Abstract
The upkeep of existing buildings has a great role to play in reducing the carbon emissions of the built environment. Façade upgrade represents one of the most effective interventions to improve both thermal efficiency and aesthetic appeal of existing buildings. Double Skin Façades (DSFs) have much to offer due to their use of solar and wind energy to passively heat and cool indoor spaces, whilst guaranteeing freedom and flexibility in the aesthetic design of the refurbished building. However, DSFs also bear an increase in the embodied energy and carbon due to the additional materials required for the extra skin throughout all life cycle stages.In this article, life cycle assessment (LCA) and dynamic energy modelling have been combined through a parametric approach to obtain figures for the whole-life cycle carbon assessment of 384 different configurations of an innovative, timber-made DSF for UK low-carbon refurbishments. Additionally, the structural design of the façade was also investigated through a structural optimisation procedure which takes into account all relevant loads and ensures minimal use of the structural material. Results show that operational savings outweigh the embodied impacts and therefore the proposed DSF is a viable and effective solution for net carbon-negative refurbishments. The operational energy modelling also contributes to the characterisation of DSFs thermal behaviour in temperate climates.
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