To prevent degradation of power generating ability of a solar battery caused by snow cover without marring the appearance by providing the solar battery which is connected to a storage battery and to a power source, on eaves provided for an external wall member, and providing a ventilation member which is activated by power from the storage battery, at the external wall member.
An external wall body 1 is made up of a window 3 formed in an intermediate portion thereof, eaves 4 and a smoke elimination window 5 disposed at respective upper portions of the window 3, and a ventilation transom 6 and a spandrel wall panel 7 disposed at respective lower portions of the window 3. A solar battery module 8 is attached to the upper surface of the eaves 4, which module is connected to a storage battery arranged on the internal surface of the spandrel wall panel 7 and also connected to a commercial power source. When the sun shines, the solar battery module 8 coverts energy emitted from the sun into electric energy which is stored in the storage battery, and the smoke elimination window 5 is opened/closed by the electric power to carry out ventilation and smoke elimination when a fire breaks out. At the time of snow accumulation, current is applied from the commercial power source to the solar battery module 8 to melt snow on the eaves 4, whereby degradation of power generation ability of the solar battery module 8 caused by snow cover can be prevented. Further, damage caused by snow fall from the eaves 4 can be prevented as well. In addition, the solar battery module 8 is arranged on the eaves, which does not mar the appearance.
FUNAHASHI SHINICHI
ITO TADASHI
MUNETA NAOKI
FUJISASH CO