Thermochromic (TC) windows have attracted extensive attention due to their potential for improving building performance through the variation of optical properties in response to temperature. However, past studies on TC windows at the building scale primarily focused on optimizing and evaluating the properties of TC materials, with little attention paid to the varying window structures frequently encountered in engineering applications. In this study, the building performance of hydrogel-based TC windows was investigated from the structural perspective. A comprehensive simulation framework was developed, integrating overall performance simulations of energy consumption and indoor comfort. Using a self-fabricated hydrogel TC glass and an office building as the case study, the impact of the optical properties of the substrate glass on single, double, vacuum, and ventilation TC windows was analyzed. The results indicated that the optimal extinction coefficients for the studied windows range from 55 to 105 m−1 for visible irradiation and from 155 to 255 m−1 for near-infrared irradiation. Subsequently, the overall performance improvements of these types of TC windows relative to corresponding static versions were calculated. It was found that the impacts of TC glass on these four windows varied significantly. Electricity usage was reduced by 33 ∼ 53 %, and the thermal comfort and visual comfort were enhanced by –22 ∼ 20 % and 72 ∼ 100 %, respectively. This study reveals in detail how the TC window structure affects various aspects of building performance, aiming to inspire and guide the consideration of window structure in the practical applications of TC glass.
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