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Featured Application: This paper presents a numerical methodology for the hygro-thermo-mechanical analysis of masonry structures. The proposed approach can be used to evaluate the hygro-thermal performance of masonry walls as well as to complement the structural assessment considering other static or dynamic loads. The methodology can be further extended to include durability and aging aspects, and to study the compatibility between masonry units and mortars. Masonry walls comprise an important part of the building envelope and, thus, are exposed to environmental effects such as temperature and moisture variations. However, structural assessment usually neglects the influence of these hygro-thermal loads and assumes ideal conditions. This paper presents a hygro-thermo-mechanical model and its application to simulate the impact of temperature- and moisture-related phenomena on the structural behavior of masonry walls. A fully coupled heat and mass transfer model is presented and a 2D finite element model is prepared to simulate the behavior of a brick masonry wall under various hygro-thermal scenarios. Two different mortars are considered: namely, cement mortar and natural hydraulic lime mortar. The results are evaluated in terms of temperature and moisture content distribution across the wall thickness. The hygro-thermal model is further extended to incorporate mechanical effects through the total strain additive decomposition principle. It is shown that the hygro-thermo-mechanical response of the brick masonry wall is a complex 2D phenomenon. Moreover, the environmental loads change the natural stress distribution caused by gravitational loads alone. Finally, the wall with cement mortar develops higher levels of stress when compared to the one with lime mortar, due to the dissimilar hygro-thermal behavior between the constituent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current practice of building thermal retrofitting is based on the outcomes of energy audits that make use of standardized tabulated information mapped on a structure or structural elements under inherently very specific conditions. Therefore, it provides very limited outcomes for further analysis, especially when decision making procedures are required to particularize the retrofitting strategy. This paper introduces a novel fuzzy logic approach for predicting the thermal performance of building walls that can be used in practice to partially substitute time-consuming and costly energy audits or complex computational analyses. The objective of this concept is to forecast the annual heating energy demands of buildings and to identify the potential energy savings that could be achieved by applying thermal retrofitting measures based on limited resources and information obtained from maps, blueprints, and/or a simple site inspection. For this purpose, a sample knowledge base was created using a validated computational model of the heat and moisture transport in the multilayered wall assemblies. Then, the fuzzy logic model was introduced to predict the thermal performance of selected walls. Our comparison of the fuzzy model outputs with simulated data proved the potential of using the proposed concept as an efficient and straightforward tool for predicting the seasonal thermal performance of building envelopes and to partially replace the current practice, which requires the utilization of building energy audits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curved glass enables designers to achieve unparalleled innovation in creating modern and undulating shapes for building enclosures. However, the curvature of panes changes the static and especially the dynamic behavior of the panes under loading. Studies on low-velocity impacts on curved glass have been limited and have primarily involved numerical studies. This paper experimentally investigates the dynamic response of cylindrically curved glass panes under a low-velocity impact. A flat, 5 mm thick, single-pane geometry with three curvature radii and the lack or presence of movement restraint is considered. Special attention is also paid to the variations caused by impacting bodies involving different stiffness, mass, and geometry parameters. It was found that flat plates have a lower capacity to dampen oscillations, resulting in longer decay times compared to curved panes. For impactors with a lower stiffness, the glass panes experience uneven oscillations at the moment of impact, followed by a chaotic period of transient vibrations before reaching a stationary state. This contrasts bodies with greater deformability in which the main dynamic behavior follows a more predictable pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on modelling outcomes for improvements to building energy performance in Indonesia. Long-term climate effects due to building energy demand and carbon emissions are also considered. The global change assessment model (GCAM) was used to generate the related end-user building energy data, including socioeconomics, for urban areas of Indonesia. As a comprehensive study, the total life cycle of carbon in the building sector and the concept of zero-carbon buildings, including energy efficiency, zero-emissions electricity and fuel-switching options, were considered. Building shell conductance (U-value) of the building envelope, floor area ratio (FAR), air conditioner (AC) efficiency, electrical appliance (APL) efficiency, rooftop photovoltaic (PV) performance and ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems were considered as parameters to mitigate carbon emissions under the operational energy category in the GCAM. Carbon mitigation associated with the cement production process was considered in the raw material category. Urban population and labour productivity in Indonesia were used as base inputs with projected growth rates to 2050 determined from the available literature. Low growth rate 'LowRate' and high growth rate 'HighRate' were considered as variable inputs for U-value, FAR, AC efficiency, APLs efficiency and PV capacity factor to model emissions mitigation. The energy consumption of the GSHP was compared to the conventional reverse cycle ACs to identify the potential of the GSHP as a fuel-switching option. In the GCAM, the benchmark (base case scenario) data set was generated based on input parameters (urban population and labour productivity rate) only for the residential building sector in Indonesia. Total potential carbon emissions mitigation was found to be 432 Mt CO2-e for the residential building sector in Indonesia over 2020–2050. It was found that an average of 24% carbon emissions mitigation could be achieved by 2020–2030 and 76% by 2031–2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluated the cement-based materials incorporated with novel solid–gel phase change materials (PCMs) for improving the energy efficiency of building envelopes. This novel PCM is form-stable, which will not leak as solid–liquid PCMs do and not need encapsulation, and it features high energy-storage capacity. Experimental results showed that the thermal properties of cement-based materials were improved as the increase of PCM content. A 30% replacement of sand by volume with PCM can increase the latent heat of the mixture from around 0 to 7 J/g and decrease the thermal conductivity of PCM mortar based on the generalized self-consistent (GSC) model by about 20%. However, the workability and mechanical properties were compromised. The simulation results indicated that 30% PCM-incorporated walls can contribute to 5% energy saving for cooling in a whole year and 12% reduction in peak cooling load compared with the reference without PCM. The proposed PCM composite offers a promising avenue to achieve energy-efficient building envelopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A deep energy retrofit of building envelopes is a vital strategy to reduce final energy use in existing buildings towards their net-zero emissions performance. Building energy modeling is a reliable technique that provides a pathway to analyze and optimize various energy-efficient building envelope measures. However, conventional optimization analyses are time-consuming and computationally expensive, especially for complex buildings and many optimization parameters. Therefore, this paper proposed a novel optimization algorithm, MEVO (metamodel-based evolutionary optimizer), developed to efficiently identify optimal retrofit solutions for building envelopes while minimizing the need for extensive simulations. The key innovation of MEVO lies in its integration of evolutionary techniques with design-of-computer experiments, machine learning, and metaheuristic optimization. This approach continuously refined a machine learning model through metaheuristic optimization, crossover, and mutation operations. Comparative assessments were conducted against four alternative metaheuristic algorithms and Bayesian optimization, demonstrating MEVO's effectiveness in reliably finding the best solution within a reduced computation time. A hypothesis test revealed that the proposed algorithm is significantly better than Bayesian optimization in finding the best cost values. Regarding computation time, the proposed algorithm is 4–7 times faster than the particle swarm optimization algorithm and has a similar computational speed as Bayesian Optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate change crisis has resulted in the need to use sustainable methods in architectural design, including building form and orientation decisions that can save a significant amount of energy consumed by a building. Several previous studies have optimized building form and envelope for energy performance, but the isolated effect of varieties of possible architectural forms for a specific climate has not been fully investigated. This paper proposes four novel office building form generation methods (the polygon that varies between pentagon and decagon; the pixels that are complex cubic forms; the letters including H, L, U, T; cross and complex cubic forms; and the round family including circular and oval forms) and evaluates their annual thermal energy use intensity (EUI) for Cairo (hot climate). Results demonstrated the applicability of the proposed methods in enhancing the energy performance of the new forms in comparison to the base case. The results of the optimizations are compared together, and the four families are discussed in reference to their different architectural aspects and performance. Scatterplots are developed for the round family (highest performance) to test the impact of each dynamic parameter on EUI. The round family optimization process takes a noticeably high calculation time in comparison to other families. Therefore, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) prediction model is developed for the round family after simulating 1726 iterations. Training of 1200 configurations is used to predict annual EUI for the remaining 526 iterations. The ANN predicted values are compared against the trained to determine the time saved and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major challenge in building energy renovation is to cost effectively achieve notable energy savings. This paper investigates cost-effective passive energy-efficiency measures for thermal envelope retrofit of a typical Swedish multi-apartment building from the 1970s. Here, the use of different types of insulation materials for the retrofits of roof, exterior walls, and ground floor are analyzed along with changing windows and doors with varying thermal transmittance values. The cost-effectiveness analysis is based on the net present value of the investment costs of the energy-efficiently measures and the achieved energy cost saving. Different economic scenarios and renovation cases are considered in techno-economic analyses to determine the cost-effective energy-efficiency retrofit measures. The results indicate that improved windows reduce energy demand for space heating by up to 23% and yield the highest final energy savings. However, additional mineral wool roof insulation is the most cost-effective measure under all economic scenarios. This measure gave the lowest ratio of cost effectiveness of about 0.1, which was obtained under the stable scenario. The final energy savings that can be achieved in a cost-effective manner vary between 28% and 61%, depending on the economic scenario and renovation case. This analysis emphasizes the influence of different renovation cases and economic parameters on the cost effectiveness of passive energy-efficiency measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry impacts resource consumption and waste production and thus necessitates solutions that promote sustainable practices. In particular, it must address challenges surrounding data collection and digital management services that often hinder the recycling or reuse of materials. The purpose of this study is to develop an integrated platform-based digital tool that seamlessly incorporates circular economy principles into construction processes, with a particular focus on circular resource utilization in the building envelope components' life cycle. This tool aims to address the challenges in the construction industry related to resource consumption, waste production, and sustainability by promoting sustainable practices and improving material management. This paper reports industrial joint research to develop an integrated platform-based digital tool that seamlessly incorporates circular economy principles into construction processes, focusing on circular resource utilization in the building envelope components life cycle. By combining different platforms and services from the previous research, this study's results enhance and integrate comprehensive thinking approaches and services. These include promoting raw material substitution, reducing supply chain arrangement time, minimizing waste throughout the building component lifecycle, enhancing disassembly processes, and improving life cycle environmental assessments. The tool design was informed by user-driven narratives and requirements, and demo case testing procedures, ensuring usability and industry relevance. Furthermore, integration with product lifecycle management software and data management platforms enhanced data sharing and accuracy. This study highlights the potential of integrated tools to revolutionize supply chains and promote circular economy, transforming construction paradigms. They can contribute to the reshaping of material management towards environmental consciousness, fostering resource-efficient green building solutions, and enabling more circularity in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing amount of energy consumed by the operation of buildings results in an increasing environmental burden. This has a direct impact on the innovation of renewable energy technology and its application in building industry. In accordance with the requirements of the "Europe 2020 Strategy" and "Europe 2030 Project", the long-term goal is to achieve the maximum use of renewable energy sources in the buildings´ operation. One of the solutions is the building-integrated photovoltaic power plant. The paper analyses efficiency and incorporation of photovoltaic (PV) systems into the roofs and perimeter walls. PV systems are a renewable energy source used in the construction of zero energy buildings producing minimal environmental pollution. Semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are one of the technologies that have the potential to increase the building´s energy efficiency as well as aesthetically complete the building´s design. The paper deals with material characteristics of PV panels in terms of the fire risk and definition of the fire hazardous area that arises during their combustion. It is focused on the incorporation of various types of PV technology into the facades and roofs, structural and material solutions of fire-dividing structures to which PV systems are fastened considering their location in the fire hazardous area. Based on the external fire simulations, conclusions in this paper bring the optimal position of PV systems in the building envelope in relation to fire open areas, fire lines and fire hazardous areas. The safety of firefighters during the intervention also depends on the position of PV systems. The case study presented in this paper uses a model solution to give the optimal position of PV systems in the building envelope considering the fire safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nations have introduced energy efficiency regulations for new and existing buildings. This has been considered advantageous as more efficient building envelopes would reduce energy consumed to heat and cool home interiors to within accepted thermal comfort bandwidths. However, as these methods have been adopted, many nations have identified an unintended visible presence of surface and interstitial condensation and mould in new code-compliant buildings. In Australia, it has been estimated that up to 50% of Australian houses constructed in the last decade (2006–2016) have a presence of condensation and mould. Australia introduced its first condensation and mould-related building regulations for new homes in 2019. This paper reports on the hygrothermal and mould growth analysis of the most common low-rise residential external wall system, a timber-framed clay masonry veneer wall. A key component of this paper discusses the application of innovative methods in the Australian context. The external wall's moisture accumulation and mould growth were simulated for a period of ten years using the transient hygrothermal simulation tool, WUFI® Pro, and the mould growth model, WUFI® VTT. This study identified significant risks for this typical external wall system when constructed in a temperate climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical building enclosures known as Double-skin façades (DSFs) have become recognized as a promising façade type for buildings that place emphasis on sustainable, green, and energy-efficient design performance. DSFs are highly integrated across engineering and architecture; however, there remain limited centralized knowledge repositories that offer designers' insight into these performance trends, multi-disciplinary collaboration, and tradeoff metrics, as well as how to go about modeling DSFs for performance under applicable loading systems when conducting design. As such, the main objective of this paper is to provide a better understanding of different types of DSF systems and their attributes from the perspective of multiple disciplines, as well as different modeling approaches. The methodology adopted is rooted in the principles of systematic literature review of design standards, research papers, and software manual literature, as well as a qualitative evaluation based on structural performance aspects. From the study, many different configurations of DSFs exist that impact each engineered system, where those system attributes impact multiple systems. This results in a need to parametrically iterate configurations within software to find a balance in DSF performance. Furthermore, there exists software easily capable of simulating these systems, yet the designer must carefully construct the models with different levels of sophistication towards DSFs and the software. This paper contains concise summaries of key attributes that designers need to consider when their project has a DSF system, along with different software modelers from which they can choose, correlating to the complexity of the design stage along with the appropriateness of the calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency in the context of building design is a significant concern in Morocco. This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of how various design variables can impact both energy consumption and thermal comfort in the Moroccan context. Rather than isolating individual design variables, we investigate synergistic combinations of these variables. To achieve this, we develop multiple building design scenarios, each employing different combinations of design options, focusing on building orientation, window-to-wall ratio, building envelope construction, and window shading. We use EnergyPlus to conduct energy simulations for all scenarios under the hypothesis of air-conditioned houses and free-running houses with and without natural ventilation. Our results reveal that building design has the potential to significantly enhance energy efficiency and thermal comfort, but not for the same design strategies. In comparison to the most energy-efficient design scenario, the least favorable design scenario can lead to an increase in energy consumption between 237% in Agadir and 130% in Ifrane. Meanwhile, design scenarios favoring comfort can increase the number of comfortable hours by 85% in Agadir and 59% in Ifrane. We identify optimal building design scenarios that simultaneously offer the highest comfort levels with the lowest energy requirements. The findings provide valuable guidance for architects, allowing them to design high-performance buildings in all climate zones in Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the economy, carbon neutral and carbon peak are on the agenda in China, and the reform of intelligent construction and assembly building is in full swing in the Chinese construction industry. In order to further explore and study the relationship between the textural structural issues of the envelope structure and the overall energy consumption situation of the house, and further bridge the gap between the actual energy-saving design scheme and the actual application scheme, therefore, this paper takes a certain place as a research object to study the phenomenon of design assembly energy saving, based on dozens of assembly building enterprises researched, selected samples of envelope components studied, selected BIM technology for premodeling optimization, used neural network algorithm for analysis of influencing factors, and studied the application in the study of energy-saving optimization of assembly building envelope in the western Sichuan plain area, and used OpenStudio was used to build a model to simulate the heating and air conditioning load of the assembled building numerically and to fit the quantitative relationship between the variable factors and the building energy consumption. On this basis, the relationship between multifactor and single-factor variables is identified and evaluated using relevant variables means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the biggest energy consumers, buildings are the focus of the energy conservation market, and the building envelope, which has the highest impact on heating and cooling loads, is one of the main targets in retrofit projects. Several materials, systems, methods, and simulation tools are used in these projects, and it is critical to understand the impact of these methods in different locations, their frequency of use, and the effectiveness of market-ready new solutions. In that context, it is necessary to review the energy conservation measures (ECMs) that are suitable for residential building envelope retrofitting, and that are commercially available or under research and development. This paper provides an overview of these ECMs. A literature review was conducted on different building envelope ECMs, including traditional and innovative energy retrofit methods, such as aerogel and phase change materials on opaque and transparent components of existing buildings. Results show that the most effective retrofit projects include bundles of ECMs, and the traditional ECMs can be as effective as more innovative solutions in terms of energy saving. Moreover, computer energy models were created for a typical residential building in the US for cold and warm climate zones to determine the impact of different retrofit approaches based on a sensitivity analysis. Results show that envelope ECMs have higher energy saving potentials in cold climate zones, of up to around 30%, and reducing the air infiltration has the highest impact in both cold and warm climate zones in a typical small residential building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential to clarify the actual design specifications of buildings to plan future energy conservation measures. This paper focuses on the single‐purpose office buildings built in the financial year of 2018 and analyses the data on building envelope and equipment specifications from the calculation program to confirm compliance with the building energy code. This paper shows that the office buildings can be classified into five groups according to the evaluation index of the building energy code and identifies the standard design specifications of building envelope, air‐conditioning system, lighting system, and solar power generation for each group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building and construction sector has a significant impact on the CO2 emissions and pollutants released into the atmosphere, which contribute to climate change. The EPDB Directive mandates the achievement of minimum energy class E for all residential buildings by 2030 and energy class D by 2033. Particularly, in Italy, about 86% of the existing building stock predates the enactment of any energy laws or regulations, making it imperative to apply the energy efficiency interventions. This paper provides a support decision tool for the identification of the standardized interventions in the building envelope, the air conditioning system, and domestic hot water production. This study is focused on a specific construction period class (1976–1990) in six different climatic zones. The methodological approach is based on a cataloguing phase and the definition of ante operam energy classes as well as on case study identification, energy requalification intervention identification, solution simulations, and cost estimation. By simulating the standardized interventions for each climatic zone, a range of possible combinations is identified. The most advantageous ones are determined based on a cost–benefit analysis considering the potential class jump achieved. The research result is a matrix of energy efficiency interventions that is applicable to each climatic zone and can be extended to the existing housing stock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reach a Zero-Energy-consuming building stock, it is necessary to insulate and add renewable energy sources on top of existing building envelopes. Off-site prefabricated modules have been used for covering building facades, but manual on-site installation procedures are still more competitive than prefabricated ones. Renovation with prefabricated modules requires high precision in order to obtain airtight and waterproof conditions. For that, an accurate installation of the anchors on top of the facade is crucial. With current techniques, this is a time-consuming operation. One of the attempts to solve the above-mentioned issue was to place the part of the anchor on top of a building facade with high tolerances and to use an interface to correct the deviations. In previous research, this concept, named Matching Kit, was validated, but improvements needed to be made to make it more competitive. In this paper, thanks to novel algorithms and the use of Point Clouds, an improved version is presented. The results show a reduction in working time and an increase in precision. With this research, the interface is closer to being used in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When it comes to guaranteeing appropriate performance for buildings in terms of energy efficiency, the building envelope is a crucial component that must be presented. When a substance goes through a phase transition and either gives out or absorbs an amount of energy to provide useful heat or cooling, it is called a phase-change material, or PCM for short. Transitions often take place between the matter's solid and liquid states. Buildings use PCMs for a variety of purposes, including thermal comfort, energy conservation, managing the temperature of building materials, reducing cooling/heating loads, efficiency, and thermal load shifting. Improved solutions are applied using new method and approach investigations. Undoubtedly, researching and applying PCM use in building applications can help create buildings that are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, while also increasing thermal comfort and consuming less energy. It provides a possible answer to the problems posed by climate change, rising energy demand in the built environment, and energy use optimisation. However, it is true that no particular research has yet been conducted to thoroughly analyse the linked PCM applications in the building industry. Thus, the principal tactics are addressed in this paper to determine current and efficient methods for employing PCMs in buildings to store thermal energy. By gathering around 50 instances from the open literature, this study conducts a thorough assessment of the up-to-date studies between 2016 and 2023 that used PCMs as thermal energy storage in building applications. As a result, this review aims to critically evaluate the PCM integration in buildings for thermal energy storage, identify a number of issues that require more research, and draw some important conclusions from the body of literature. Specifically, the building envelope roof and external wall uses of PCMs are highlighted in this research. Applications, general and desired characteristics, and PCM types and their thermal behaviour are described. In comparison to a traditional heat storage tank that simply contains water, this review indicates that a water storage tank containing 15% PCM improves heat storage by 70%. Also, less than 7 °C of internal air temperature was reduced by the PCMs in the walls, which avoided summer warming. Finally, using PCM for space cooling resulted in substantial energy savings across the various seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying rock-filled gabion to buildings in cold regions with mountainous climates has multiple potentials, such as utilizing rock resources, improving building sustainability and saving building energy. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the thermal performance of gabion buildings. Based on the CFD method, this paper establishes a numerical model of buildings with gabion enclosure structures, analyzes the influence of the gabion structure on the external convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC), wind pressure, air infiltration, room temperature and building load, and further uses the building energy consumption simulation method to analyze the heat load of gabion buildings. The results showed that the adverse impact of climate on the building thermal performance is significantly diminished by the gabion. Under different weather conditions, the CHTC, the maximum wind pressure difference on the exterior surface, and the air infiltration rate are reduced by different rates. Further, the room base temperature increases throughout the heating season, and the maximum heat load and the cumulative heat load of the building are, respectively, reduced by 10.6% and 24.8%. This work revealed that the gabion is an eco-friendly and adaptive measure to improve thermal performance and indoor thermal comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-based materials represent a promising alternative in building envelope applications, with the aim of improving in-use energy efficiency. They have the advantage of being renewable, low embodied energy and CO2 neutral or negative. In addition, they are excellent thermal regulators. This paper presents an overview of the state-of-the-art of bio-based materials used in building construction and their applications. The materials outlined include hemp, wood, date palm wood, cork, alfa and straw. Through this literature study we want to get a broad overview of the current state of theoretical and experimental studies of their hygrothermal characteristics and their thermal and energy performances. The aim is not to be exhaustive but to summarise the most important research results on these materials. This is the first part of a research work that deals with the contribution to the development of a new bio-based construction material to be used in building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance glazing technologies are essential for achieving the occupant comfort and building energy efficiency required in contemporary and future buildings. In real-world applications, glazing façades are selected from a steadily increasing number of glazing technologies. However, the authors could not identify a systematic and comprehensive review and classification of glazing technologies in the literature. This creates a barrier when comparing typologically different glazing technologies and combining multiple technologies in a glazing unit. This paper provides a systematic review and classification of established and emerging glazing technologies based on publications from 2001–2022 which were interpreted following the PRISMA methodology. This study reveals that the majority of high-performance glazing systems used in practice are in multi-layer glazing configurations and that the glazing system performance can focus on including additional and multiple functionalities, which aim at improving overall building performance. It was also found that there is a large potential for improvement of multilayer, evacuated, aerogels, electrochromic, and solar cell glazing by incorporating other technologies or innovative materials in multi-layer glazing units for either improving existing technologies or for the development of new ones. However, their longevity, robustness, and cost affordability should be ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To meet the 2050 EU decarbonization goals, there is a need for new and innovative ideas to increase energy efficiency, which includes reducing the energy consumption of buildings and increasing the use of on-site renewable energy sources. One possible solution for achieving efficient thermal energy transition in the building sector is to assign new functionalities to the building envelope. The building envelope can function as a thermal energy storage system, which can help compensate for irregularities in solar energy availability. This can be accomplished by utilizing phase change materials as the energy storage medium in the building envelope. In this paper, two phase change materials with different melting temperatures of 21 °C and 28 °C are compared for their application in a dynamic solar building envelope. Both experimental and numerical studies were conducted within the scope of this study. The laboratory testing involved simulating the conditions of the four seasons through steady-state and dynamic experiments. The performance of the phase change materials was evaluated using a small-scale PASLINK test stand that imitates indoor and outdoor conditions. A numerical model of a small-scale building envelope was created using data from laboratory tests. The purpose of this model was to investigate how the tested phase change materials perform under different climate conditions. The experimental findings show that RT21HC is better at storing thermal energy in the PCM and releasing it into the indoor area than RT28HC. On the other hand, the numerical simulation results demonstrate that RT28HC has an advantage in terms of thermal storage capacity in climates found in Southern Europe, as it prevents overheating of the room. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximizing the carbon reduction in substations with minimum cost investments can be achieved by taking advantage of the potential of substations in terms of the envelope and renewable energy, which is significant in promoting carbon reduction in substations. Therefore, firstly, the relationship between building cost–energy consumption–carbon emissions is explored, and then the global optimal calculation model of substation envelope–renewable energy is established, with the lowest life-cycle carbon emission of the substation as the optimization goal. Finally, the validity of the model is verified based on a case study of a typical 110 kV outdoor substation. The model calculation results show that, without considering the cost constraint, Harbin has the highest maximum carbon reduction of 180,350 kg, which is 25.15% and 13.74% higher than the maximum carbon reduction in Shanghai and Haikou, respectively. Furthermore, based on the comparison of the cost and benefits of each carbon reduction technology, a prioritization of various carbon reduction technologies is given for each climate zone. The model established in this paper can provide the optimal configuration of substation carbon reduction technologies with different incremental cost constraints, and provide a reference for the low-carbon design of substations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A passive solar building cannot only save cost and reduce energy consumption, but also benefit the harmonious development of society. This paper introduces an optimal design strategy by taking into account its external environment, the building layout, the shape coefficient, the building envelope, and the building structure. An example is given to reveal various concepts and their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity to improve the energy saving potential of buildings is now a duty. European and national policies are being implemented to address the important decisions being made on this subject. For these reasons, several studies focus on this relevant topic. This paper review not only focusses on it but studies it in-depth. A commercial 3D simulation software was used to design a building sited in Palermo estimating the thermal losses before and after external envelope insulation. In particular, all the thermal bridges (TBs) were analysed with the finite element method (FEM) and mitigated with rock wool insulation. The paper shows the linear thermal transmittance difference and heat flux loss before and after TB mitigation. The results confirm the importance of installing an external insulation layer in the old building envelope. The linear thermal transmittance of TBs and the associated heat flux loss often decrease by more than 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy certification of buildings in Serbia was introduced in 2011 and energy label depends on energy need for heating per unit floor area of heated space, calculated by the fully prescribed monthly quasi-steady-state method defined by ISO 13790. In the Republic of Serbia, most of families live in single-family houses built before the energy certification of buildings was introduced. Therefore, the estimation of energy performance of the existing buildings is important for labeling, and evaluation of energy saving measures and energy strategies to be implemented. This paper examines the applicability of monthly method defined by National legislation on the existing buildings stock in Serbia, by comparing it to the more accurate dynamic simulation method. Typical singlefamily houses are taken as a test case, since they are responsible for about 76% of energy consumption for heating. The results show that the dynamic simulation method estimates 21% to 54% higher energy need for heating, compared to the monthly method. Also, the monthly method estimates up to 13% higher savings by typical building envelope energy saving measures, compared to the dynamic simulation. This paper recommends improvement in procedures for calculation of building energy performance index to better assess energy consumption, effects of energy saving measures, and create solid background for developing and implementing of energy saving strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The research proposes a strategic path to align future development in façade and façade-integrated technologies with the new economic, legal, and organizational requirements of a more sustainable, circular, and performance-based façade industry. The servitisation of the built environment, through the implementation of product–service systems, is considered a promising business strategy to achieve a circular economy transition. This servitisation faces a number of practical challenges, among them the technological readiness and effective integration and application of existing and emerging products, manufacturing processes, and digital monitoring and management tools. The research builds on targeted literature review, and on a research-through-design approach based on full-scale pilot projects developed in an ongoing feedback loop between researchers, planners, and industry partners representing both the demand and supply sides of the façade industry in the Netherlands. The paper analyses the technical implementation challenges currently preventing the façade industry from adopting performance-based contracts. It then proposes the roles that existing and emerging digital design and engineering technologies, manufacturing processes, and asset management systems can play in the development, implementation, and fulfilment of such contracts. The paper proposes a multi-stakeholder, systemic model for the development and application of façade technologies capable of overcoming many of the technical implementation barriers to the delivery of performance-based contracts for integrated facades. From this it concludes that an effective development of building technologies should strategically align with the solving of economic and contractual challenges such as circularity-readiness, profitability, risk distribution, legal demarcation, performance monitoring, and residual value stewardship. The resulting framework provides a strategic and conceptual basis for the development of circularity-enabling façade technologies, accounting for the diverse and sometimes conflicting interests of the multitude of stakeholders involved throughout a project's lifecycle. The framework aims to support planners, manufacturers, and builders accelerate the circular deep energy renovation of the built environment while also exploring new business opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the Egyptian building design strategies for different building envelope shapes based on the green building design using the DesignBuilder program by simulating the outdoor climate conditions depending on the Egyptian meteorological data. The simulated results are applied to Minia City as one of the hotdesert climate regions in Egypt. The research is performed on the hottest day in summer according to the analysis of climatic data overall months using the climate consultant tool. This research studies two main variables to characterize the quantitative relationships between the building form and the Natural Ventilation (NV) of thermal comfort to be achieved, which are mixed-mode maximum wind speed, and natural ventilation setpoint temperature. The research focuses on two output parameters, which are air velocity and pressure, relating to natural outdoor ventilation. The simulation findings revealed that the circle form offers the best case, which has a significant role in achieving thermal comfort that optimized the value between the two major parameters in building design, while the worst case is the U-shaped building based on the same two optimized values. Finally, the usage of natural ventilation, simultaneously with choosing the suitable building geometry, is principal for adapting the current outdoor air velocity and pressure, thus reducing the energy consumption of buildings. Practical application: This paper studies the relationship between building form and natural ventilation to achieve outdoor thermal comfort and its effects on buildings. The study assesses the wind speed and temperature parameters using the DesignBuilder tool. The study suggests a combination between natural ventilation and choosing the suitable building form to adapt the air velocity and pressure to reduce the energy consumption of the buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this investigation is to summarize modular façade construction using renewable energy features in different aspects. Researches done so far primarily focusing on building envelop have shown various constructions of building enclosure without energy usage. This paper mainly focuses on modular façade renovation system programmes of European Horizon 2020 [ 34 ] and IEA ECBCS Annex 50 Prefabricated Systems for Low Energy Renovation of Residential Buildings in terms of construction, material, installation and thermal performance. Four aspects of construction, material, installation and thermal performance are adopted to evaluate these practices. Related website, paper and report from European commission constitute the database providing for review. Final results illustrate that all modular façade systems mentioned above could be classified into three layers: interior; module and exterior layer, taking charge of disparate functions. Both insulation and energy usage achieve the innovative envelop constructions manufacture. Integrating the renewable energy resources utilization technique into insulated building façade system is the core of this innovative projects achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the energy-saving design of substations, the building envelope thermal parameters, window-to-wall ratio, and shape factor are three crucial influencing factors. They not only affect the building's appearance but also have an important impact on the total building energy consumption. In this paper, we applied the energy consumption simulation software DeST-c to study the influence of the above three elements on the total energy consumption of the building in a representative city with different thermal zones. The optimal envelope thermal parameters, optimal window-to-wall ratio, and optimal shape factor were derived through combination with economic analysis. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of different elements was carried out to determine the suitable passive design solutions for substations in different climate zones. It was found that the thickness of roof insulation has the greatest influence on the energy consumption of substation buildings among all envelopes. The optimal window-to-wall ratios were 0.4, 0.4~0.5, 0.3, 0.3~0.4, and 0.5 for severe cold, cold, hot summer and cold winter, hot summer and warm winter, and mild regions, respectively; and the optimal shape factors were 0.29, 0.30, 0.23, 0.31, and 0.33, respectively. The conclusions of this study can provide architects with energy-saving design strategies and suggestions for substations in different climate zones, and provide references for building energy-saving designs and air conditioning and heating equipment selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under rapid urbanization-induced global warming and resource depletion, growing interest in zero-energy building (ZEB) and zero-emission building (ZEB) technologies have emerged globally to improve energy performance in homes and shape sustainable cities. Although several countries have released ZEB-enhanced strategies and set national standards and policies to promote ZEBs, construction projects are still limited to demonstration projects. This paper reviews global ZEB activities and state-of-the-art technologies for energy-efficient residential building technologies [based on an evaluation of 40 residential buildings]. Over 40 residential buildings on different continents were reviewed, and their technical details and performance were evaluated. Our results show that 62.5% of the buildings achieved the +ZEB standard, 25% of the buildings were net-zero energy buildings, and only 12.5% of the buildings were near-zero energy buildings. Solar PV is the most widely used renewable energy source in the studied cases, while in warmer climates, advanced cooling technologies and heat pumps are the preferred technologies. A building envelope and thermal ventilation with heat recovery are essential in cold climates. Our systematic analysis reveals that the thermal performance of the building envelope and solar energy are the most effective mechanisms for achieving energy efficiency and shaping sustainable cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Engineering Sciences is the property of Faculty of Engineering - Assiut University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper explored the temporary facilities created during the pandemic for use as COVID-19 test centers at Zaventem Airport, the main airport for the city of Brussels, Belgium. The possibilities of modular construction technology and the impact of the building envelope on users' perception of indoor space comfort and privacy were closely observed. The three main problem statements were as follows: (1) the COVID-19 crisis indirectly influenced the creation of temporary modular buildings with glass envelopes; (2) the modular envelope is adaptable to the existing context; and (3) the envelope meets the needs of the users. This study's objectives were to identify the critical factors for users' well-being in temporary modular buildings, and to conduct factor comparisons among different users and between different building-enclosure systems. The study data were collected through a subjective assessment using a SWOT analysis and a survey questionnaire. The glass facade affected the users' acceptance levels of comfort and privacy. The main results show that the users were satisfied with the level of comfort and dissatisfied with the level of privacy. This information can be used to identify areas for improvement and provide useful feedback to designers and engineers about specific design features and operating strategies for temporary modular emergency healthcare buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The case study seeks an optimal solution for preserving the cultural values of a functionalist building so that it fulfils the legislative essence of the protection of a historic building and, at the same time, contributes to the improvement of its thermophysical properties. The paper focuses on the degree of the application of energy performance requirements for the adaptive reuse of a historic building. The efforts to preserve cultural values (architectural, aesthetic, the value of the authenticity of an area and its building constructions, etc.) in legally protected buildings often do not permit the application of building construction processes such as those used in ordinary older buildings. The research responds to a situation where a building with historic values, built in a functionalist style (the 1940s), permits variants of the surface treatment of the facade so as to not disturb the essential stylistic values of that facade and, at the same time, reduce its energy demands to the required value. Heat demands for heating have a significant effect on the energy needs for heating and thus on the overall energy need of a building. The heat demands depend on the efficiency and quality of the thermal protection in buildings. In the case of cultural monuments, the calculation of the thermophysical properties of building structures forms the basis for determining the heating and cooling demands. Building structures and their elements that form the building envelope must meet current and demanding thermophysical requirements in accordance with the applicable standards, if technically and economically feasible. When restoring cultural monuments in the Slovak Republic, it is not required to meet requirements for energy efficiency. On the other hand, it is necessary to verify the thermophysical requirements in accordance with the applicable standards in each specific case. The paper responds to a continuing interdisciplinary discussion on this topic. The analysis is conducted within the scope of the KEGA 016STU-4/2017 project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an open dataset of measured energy use, solar energy production, and building air leakage data from a 328 m2 (3,531 ft2) all-electric, zero energy commercial building in Virginia, USA. Over two years of energy use data were collected at 1-hour intervals using circuit-level energy monitors. Over six years of solar energy production data were measured at 1-hour resolution by 56 microinverters (presented as daily and monthly data in this dataset). The building air leakage data was measured post-construction per ASTM-E779 Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization and the United States Army Corps (USACE) Building Enclosure Testing procedure; both pressurization and depressurization results are provided. The architectural and engineering (AE) documents are provided to aid researchers and practitioners in reliable modeling of building performance. The paper describes the data collection methods, cleaning, and convergence with weather data. This dataset can be employed to predict, benchmark, and calibrate operational outcomes in zero energy commercial buildings. Measurement(s) measured energy use • solar energy production • building air leakage Technology Type(s) circuit-level energy monitor • microinverter • ASTM-E779 Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization Factor Type(s) temporal interval Sample Characteristic - Environment zero energy commercial building Sample Characteristic - Location Commonwealth of Virginia Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.16869407 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In residential buildings, air infiltration impacts energy, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort considerably. While air infiltration in residential buildings has been the focus of many studies, most published field-testing results pertain to developed countries, with little or no data on air infiltration in developing nations. This paper presents the results of one of the first field investigations into envelope infiltration in the residential buildings of the hot-arid climatic area of Egypt. To analyze the air permeability of the building envelope, the fan pressurization method, often known as the blower door test (BDT), is used, following ISO 9772. The study focuses on 20 residential dwellings built with heavy construction materials and subjects them to extensive characterization and testing. The average air leakage and the air permeability rate for the tested sample were 6.14 h−1 and 17.3 m3/(h∙m2), respectively. However, significant variations in airtightness were observed across the dwelling, leading the team to test several building-related parameters statistically to study their impact on airtightness. Fenestration quality appeared to be a critical factor in determining air infiltration, showing a strong correlation with the air change and leakage. A further investigation underscored that the specific aperture factor and the fenestration quality can predict the infiltration rates to a large degree. Thus, we recommend further investigation of these characteristics in heavy construction material building. Finally, we strongly recommend that building codes in developing countries such as Egypt include minimum performance requirements for fenestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enclosed airspaces of various effective emittances exist in the building envelope in walls, roofs, and double/triple glazing windows, curtain walls and skylight devices. Assessing the energy performance of a building component with enclosed reflective airspaces requires evaluation of all modes of heat transport inside the airspace. The thermal resistance (R-value) of the enclosed airspaces depends on the dimensions and orientation of the airspace, and the emittance and temperature of all surfaces that bound the airspace. To the best of our knowledge, the existing methods used around the world to evaluate the airspace thermal performance (e.g., ISO 6946, AUS/NZ 4859, and methods based on the U.S. NBS data) are one-dimensional and assume isothermal conditions on the hot and cold surfaces. In actual applications, however, the temperatures of both the hot and cold surfaces vary (i.e., they are non-isothermal), and the heat transfer takes place via conduction, convection and surface-to-surface radiation. In some cases, convection is absent or negligible, as is the case for downward heat flow or situations with a small temperature difference between the hot and cold surfaces. Radiation transport is significantly reduced by the presence of a low-emittance surface in the heat flow path. One of the goals of this study is to answer the question "is it a good assumption to use the isothermal conditions on both the hot and cold surfaces for determining/reporting the R-value of enclosed airspaces for different building applications?" A complete evaluation of the thermal performance of enclosed airspaces that includes the impact of bounding materials can now be undertaken in multiple dimensions with convective transport described by computational fluid dynamics. In addition to providing a relatively complete evaluation of the thermal performance of the enclosed airspaces, the adequacy of popular simplifying assumptions can be evaluated. This paper describes the computational process used, along with examples of the variation in thermal resistance with the airspace aspect ratio, realistic thermal boundary conditions and radiative heat transport on all surfaces that bound the airspace. The analysis completed in this research shows that the assumption of isothermal hot and cold surfaces affects calculated R-values for enclosed reflected airspaces by less than 3%. This was demonstrated for the five conventionally considered heat-flow directions and effective emittances from 0 to 0.82. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently there is gaining interest in pre-compressed foam sealing tapes to seal joints watertight between different building envelope components. Little to no information is available on the parameters affecting the resistance of these foam tapes to driving rain. On the other hand, several research studies have shown that water leakages can be expected at relatively low-pressure differences and that drainage should be provided. Therefore, a study was designed to on the one hand assess the material and installation parameters that affect the watertightness of pre-compressed polyurethane foam sealing tapes impregnated with an acrylic polymer dispersion and on the other hand evaluate the potential of providing drainage possibilities, either as a two-barrier system or by means of integrated drainage cavities. It was found that the joint width, the presence of an airtight coating, and the position of the tape relative to the exterior surface affected the watertightness of the sealed joints. Notably, 87% of the evaluated foam tapes applied as a single barrier showed water leakages at pressure differences of 600 Pa or lower. Foam tapes with integrated drainage cavities, on the other hand, resulted in watertight joints up to an average pressure difference of 825 Pa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a novel controlled-temperature double-skin façade (DSF) building element. A three-dimensional time-dependent numerical model was developed for six different geometries for the investigation of thermal performance under different orientations (azimuth 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°). The boundary conditions of the numerical model were determined with the PVGIS tool and adjusted with the sol-air temperature equation. The results of the numerical simulation were validated with the use of measurements from an experimental test cell. The numerical results indicated an improved thermal performance when temperature-controlled air and flow were supplied through the building envelope with annual total energy savings in kWh/m2 of 1.99, 1.38, 2.13 and 2.06 for azimuth 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°, respectively. In regard to the total energy savings in %, the maximum benefit was considered to be in the winter season, with values of 65, 29, 80 and 28 for azimuth 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°, respectively. The experimental measurements revealed the test cell's ability to maintain a relatively constant internal surface temperature and to not be significantly affected by the orientation and diverse ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal inertia of a building envelope endows a building with a heat storage capability, introducing scheduling flexibility to a building energy microgrid (BEM). The flexibility is usually modelled as virtual energy storage (VES) and used to optimize the operation of BEMs to reduce electricity costs. However, the VES capacity is impacted by and varies with variations in indoor/outdoor temperature. If only the building envelope's effect on heat transfer is considered, without proper quantification of scheduling flexibility provided by the building envelope, the scheduling scheme (especially VES charging/discharging schemes) will deviate from the actual VES operating conditions, which may affect the thermal comfort of individuals in buildings or bring high electricity costs. In this paper, a time‐varying building VES model (TVES) with three time‐varying parameters (virtual electric capacity (VEC), state of charge (SOC), and charge and discharge power) is proposed to quantify the electricity storage capability of the VES at different time periods for participating in operation of the BEM. Based on the TVES, a day‐ahead optimal scheduling strategy is developed for the BEM to simultaneously reduce the electricity cost and guarantee the user's thermal comfort, where the proposed time‐varying parameters of TVES are taken as constraints in the optimization. Numerical studies verify the effectiveness of the proposed TVES and optimal scheduling strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ventilation and heating can be necessary for pig production during winter in China. However, it is challenging to balance the ventilation rate and heat loss due to the ventilation. Therefore, it is essential to design the minimum ventilation and heating load properly in order to reduce energy loss. In this paper, a VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) model based on energy balance is established. Meteorological data, pig body masses, outdoor temperatures, feeding densities, and building envelope thermal insulance factors were involved in the model. A model pig house with a length and width of 110 m × 15 m was used to investigate the ventilation, heating time, load, and power consumption in different climate zones, i.e., Changchun, Beijing, Nanning, Wuhan, and Guiyang, representing five major climate regions in China. Based on the simulation results, the models of minimum ventilation and heating load were fitted. The results showed that there is a logarithmic relationship between the minimum ventilation volume and body mass, R2 = 0.9673. The R2 of heating load models for nursery pigs and fattening pigs were 0.966 and 0.963, respectively, considering the feeding area, the outside temperature, the body masses of the nursery and fattening pigs, and the thermal insulance factor of the enclosure. The heating requirements of commercial pig houses within the same building envelope followed the trend in Changchun > Beijing > Guiyang > Wuhan > Nanning. Increasing the building envelope's thermal insulance factor or using precision heating could reduce the pig house's power consumption. The analysis of the heating load and energy consumption of winter pig houses in various climate regions provided a reference for precise environmental control and the selection of building thermal insulance factors in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are widely used in residential and commercial buildings due to their reliable mechanical and thermal performance. However, using framing members and nails to join SIPs causes thermal bridging across the insulation and thus increases heat losses from the building envelope. Alternatively, SIPs joined with embedded camlock systems can overcome this issue. In this paper, a parametric study of the effects of the camlock system material and SIP geometric design on the thermal performance of SIP walls was investigated using a multi-scale finite element modeling approach. The model considers the structural design details of the camlock system. In addition, the effects of the SIP materials, SIP thickness, and the number of camlock systems per unit area on the through-thickness thermal conductivity of the SIP walls are examined. It was found that the SIP thickness is a dominating factor influencing the thermal performance of the SIP. The through-thickness (overall) thermal conductivity of the SIP wall increases linearly with the increase in the number of camlock systems used per unit area. However, it rises exponentially with the increasing SIP thickness. The reduction in the overall R-value of the SIP caused by the camlock system embedded in the SIP did not exceed 13.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main targets of globally aimed strategies such as the UN-supported Race to Zero campaign or the European Green Deal is the decarbonisation of the building sector. The implementation of renewable energy sources in new urban structures, as well as the complex reconstruction of existing buildings, represents a key area of sustainable urban development. Supporting this approach, this paper introduces the solar-surface-area-to-volume ratio (Rsol) and the solar performance indicator (Psol), applicable for evaluation of the energy performance of basic building shapes at early design stages. The indicators are based on the preprocessors calculated using two different mathematical models—Robinson and Stone's cumulative sky algorithm and Kittler and Mikler's model—which are then compared and evaluated. Contrary to the commonly used surface-area-to-volume ratio, the proposed indicators estimate the potential for energy generation by active solar appliances integrated in the building envelope and allow optimisation of building shape in relation to potential energy losses and potential solar gains simultaneously. On the basis of the mathematical models, an online application optimising building shape to maximise sun-exposed surfaces has been developed. In connection with the solar-surface-area-to-volume ratio, it facilitates the quantitative evaluation of energy efficiency of various shapes by the wider professional public. The proposed indicators, verified in a case study presented, shall result in the increased sustainability of building sector by improving the utilisation of solar energy and overall energy performance of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of People & Nature is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Engineering Sciences is the property of Faculty of Engineering - Assiut University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The moisture performance of building envelopes largely depends on the building materials, construction techniques, and exposure loads from the indoor and outdoor regions. A ventilated air interlayer placed in a wall can help dehumidify the wall and indoor air. This paper presents an experimental study of the heat, air, and moisture variations within the envelope wall of a chamber featuring different air interlayer settings under real outdoor air conditions during the summer of 2020 in Shanghai, China. Self-developed humidity-controlling building materials were applied to the inner building envelope. Temperature, humidity, wind velocity, and heat-flow sensors were placed at different positions in the middle of the wall. These parameters were measured and recorded in real-time under three working conditions: humidification, dehumidification, and ventilation. The experimental results show that under the ventilation working conditions, moisture content of 0.52 kg can be removed after a 2-h air layer ventilation, which can benefit the design strategy for the humidification and ventilation of dehumidification walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy crisis, the risk of interruptions or irregular supplies of conventional energy carriers, and the need to protect the environment stimulate the search for new solutions to improve the heat balance of buildings with the use of solar energy. In this paper, direct and indirect solar gain systems integrated with the building envelope are discussed. In the context of the identified operational problems, the evolution of the classic Trombe wall was shown in the period 1967–2022. Modifications to the windows and Trombe wall proposed in the reviewed works can significantly reduce the risk of an insufficient supply of heat in the winter season. This review also indicates the impact of climate conditions on the decision-making process involved in the selection of the Trombe wall design with respect to energy–effects optimization. The insufficient thermal insulating capacity of Trombe walls has been diagnosed as the reason why they do not enjoy much popularity in cold and moderate climates. As the main directions of development of solar gains systems, the search for solutions that maximize solar gains while ensuring high standards of thermal insulation and the implementation of intelligent technologies were indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]