“Novel Active Facade Systems and Energy Performance of Commercial Buildings: Impact of Thermoelectric Materials on Heating and Cooling in Different Climates” presents results of a research study that focuses on understanding energy performance of novel facade systems that integrate thermoelectric materials (TEs). TEs are active materials that can produce a temperature gradient when electricity is applied, exploiting the Peltier effect, or can generate a voltage when exposed to a temperature gradient, utilizing the Seebeck effect. In our previous research, we developed and tested working prototypes of these novel facades and investigated heating and cooling potential, as well as energy generation where temperature difference between the exterior and interior environments would be used to produce power from TEs, integrated into building skin. Previous research indicated that these intelligent systems are a promising new technology that can be used in facade assemblies for heating and cooling purposes, controlling buildings’ interior environment.

This research study considered a commercial office building and analyzed integration of these novel facade systems to provide localized heating and cooling. The main objective of the study was to compare energy performance of these novel facades to conventional HVAC systems. Our study was motivated in part by the fact that TEs are often considered to have inferior coefficient of performance compared to conventional building-scale HVAC systems due to the small size of TE modules. A baseline four-story office building with an area of 20,000 ft² was developed in IDA ICE software program. Two different models were developed—one representing conventional HVAC system typically used in commercial buildings (VAV system), and one representing two systems, where the perimeter zone would integrate thermoelectric facades and the core would employ VAV system. Simulations were performed for fifteen climate zones in the U.S., investigating TE and VAV’s energy performance in various weather conditions. Therefore, 30 energy models were developed and simulated. Simulation results showed that energy consumption of a commercial office with integrated thermoelectric facades would be lower than conventional VAV system for all climate zones, with higher energy savings in colder climates because TEs act as heat pumps in heating mode, delivering higher efficiency.

Citation:

Aksamija, A., Farid Mohajer, M., and Aksamija, Z., (2022). “Novel Active Facade Systems and Energy Performance of Commercial Buildings: Impact of Thermoelectric Materials on Heating and Cooling in Different Climates”, Proceedings of the Facade World Congress 2022, Los Angeles, CA, October 12-13.