Reasons for conducting the project
Currently, over 40% of the UK's energy consumption & carbon emissions are a result of the way we heat, light and use our buildings. Consequently, even small changes in building energy performance can significantly reduce our total energy consumption.
As we strive towards developing zero energy buildings through various technical innovations, it has become clear that the façade of a building has an important role to play if this target is to be achievable.
Façades are of particular importance in reducing solar gains in buildings as they can stop incoming solar radiation from reaching the building, hence eliminating the need for air conditioning. Likewise they can also be developed to maximize solar gains during the winter to heat and retain thermal energy reducing the need for electrical heating.
Therefore one obvious reason for conducting such a project was to explore to what extent the façades of buildings can be exploited dynamically to reduce heating/cooling and lighting loads and if they could be used to control a buildings interior environment.
Another reason for this project was to test various dynamic façade technologies and determine which of these was most effective in terms of energy reduction and whether these technologies are economically viable.
As we strive towards developing zero energy buildings through various technical innovations, it has become clear that the façade of a building has an important role to play if this target is to be achievable.
Façades are of particular importance in reducing solar gains in buildings as they can stop incoming solar radiation from reaching the building, hence eliminating the need for air conditioning. Likewise they can also be developed to maximize solar gains during the winter to heat and retain thermal energy reducing the need for electrical heating.
Therefore one obvious reason for conducting such a project was to explore to what extent the façades of buildings can be exploited dynamically to reduce heating/cooling and lighting loads and if they could be used to control a buildings interior environment.
Another reason for this project was to test various dynamic façade technologies and determine which of these was most effective in terms of energy reduction and whether these technologies are economically viable.
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