Sustainable Buildings with Their Sustainable Facades

Abstract

The intelligent facade reduces the primary energy\rconsumption of a building, use of natural, renewable energy\rsources, such as solar radiation, air flows and creates a\rcomfortable environment for the occupants. For that reason\recological intelligent facade can be defined as changing light\rand weather conditions using self- regulating thermal\rprotection and solar control measures. Considering that energy\rconsumption is one of the foremost issues of our time, energysaving\rmeasures have become of vital importance. This\rparticularly applies to buildings, since the amount of nonrenewable\renergy resources they consume is considerably\rhigher than in other areas of consumption. The energy\rconsumption level of a building is contingent on that building’s\rspecific structure as well as the thermal properties of the\rbuilding and its environment, the climatic conditions prevailing\rat the building’s location, the times when the building is used,\rand the specifications of the systems employed for heating and\rcooling. A building skin design tuned to energy-efficiency\rcriteria allows both conservation and generation of energy. In\raddition, by employing renewable energy resources for heating,\rcooling, and lighting, it contributes to reduced use of depletable\renergy resources, accounting for the responsibility towards the\rglobal community. Energy-efficient facade design, which starts\rwith decisions at a building’s initial design stage, directly\raffects a whole array of factors, including the choice of system.\rThis study focuses on those parameters and alternatives for\renergy-efficient building skin design that support the concept\rof ecological building, and presents practical examples for\rfeasible systems. In this study ecological building skins will be\rclassified as single skin facades, double skin facades (Corridor\rfacades, building high double skin facades, building high\rcontrollable double skin facades, box windows) and combined\rfacades.