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Abstract
This study evaluates the thermal and energy performance of building envelopes incorporating phase change materials (PCM) compared with traditional resistive thermal insulation, considering future climate scenarios. Using EnergyPlus simulations, the study analyzes a medium office building with varying envelope compositions in two distinct Brazilian climates—Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro—representing bioclimatic zones 1 and 8, respectively. The PCM used, SP24E, aligns with the HVAC system setpoints, and climate projections for 2050 and 2080 are integrated using the Climate Change World Weather File Generator (CCWorldWeatherGen) based on the A2 emissions scenario. Results indicate that in mild climates like Curitiba, PCM significantly improves energy efficiency, reducing annual Energy Use Intensity (EUI) by 8.2% in 2050 and 10% in 2080 compared with resistive insulation. Conversely, in hotter climates like Rio de Janeiro, PCM increases EUI by 12.1% in 2050 and 20.7% in 2080 compared with resistive insulation. This study highlights the varying effectiveness of PCM in different climatic conditions and its implications for future building energy performance.
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