Main energy needs in buildings are due to heating and/or cooling, depending on local climatic conditions and type of building. In this paper principal ways of covering part of the demand for heating, cooling and domestic hot water by using solar technologies are discussed and a design study of a solar thermally driven heating and cooling system for a virtual hotel is presented. The basic methods of heating and cooling of buildings are: solar radiation, out-going longwave radiation, water evaporation, and nocturnal radiation cooling. Radiant heating and cooling (RHC) systems are being increasingly applied not only in residential but also in non-residential buildings such as commercial buildings, education facilities, and even large-scale buildings such as airport terminals.
