Optical–Thermal Performance and Energy Efficiency of Electrochromic Glazing in Hot Summer and Warm Winter Residential Buildings

Abstract

This study examined the optical–thermal performance and energy efficiency of electrochromic (EC) glazing in residential buildings situated in regions characterized by hot summers and warm winters. Traditional glazing systems, such as double-layer (DL) and low-emissivity (LE) glazing, often face challenges in achieving an optimal balance between indoor lighting, glare control, and heat regulation. Using EnergyPlus simulations for a typical residential building, this research evaluated the performance of EC glazing under four control strategies, considering seasonal variations (summer and winter), building orientations, and energy demands for cooling, heating, and lighting. The results indicate that EC glazing dynamically adjusts the solar transmittance from 0.320 under low solar radiation to 0.012 at high levels, significantly reducing the glare and convection heat gains. The transmitted radiation heat gain for EC glazing is remarkably only 23.7 J·m−2, compared to 736.8 J·m−2 for DL glazing. Furthermore, EC glazing achieves a total energy consumption of 189.52 MJ·m2, representing a significant 33.0% reduction compared to DL glazing. These findings underscore the potential of EC glazing to improve both the energy efficiency and visual comfort in residential settings. This study highlights the importance of optimizing control strategies, particularly in response to seasonal and directional variations, offering valuable insights for sustainable building design in climates with diverse thermal requirements.