Abstract
Advanced constructive materials, such as electrochromic smart windows (ECSWs) and building integrated photovoltaics modules (BIPV), can improve the energy efficiency in buildings. A good optical and thermal characterization of these elements is necessary to assess and compare their performance. The existing testing procedures for glass in buildings are applied to both types of elements, and it is considered that while the optical procedures are suitable and allow good comparison of the two technologies, the indoor thermal testing procedures are not valid for BIPV nor ECSWs, because temperature of these absorbing elements strongly depend on the irradiance, something not considered in the current standards. To show and characterize this dependence, simultaneously monitoring of different photovoltaics (PV) modules and electrochromic windows has been performed outdoors under solar irradiance. A relationship between the surface temperature, the irradiance, and the ambient temperature has been obtained for each sample to compare both technologies.
Highlights
In developed countries, the energy consumption of commercial and residential buildings is continuously increasing, and it has already surpassed that required in transportation and industrial sectors [1]
This paper aims at progressing in the characterization of Semi-transparent PV modules (STPV) modules and electrochromic smart windows (ECSWs), regarding their optical and thermal properties
For a fixed transparency value, ECSWs show about 15% lower g-values than STPV for a luminous transmittance of 0.30, and almost 10% lower for a luminous transmittance of 0.15
Summary
The energy consumption of commercial and residential buildings is continuously increasing, and it has already surpassed that required in transportation and industrial sectors [1]. According to the European Directives, the energy performance of buildings should be calculated on the basis of a methodology which considers thermal transmittance, adequate natural lighting, heating and air-conditioning installations, application of energy from renewable sources, passive heating and cooling elements, shading, indoor air quality, and design of the building [6,7]. In this energy assessment of the building, new construction elements, such as photovoltaic systems or smart windows, should be included [8]
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