Thermochromic Materials as Passive Roof Technology: Their Impact on Building Energy Performance

Eva Crespo Sánchez and David Masip Vilà
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Eva Crespo Sánchez: Architecture Technology Department, Barcelona School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
David Masip Vilà: Architecture Technology Department, Barcelona School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: Over the last few years, new materials have been developed which a priori, appear to improve passive energy efficiency in buildings. This article focuses on chromogenic devices that allow changing their optical properties in a reversible manner through some external stimulus. The covering of the envelopes may have different textures or colors, which determine the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the material compared to the incident radiation. In buildings with a high percentage of roof relative to façade, the surface finish plays an interesting role in the energy demand. In the present work, the influence of the application of thermochromic materials to the roofs of commercial buildings is analyzed. It has been demonstrated that the application of a thermochromic surface finish can produce savings of annual energy demand between 1% and 12% in kilowatt-hours and kilograms of CO 2 and they become more significant for construction solutions with higher transmittances values. Then, the impact of applying a thermochromic finish per day is analyzed and which transition temperature range will be the most optimal to the highest energy performance is discussed. At the same time, an assessment is made of the optimal cost; although economic investment is not currently amortized, it is a good resource for reducing energy demand in buildings.

Keywords: thermochromic; roof coating; energy efficiency; reflection; absorption; color; surface temperature (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: 2022
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