Smart Electrochromic Windows to Enhance Building Energy Efficiency and Visual Comfort

Alessandro Cannavale, Ubaldo Ayr, Francesco Fiorito and Francesco Martellotta
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Alessandro Cannavale: Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ingegneria Civile e dell’Architettura, Politecnico di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Ubaldo Ayr: Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ingegneria Civile e dell’Architettura, Politecnico di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Francesco Fiorito: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, del Territorio, Edile e di Chimica, Politecnico di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Francesco Martellotta: Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ingegneria Civile e dell’Architettura, Politecnico di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Electrochromic systems for smart windows make it possible to enhance energy efficiency in the construction sector, in both residential and tertiary buildings. The dynamic modulation of the spectral properties of a glazing, within the visible and infrared ranges of wavelengths, allows one to adapt the thermal and optical behavior of a glazing to the everchanging conditions of the environment in which the building is located. This allows appropriate control of the penetration of solar radiation within the building. The consequent advantages are manifold and are still being explored in the scientific literature. On the one hand, the reduction in energy consumption for summer air conditioning (and artificial lighting, too) becomes significant, especially in "cooling dominated" climates, reaching high percentages of saving, compared to common transparent windows; on the other hand, the continuous adaptation of the optical properties of the glass to the changing external conditions makes it possible to set suitable management strategies for the smart window, in order to offer optimal conditions to take advantage of daylight within the confined space. This review aims at a critical review of the relevant literature concerning the benefits obtainable in terms of energy consumption and visual comfort, starting from a survey of the main architectures of the devices available today.

Keywords: building integrated electrochromic; device architectures; energy saving; control strategies; visual comfort (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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