The application of sustainable technologies in architectural projects, focused on energy efficiency and photovoltaic panels: a case study based on LEED and PROCEL edifica seal indicators

Before the energy crisis of 1970 and the blackout in 2001, Brazil was faced with the need to search for the diversification of renewable sources of energy, since most of its supply comes from hydroelectric plants. With the privileged extension and geographical location of the country, it is of extreme relevance to consider the Sun as an indispensable source for the production of electric energy, by means of photovoltaic plates. With the growing adoption of sustainable solutions in the area of architecture and urbanism, especially from the 1990s, with the Rio 92 Earth Summit, environmental seals for building certification were created, which take into account fundamental requirements for the project, the construction and the operation of buildings, among them energy efficiency. The present study investigates the sustainable design solutions adopted in two case studies, based on the Energy and Atmosphere category of the LEED seal, analyzing the Edifício Vera Cruz II, in São Paulo, from the operation of the photovoltaic mini-plant, installed on the building's roof, and the energy efficiency it provides to the building, in relation to the Edifício Arquiteto Carlos Bratke, which does not produce renewable energy in loco, and presents, likewise, LEED certification in the Core & Shell Platinum category, in addition to the PROCEL Edificações Seal. (author)