A Review and Characterization of Energy-Harvesting Resources in Buildings with a Case Study of a Commercial Building in a Cold Climate—Toronto, Canada

Jeremy Lytle, Zenon Radewych, Kristiina Valter Mai and Alan S. Fung ()
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Jeremy Lytle: Building Science Program, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Zenon Radewych: WZMH Architects, 95 St Clair Ave W #1500, Toronto, ON M4V 1N6, Canada
Kristiina Valter Mai: Department of Electrical, Computer & Biomedical Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Alan S. Fung: Department of Mechanical, Industrial & Mechatronics Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-33

Abstract: The present work provides a framework for the comprehensive assessment of energy-harvesting resources in buildings, encompassing environmental, anthropogenic, and recyclable sources. A review of resources and state-of-the-art energy-harvesting technologies is presented, including an outlook on the future theoretical limitations of their performance. The assessment framework is applied to a case-study commercial building located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The available resources are categorized into three orders of magnitude with respect to achievable power generation, with solar and wind in the first tier, elevator potential and fitness centres in the second tier, and sources including vibrations, occupant traffic, and thermoelectric conversion in the third. Situated in a mid-rise context, the total annual resource magnitude is found to be eight times greater than the building demand. However, only an overall 10% of the available resource is converted with the harvesting applications and efficiencies considered, resulting in a net energy deficit. It is shown that with maximum theoretical efficiencies, the conversion rate can reach 30% resulting in 151% surplus electrical generation for the building in question.

Keywords: energy harvesting; buildings; microgrids; photovoltaics; wind turbines; piezoelectric; thermoelectric (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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