Highly insulated hydrogen powered vacuum gasochromic smart windows for energy-efficient buildings

Abstract

Switchable active hydrogen powered gasochromic smart windows present an appealing option for energy-efficient building integration, offering two controllable transparencies between ON and OFF states compared to traditional windows. Implementing such glazing in cold-climate buildings requires minimizing the total heat transfer across the glazing, achievable through vacuum-insulated glazing resulting in the retrofitting to obtain energy efficient building. This study investigates the potential of vacuum gasochromic (VGC) windows to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings in diverse climatic conditions, focusing on London, UK, and New Delhi, India. Comparing traditional single-glazing and double-glazing windows with vacuum-gasochromic windows in terms of thermal performance, energy demand, and dynamic control over solar heat gain and visible light transmission are evaluated using advanced simulation techniques with SketchUp, OPTICS6, WINDOW 7.8 and EnergyPlus 9.6. Results reveal that vacuum gasochromic windows exhibit superior thermal insulation with significantly lower U-values of 1.559W/m2K, reducing heat transfer and energy demand for heating and cooling. Vacuum gasochromic opaque states demonstrate exceptional performance in minimizing energy transfer, making them the most energy-efficient option, especially in warm climates like New Delhi with 9544.4 kWh. Conversely, vacuum gasochromic transparent state shows promise in reducing heating demand in London's cold climate by 9.43 %, highlighting their adaptability. Moreover, vacuum gasochromic windows allow dynamic control over solar heat gain and visible light transmission, enabling occupants to adjust transparency based on weather conditions and preferences.