The application potential for solar energy use in buildings lies in supply of thermal and electric energy and natural daylighting. To use incident solar energy from building envelope effectively, multi-functional construction elements combining several purposes should be introduced as a standard part of building construction. Examples of such concepts are presented: hybrid air/liquid collectors for heating and ventilation purposes, hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) collectors for combined thermal and electric energy supply (glazed, unglazed, air/water cooled), linear Fresnell lenses collectors for removal of heat load from direct component of solar irradiation to thermal storage and allowing the natural diffuse daylighting.