With massive deployment of solar panels on the built environment expected in the future, it is anticipated that most of these panels, especially in new buildings, will be incorporated into the roof structure, rather than attached onto the roof, above an already existing conventional skin to protect against the weather. These panels have to fulfill the demand for comfort conditioning and to provide electrical power. When incorporated into the roof they also have to participate in providing mechanical strength and shielding the house from inclement weather. In addition it is essential that these solar panels are optimized with respect to their efficiency under consideration of energy, entropy and cost. In this paper, we have analyzed the intricate interconnection between the different components of a solar-fueled collection and conversion system, based on hybrid collectors, thermal storage and a beat pump. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.