Proposal_final.docx

INTRODUCTION: This project seeks to investigate a solution to meet the energy demands of building and construction sector. The building sector continues to grow at rapid speed. In Pakistan, the future is very promising in the construction sector. As population continues to expand, more housing is needed, and hence more energy is required to be produced by the already strained energy sector of Pakistan. The building and construction sector together are responsible for 36% of total global energy consumption. Nearly two-thirds of produced energy is attained by using fossil fuels which is at first non-renewable but most importantly is a polluting agent which pushes building and construction sector to participate in 40% of global CO2 emission. The annual energy utilization by buildings all over the world have risen quite extensively. In 2016, energy required as compared to 2010, has increased by 4.8 percent in just 6 years. Seizing on this momentum, developing effective energy alternatives and solutions are needed. The energy used by buildings needs to be increased by 2030 by almost 30% of the global buildings sector (compared to 2015) to be on track to meet global climate targets. There are other renewable sources like hydroelectric energy, tidal energy, etc. which are renewable, but they cost money, time and need a plan. The world needs a new alternative to not only prevent permanent harmful climate change but also be used in normal infrastructure. New research in the field of civil engineering has led to the revolutionary invention that is called solar bricks. These solar bricks will not only be used in infrastructure such as houses and skyscrapers but will also produce energy for the structure itself. It’s a new invention so not much research has been done to mass produce these solar bricks for the construction industry. Pakistan is expected to grow vertically as the prime minister of Pakistan has removed restrictions on building height and so there is a vast potential for using solar bricks in not only homes but also in huge skyscrapers. This potential cannot go to waste. This proposal presents an idea that how solar powered bricks (photovoltaics), will be used in construction, specifically in Pakistan to provide a new and better way to construct buildings and other infrastructure. This is an appropriate choice to come across the self-energy sustainability of buildings and to decrease the dependence of energy from the Pakistani government. The proposed view, concept and design will show how solar bricks are more feasible for Pakistan.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: The idea of solar bricks is an innovation which shows promise and will eventually replace conventional building material. In present times, households require power in the form of electricity to function and to utilize power, we must first produce power. Traditionally, this is done through generators which generate power by rotation of their shafts which are mechanically coupled by a turbine and are rotated by an external force. This external force has various forms in nature, mostly being wind, water or steam. Fossil fuel power plants are the largest source of energy production worldwide. Fossil fuels are burnt to boil water in giant containers known as boilers, the water is converted to steam and is exited through high pressure nozzles to spin turbines and thus generate electricity from the generator the respective turbine is coupled with. But the downside is they are also one of the biggest contributors to pollution and climate change. Global warming, climate change and pollution are all threats to the planet’s survival and is has become a major concern in the recent years. One of the main focuses in decreasing pollution and reducing the effects of climate change are on renewable energy sources. One of the most promising renewable energy sources is our very own sun and thus the innovation of solar bricks. The idea is to replace conventional materials with materials engineered to harness the sun’s energy and convert a household to a self-sustaining miniature power plant. Some of the most obvious advantages are;  Clean energy production – Solar bricks use photovoltaic cells to convert and store the sun’s energy in the form of electricity and since there are no burning of fuels or wastages, this is the most environment-friendly option we have and would play a significant role in diminishing the effects of pollution and climate change.  Enormous potential – Where ever sunlight is available, solar energy can be harnessed. Consider Tesla’s recent Solar Roof Tiles and the impact they would make if entire cities used these. Everyone would have sufficient energy and probably even excess to spare. Solar bricks could be used to build walls, solar pavements could be utilized to make sidewalks and roads, transparent solar panels or translucent photovoltaic cells could be used in place of windows. Basically, where there is architecture, there is a potential to harness solar power.  Cheap energy – Although the initial investment would be understandably expensive, but in the long run this would be one of the cheapest energy resources available. Since households would be generating their own power, demand in power supply industries

would reduce and electricity bills would drop. People would have to pay virtually nothing for power. So, summarizing the above features – cheap, clean and potentially endless potential of solar energy make the solar bricks the future of building materials and could entirely replace conventional materials in the next generation. This is the future. OBJECTIVE:           

Investment in the production and testing of the solar bricks. Investigating the manufacturing of solar bricks and their production expenses. To save electricity losses. Reducing the average 1.1% of the power dissipated through long cables carrying high voltage. Developing glass bricks consisting of high stress/strain absorbing abilities. To decrease energy dependence on the energy production sector of Pakistan. Developing the houses into self-perpetuating power houses. Introduction of rotating rooftops with solar glass bricks to maximize conversion of solar energy into electricity. Removal of dependency from the grid stations. Usage of different variants of solar bricks in order to increase usage. Surveying the housing societies and environments in order to calculate the average amount of power usage and developing cost effective systems.

PLAN OF ACTION: This proposal according to the objectives stated, will describe how the development of solar bricks will ensue. A proper plan has been formulated to ensure the proposal’s objectives are met. This proposal shows how it will be more feasible to use solar bricks instead of the conventional brick. In order to do so, the following points indicates how solar bricks will be made and used in the construction industry of Pakistan. Investment will be done on the developing and production of the solar bricks. Scientists and structural engineers will be given the task of investigating the usage and the feasibility of the solar glass bricks. Manufacturing of transparent solar glass bricks and solar bricks in order to maximize the conversion of the solar energy. Reduction of excess power loss through long wires and cables. Investing in the manufacture of solar bricks on a large scale to accommodate the construction of large buildings. Making the housing societies self-perpetuating power houses by the use of solar glass bricks. Research on how much light is needed to sufficiently charge a solar brick and ensure each cell meets the demand for power consumption. Hire a reputable construction business in Pakistan to ensure solar bricks are distributed in the construction

market. Hire specialized team of engineers and technicians in educating the construction business’s labour to ensure proper installations in various projects such as houses and commercial buildings. Invest in multiple variants of solar bricks to ensure these bricks can be used for any consumer according to their demand. Research in how solar bricks are powering houses. Promote solar bricks in multiple international and national expos to attract customers to further invest in the manufacture and usage of solar bricks. Survey how households and building are consuming energy from solar bricks and relying on that energy. Survey how the use of solar bricks will prove less dependence on the local grid station provided by the government. Survey people who have used solar bricks and report the difference in using conventional bricks and solar bricks. MANAGEMENT PLAN: This section presents the approximate cost for the installation and usage of solar technology with the necessary qualifications for the researcher. The researcher is an electrical engineer with a BS degree in Electrical engineering from a reputable institute. He should also have some field experience with solar technology and prior experience with setting and management of solar powered projects. An architectural engineer with a BS in architectural engineering is also required in order to cope up with the designing and adjustment of the solar bricks and solar tiles in accordance with the housing scheme. The main costs for this project will include the cost of the solar-tiles (solar-bricks), the costs for the batteries used for the storage of the charge. Solar batteries costs range from $5000-$7000+ for a good quality battery. While the solar tiles cost start from $5 per square foot for the solar tiles. So, for a rooftop having an area of 50 square foot the cost will be around $250 for the solar tiles. The requirement for the installation of the solar technology on the rooftops or the installation of the solar tiles around or on the floor of the buildings will cost at the very least will cost somewhere around $15000-$29000 for an average sized solar tile possessing a power of about 4kW-8kW. This constitutes a total to $50,000 for an average system working perfectly and producing a 200kW-300kW per hour. In order to meet the proposal’s demand, a proper budget of 1 million dollars will be assigned for research and investment purposes. Proper documentation for license of materials will be required from the government which would require five hundred dollars. Twenty five percent of the fund will be used in research for advance properties of solar bricks so that the bricks will be used in infrastructure such as buildings and sky scrapers. One hundred thousand dollars will be assigned for researchers that will help them in their research to show solar bricks are better than the conventional brick. Some money will be used for advertisement of solar bricks that will increase the chances of further funding of this

proposal objectives. The rest of the money will be used for other purposes such as hiring, investment and other purposes. For further bigger projects the cost regarding the installation and the solar cells in use varies accordingly. CONCLUSION: This project seeks to minimize the energy crisis as well as maximize the usage of the solar power in order to reduce the usage of long electric cables and reduction in the power losses in these cables. This project tends to transform houses into self-perpetuating power houses as well as investigating the advantages of using solar cells in the construction processes. This proposal will not only decrease the dependence of energy from the Pakistani government that will help the country, but it would also help the average household to live a cheaper life. Life in cities as well as the industrial sector will be benefited by this proposal. Pakistan is an all weather country which can easily attain solar energy by mass production through this proposal’s objectives. REFERENCES:    

Curbed Report by Barbara Eldredge on 23 of August 2017. Architectural Design Report by Tim Nelson on 27 of August 2017. Interesting Engineering Report on solar glass bricks on 23 of August 2017. The American Ceramic Society report on solar bricks on 25 of September 2008.