Abstract
This paper presents a simulation study on the use of shading devices in highly glazed facades in the context of zero emission buildings (ZEB) located in a Nordic climatic context. Shading devices have the task to control different uses of solar energy (solar gain for passive solar heating and daylighting) and to avoid cooling load, and to find the best strategy (i.e. to optimize the overall performance) for controlling shading devices is not trivial.Different control strategies for the activation of the shading devices (venetian blinds) are simulated, and their performance calculated in this study through a dynamic whole-building simulation tool (EnergyPlus). The results of the simulation studies show that it is possible to achieve very high performance and balanced use of solar energy (for passive solar heating, daylighting), without occurring in too high cooling load, even in the case of fully glazed facades. The optimal strategy for shading activation is not straightforward, and different strategies should be recommended during the year to assure an overall optimal performance.
Highlights
Transparent façades based on curtain-wall systems have not been traditionally considered a sustainable solution for office buildings in the Nordic climate because heat loss through the glazed façade would have led to high energy use for heating and high thermal discomfort for the user.the large transparent area, coupled to the relatively high-density of internal gain typical of an office building, would have caused cooling load in the summer months, but even in the mid-seasons
This paper presents a simulation study on the use of shading devices in highly glazed facades in the context of zero emission buildings (ZEB) located in a Nordic climatic context
A previous studies [1] already showed that, when looking at the total energy performance of the building, a Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) of up to 0.80 is not impairing the energy performance of a low energy building located in the Nordic context, provided that it is realized with best available technologies for façade systems and it is equipped with shading devices controlled in a dynamic way
Summary
Transparent façades based on curtain-wall systems have not been traditionally considered a sustainable solution for office buildings in the Nordic climate because heat loss through the glazed façade would have led to high energy use for heating and high thermal discomfort for the user. The large transparent area, coupled to the relatively high-density of internal gain typical of an office building, would have caused cooling load in the summer months, but even in the mid-seasons. The current development of curtain-wall façade technologies has led to market availability of outstanding façade systems, characterized by a thermal performance close to that of more conventional envelope solutions based on opaque walls and windows, coupled with shading systems capable of properly managing solar gains. There are not studies dedicated to curtain-wall solutions
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