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Project Leader
Abdelaziz Laouadi
Phone: 613-990-6868
Fax: 613-954-3733
Email: Abdelaziz.Laouadi@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Advanced Façade Solutions: Towards Net Zero Energy Commercial Buildings
Objectives
To develop and evaluate several new energy-efficient building façade technologies.
Background
Progress toward net zero energy buildings will require new approaches to the design of façades. While some mature and successful technologies are available, they suffer from limited market penetration, poor integration with the rest of the building fabric, and limited user acceptance. This project will develop and evaluate several such technologies with the aim of overcoming these limitations.
Statement of Work
- Develop a computer optical simulation model of the Solar Canopy Illumination System and use it to predict annual energy and lighting performance. The canopy system, designed at the University of British Columbia, provides daylight to the core of multi-floor office buildings.
- Investigate the feasibility of incorporating photovoltaic film into the canopy system in order to harvest solar energy during unoccupied hours.
- Develop a design concept for integrating the canopy system into double-skin façades.
- Evaluate the feasibility of switchable glazing using the micro-blind thin film technology, which would allow the user to change the optical or thermal properties of sealed glazing units. If proven, develop a small size prototype and evaluate its energy and indoor environment quality performance.
- Using simulation and laboratory measurement, evaluate the use of photovoltaic flexible films in movable shading devices, and their potential to produce energy on-site and improve indoor environment quality.
Expected Outcomes
- Optimized solar canopy systems for various applications in buildings.
- Small-size prototype of the micro-blind technology
- Prototypes of successful PV-integrated shading devices.
- Performance evaluation tools for the market deployment of the studied façade technologies.
- A series of technical and information papers in journals and trade magazines
Partners
Natural Resources Canada, Program of Energy Research and Development, the University of British Columbia and the NRC Institute for Microstructural Sciences
Start/Expected Completion Dates
This project began in 2008 and is expected to be completed in March 2012.
Publications
Guidelines for solar shading of residential windows
Laouadi, A.
Construction Innovation, 15 (2)
pp. 1. 2010-06-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Guidelines for Effective Residential Solar Shading Devices
Laouadi, A.
Research Report, NRC Institute for Research in Construction, 300
pp. 117. 2010-03-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Thermal performance modeling of complex fenestration systems
Laouadi, A.
Journal of Building Performance Simulation, 2 (3)
pp. 189-207. 2009-09-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Field summer performance of interior reflective screen shades for residential windows
Galasiu, A.D. Laouadi, A. Armstrong, M. Swinton, M.C. Szadkowski, F.
The 11th International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) Conference (University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, 2009-07-27)
pp. 10.
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Thermal modeling of shading devices of windows
Laouadi, A.
ASHRAE Transactions, 115 (2)
pp. 1-20. 2009-06-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Effective solar shading devices for residential windows save energy and improve thermal conditions
Laouadi, A. Galasiu, A.D.
Lighting design + application : LD + A, 39 (6)
pp. 18-22. 2009-06-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Field performance of exterior solar shadings for residential windows: Summer results
Laouadi, A. Galasiu, A.D. Swinton, M.C. Armstrong, M. Szadkowski, F.
12th Canadian Conference on Building Science and Technology (Montréal, Quebec, 2009-05-06)
pp. 197-210.
[Full citation / Référence complète]
Solar shading devices save energy in houses
Laouadi, A. Galasiu, A.D.
Home Builder Magazine, 22 (3)
pp. 3. 2009-05-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]
