Heating and Cooling Energy Savings of a Proposed Variable Thermal Resistance Envelope (Dynamic EIFS) in Office Buildings

Abstract

This paper evaluates potential heating and cooling energy savings of a theoretical building envelope system capable of modifying its thermal resistance according to the changing weather conditions. A Dynamic External Insulation Finishing System (D-EIFS) theoretical model is proposed based on recent research on dynamic building envelope technologies, which suggest that this functionality will be fully available in the near future. We also develop and apply a unique simulation technique for using commercially available BPS software to assess the heating and cooling energy savings potential of a D-EIFS for office buildings. A performance comparison of the proposed D-EIFS with the most efficient EIFS for the same office building shows a heating and cooling energy savings of up to 26% in the summer season in a temperate climate.