Dynamic Facades, the Smart Way of Meeting the Energy Requirements

Abstract

The paper describes an innovative dynamic façade system, developed in cooperation between two industrial companies, the Danish Building Research Institute and Aalborg University, Denmark. The system, named Energy Frames, is a newly developed industrially produced façade system based on the experiences of a number of specially designed solutions for significant individual buildings all over the world. Energy Frames is a modular framework-based façade system that snaps on the outside of the window frames. The frames can be moved horizontally or vertically in front of the window and is suitable for both new and existing buildings, solving the fundamental functions of the façade: solar shading, daylighting control, dynamic façade U-value, natural ventilation, and noise reduction.Through the use of thermal building simulation tools as well as full scale measurement of the façade system, the energy saving potential is investigated showing the benefits and the challenges of working with dynamic façades in research and practice.