Life Cycle Assessment of Solar Façade Concepts Based on Transparent Insulation Materials

Contemporary architecture and construction industry are trying to cope with increasing requirements concerning energy efficiency and environmental impacts. One of the available options is the active utilization of energy gains from the environment, specifically solar energy gains. These gains can be...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2018-11, Vol.10 (11), p.4212
Main Authors: Struhala, Karel, Čekon, Miroslav, Slávik, Richard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative energy sources
Assemblies
Boundary conditions
Buildings
Concrete
Construction industry
Efficiency
Emission standards
Energy consumption
Energy efficiency
Energy utilization
Environmental assessment
Environmental impact
Evaluation
Facades
Insulation
Limiting factors
Service life
Solar energy
Studies
Sustainability
Thermal insulation
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Summary:Contemporary architecture and construction industry are trying to cope with increasing requirements concerning energy efficiency and environmental impacts. One of the available options is the active utilization of energy gains from the environment, specifically solar energy gains. These gains can be utilized by, for example, solar walls and facades. The solar façade concept has been under development for more than a century. However, it has not achieved widespread use for various reasons. Rather recently the concept was enhanced by the application of transparent insulation materials that have the potential to increase the efficiency of such façades. The presented study evaluates the environmental efficiency of 10 solar façade assemblies in the mild climate of the Czech Republic, Central Europe. The evaluated façade assemblies combine the principles of a solar wall with transparent insulation based on honeycomb and polycarbonate panels. The study applies Life-Cycle Assessment methodology to the calculation of environmental impacts related to the life cycle of the evaluated assemblies. The results indicate that even though there are several limiting factors, façade assemblies with transparent insulation have lower environmental impacts compared to a reference assembly with standard thermal insulation. The highest achieved difference is approx. 84% (in favor of the assembly with transparent insulation) during a modelled 50-year façade assembly service life.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su10114212