Energy Performances of Tensile Material in Building Renovation in the Nordic Region

Tensile materials are increasingly used in the building envelope as second-skin systems, despite a lack of investigation on their effects. In this work, a second-skin system integrating a tensile material as an outer layer has been adopted in the retrofit analysis of two of the most common building typologies in the Norwegian context. The simulations were carried out by implementing a custom control logic for the system, considering the outdoor air temperature and the global vertical irradiation on the façades. The proposed retrofit solution allowed for a primary energy saving of about 35%.publishedVersio

Review of 3D Printing in Architecture: applications, limitations and future developments

Additive manufacturing has seen a growing interest in the construction industry in the last few years. Along with the possibility of using plastics, cement, clay, mixtures, and so many other materials, the opportunities offered by such technologies mainly rely on the free-shaping of complex geometries and the high customizability of the products. Nowadays, the aim of integrating additive manufacturing processes in the construction stages is to reduce waste materials and reduce the overall environmental impact. This review summarizes the current state-of-art of additive manufacturing, mainly 3D printing, applied to architecture, in current research activities, and actual built projects. The aim is to delineate a comprehensive scenario of its possible applications and current limitations, finally suggesting the opportunities for future investigations

Flexible and Lightweight Solutions for Energy Improvement in Construction: A Literature Review

Innovative materials and systems for flexible and lightweight energy-efficient solutions in construction can help achieve the objective of more efficient buildings. This literature review categorizes these solutions into three categories: materials/systems topology, design flexibility from 3D-printing technologies, and innovative solutions for building envelope designs. The review shows a significant increase in interest in this research topic in recent years, with an average annual growth rate of about 73%, with most research focused on the design and thermal aspects, as well as the material typology and 3D-printing technologies. According to the review, flexible and lightweight systems can be applied to all building sectors, and retrofitting existing buildings may become the primary approach. However, there is no specific European regulation for these systems, and a more holistic design approach is needed, involving both designers/constructors and users, to plan for actual social, economic, and environmental impacts

Integration of a flexible tensile material in a second skin façade system: a passive method to enhance the energy performances of the Italian building scenario

Tensile materials are increasingly used in the building envelope as second-skin systems, despite a lack of investigation on their effects. In this work, a tensile material model has been validated through experimental data and used for a retrofit strategy. Eighteen simulation cases have been carried out, varying the design and the climatic conditions. The results show a reduction of the cooling energy demand (up to 42.4%), the primary energy (up to 9.12%), the CO2 equivalent emission (up to 5288.6 kgCO2,eq). However, the tensile system is more expensive than a typical retrofit action; therefore, it should be supported by supplementary grants

Energy Performances Assessment of Extruded and 3D Printed Polymers Integrated into Building Envelopes for a South Italian Case Study

Plastic materials are increasingly becoming used in the building envelope, despite a lack of investigation on their effects. In this work, an extruded Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene panel has been tested as a second-skin layer in a ventilated facade system using a full-scale facility. The experimental results show that it is possible to achieve performances very similar to conventional materials. A numerical model has then been developed and used to investigate the performances of plastic and composite polymer panels as second-skin layers. The experimental data has been used to verify the behavior of the numerical model, from a thermal point of view, showing good reliability, with a root mean square error lower than 0.40 °C. This model has then been applied in different refurbishment cases upon varying: the polymer and the manufacturing technology (extruded or 3D-printed panels). Eight refurbishment case studies have been carried out on a typical office building located in Napoli (Italy), by means of a dynamic simulation software. The simulation results show that the proposed actions allow the reduction of the thermal and cooling energy demand (up to 6.9% and 3.1%, respectively), as well as the non-renewable primary energy consumption (up to 2.6%), in comparison to the reference case study

A SECOND-SKIN FAÇADE SYSTEM TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND AESTHETIC APPEAL: THE CASE STUDY OF MONTERUSCELLO

In Italy, approximately 40% of the total energy consumption can be directly attributed to the building sector, which is also responsible for about 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. This is due mainly to the old age of most of the Italian buildings (-42% is more than 50 years old) and the slow renovation rates (-1%/year), resulting in poor energy performances. Over the years, several systems have been proposed to improve their energy efficiency, indoor comfort, and sustainability, with a particular interest in improving the building’s envelope and façade systems due to the holistic influence of passive systems on the building design. This research focuses on evaluating a passive retrofit action on an existing building typology, namely the public housing of the Monteruscello district in Pozzuoli (south of Italy), from energy and environmental points of view. The district is realized on an area of -4 km2 after the earthquake in 1980 to provide housing for 20000 people, and is mainly composed of 4-level multifamily buildings. The buildings were made with prefabricated elements, which allowed for quick construction times, but entailed several construction problems due to the poor experience of local workers with the adopted technologies. Consequently, today the district’s buildings suffer severe degradation and need energy and aesthetic upgrades. To carry out the analysis, the 4-level multifamily building is modeled in TRNSYS considering its construction characteristics, then the installation of a second-skin façade system is simulated to assess its energy and environmental impact across a whole year. The second-skin design thoughtfully combines 3D-printed modules and fabric sections, providing energy and aesthetic improvements. The simulation results returned a notable reduction in terms of primary energy consumption and carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in the retrofit cases compared to the reference case, with a significant impact when extending the retrofit on the whole district

The lighting refurbishment of places of worship: The case study of the Church of “Santa Maria di Piedigrotta”

Christian church buildings constitute most of the architectural heritage in Italy. In this paper, the case study of the exterior lighting renewal of the Church of “Santa Maria di Piedigrotta”, located in Napoli, is discussed. The lighting project was carried out with the goal of emphasizing the original hierarchies of the building details, that can often be difficult to understand with the current lighting system. The study started with the analysis of the architectural features of the façades and belfry as well as the existing lighting system. In order to allow for the comparison and optimization of the various lighting design solutions, a virtual model of the church was realized in the simulation software DIALuxEvo. In the most suitable concept, both diffused and accent lighting were integrated, allowing for a correct perception of the whole of the façades of Church, thus highlighting its most valuable elements. The results obtained have responded positively to the enhancement and conservation of the historical-artistic works, while also resulting in energy saving. Moreover, the Standards of Law restrictions on “light pollution towards the sky” for historical and monumental buildings have been respected