power Management Circuits Design; Inductive/RF Power Transfer and Case Study; Airflow Energy Harvesting; Vibration Energy Harvesting; The Future of Energy Harvesting in Buildings.