Exploring the advantages and challenges of double-skin façades (DSFs)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.01.130Get rights and content

Abstract

With the global target to promote energy saving in buildings, various studies draw attention to the role of environmentally benign building envelopes. In this regard, double-skin façades (DSFs) have been proposed as a promising passive building technology to enhance the energy efficiency and improve the indoor thermal comfort at the same time. A comprehensive analysis of the current design of DSFs, and their technical aspects is presented in this paper. Construction characteristics of DSFs are also reported. The impacts of DSFs on the energy efficiency and thermal performance are discussed by looking at measured and simulated performances. Findings confirm that significant benefits result from using DSFs. Finally, research opportunities are outlined for further investigation.

Introduction

Sustainable development principles in the built environment have encouraged researchers to focus on more efficient building envelopes. Façades, as a principal constituent of building envelopes, have a vital role in protecting indoor environments and controlling the interactions between outdoor and indoor spaces. Nevertheless, conventional façades can lead to poor natural ventilation, low level of daylighting, thermal discomfort, and increased energy consumption. These disadvantages are often intensified in modern façades having substantial amounts of glazing [2]. As the result of high solar thermal gains or significant thermal loss at night or in cold climate, extensive glass curtain walls cause significant energy consumption [3]. In recent years, new façade technologies have been designed and proposed for better thermal insulation, shading the solar radiation, improved thermal comfort and visual quality [4], [98]. Among the emergent advanced façades, double-skin façades (DSFs) have been proposed as an efficient solution to control the interactions of indoor and outdoor environments [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18]. As a basic definition, "Double-skin façade is a special type of envelope, where a second “skin”, usually a transparent glazing, is placed in front of a regular building façade" [8]. DSF refers to a building façade covering one or more levels with multiple glazed skins, separated by an air gap, with the common attribute of controllable shading system and airflow within the cavity between the skins of the façade [2]. The air space between the two layers of DSFs performs as an insulating barrier against the unwanted impacts of microclimatic conditions. The ventilation of the cavity can be natural or mechanical [2]. DSF technology can result in full height glazing, particularly for tall buildings, while protecting the indoor ambient and enhancing the daylighting, thermal comfort and energy efficiency [93].

With their potential for a desired facade transparency and their capabilities for reducing thermal gains and losses, as well as their aesthetic appeal, DSFs are globally accepted [19], [20], [21]. Different attempts have been made to analyze and optimize the thermal energy performance of DSFs in different regions and climates. Globally diverse climatic conditions need to be considered in order to rationalize the use of DSFs [22]. This study provides a broad review of the environmental benefits of DSFs, as well as a confirmation of their economic feasibility. The observed challenges and obstacles are expressed together with the current implementations and future development.

Section snippets

Essence of DSFs

Glass façades are widely used for modern architectural projects, particularly commercial buildings, due to their aesthetics, lightweight and daylight potential. In spite of their universal employment, single-layer glass façades have common weaknesses that should preclude (or at least moderate) their use in certain circumstances, such as poor thermal insulation and sound reduction index [10]. Application of DSFs to overcome these problems is widely accepted as offering significant opportunities

Overview

Technically, DSFs encompass three main components: external façade layer, intermediate space and internal façade layer [30]. DSFs are developed based on external glazing offset from internal glazing [15]. Shading devices are also integrated into the air channel for reducing the cooling load of indoor spaces cause by highly intensified solar radiation [9]. It is also noted that both internal and external layers encompass adequate openings for ensuring natural ventilation in cavity and interior

Reduction of energy consumption

Growing attention to analyzing the energy performance of DSFs is observed in recent years. Various studies have utilized different types of simulations, modeling systems and measurement approaches to prove the energy saving with of DSFs [7], [60], [66], [69]. The available results on DSF energy performance are not consistent. Energy saving by using DSFs is reported from the negative range to 50%. A reduction up to 26% of annual cooling energy consumption was observed for a ventilated DSF in

Advantages and challenges vs. economic feasibility

A growing attention is observed towards increasing the integration of DSFs for decreasing the operational energy demands and environmental impacts of buildings [85], [96]. It was discussed that DSF systems are not the best option for energy saving in every location [66]. In particular, using DSFs lead to particular disadvantages such as “higher investment costs than that of traditional single-façade; the risk of overheating on warm sunny days; or acoustics, moisture and fire safety” [9].

One of

Conclusions

Buildings account for approximately 40% of global final energy use and this clearly indicates the necessity to adopt effective sustainable techniques for optimizing the performance of green buildings. One of the most critical aspects of designing energy efficient systems for integration in green buildings is to draw sufficient attention to the façades during the early stage of design. This is due to their direct impacts on the overall energy budget, user’s comfort and cost of the building

Acknowledgment

The first and second author would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by University of Malaya for the research grant "RU025-2015" as a part of IRU-MRUN Collaborative Research Program (University of Malaya and Charles Darwin University).

References (93)

  • H. Ghadamian et al.

    Analytical solution for energy modeling of double skin façades building

    Energy Build

    (2012)
  • C.-S. Park et al.

    Local vs. integrated control strategies for double-skin systems

    Autom Constr

    (2013)
  • M. De Carli et al.

    Evaluation of energy recovery of multiple skin façades: the approach of digithon

    Energy Build

    (2014)
  • J.M. Blanco et al.

    Investigating the thermal behavior of double-skin perforated sheet façades: Part A: model characterization and validation procedure

    Building Environ

    (2014)
  • C. Balocco

    A non-dimensional analysis of a ventilated double façade energy performance

    Energy Build

    (2004)
  • E. Gratia et al.

    Are energy consumptions decreased with the addition of a double-skin?

    Energy Build

    (2007)
  • A. Fallahi et al.

    Energy performance assessment of double-skin Façade with thermal mass

    Energy Build

    (2010)
  • W. Lou et al.

    Experimental and zonal modeling for wind pressures on double-skin façades of a tall building

    Energy Build

    (2012)
  • C.-S. Park et al.

    Calibration of a lumped simulation model for double-skin façade systems

    Energy Build

    (2004)
  • T.E. Jiru et al.

    Modeling ventilated double skin façade—A zonal approach

    Energy Build

    (2008)
  • W. Stec et al.

    Symbiosis of the double skin Façade with the HVAC system

    Energy Build

    (2005)
  • H. Manz

    Total solar energy transmittance of glass double façades with free convection

    Energy Build

    (2004)
  • H. Manz et al.

    Airflow patterns and thermal behavior of mechanically ventilated glass double façades

    Build Environ

    (2004)
  • A. Chan et al.

    Investigation on energy performance of double skin Façade in Hong Kong

    Energy Build

    (2009)
  • W. Ding et al.

    Natural ventilation performance of a double-skin façade with a solar chimney

    Energy Build

    (2005)
  • M. Shameri et al.

    Daylighting characteristics of existing double-skin façade office buildings

    Energy Build

    (2013)
  • J. Darkwa et al.

    Heat transfer and air movement behaviour in a double-skin façade

    Sustain Cities Soc

    (2014)
  • S. Barbosa et al.

    Perspectives of double skin façades for naturally ventilated buildings: a review

    Renew Sustain Energy Rev

    (2014)
  • N. Mingotti et al.

    The fluid mechanics of the natural ventilation of a narrow-cavity double-skin Façade

    Build Environ

    (2011)
  • J.W. Moon et al.

    Preliminary performance tests on artificial neural network models for opening strategies of double skin envelopes in winter

    Energy Build

    (2014)
  • H. Manz et al.

    Thermal simulation of buildings with double-skin façades

    Energy Build

    (2005)
  • J. Joe et al.

    Optimal design of a multi-story double skin Façade

    Energy Build

    (2014)
  • I. Pérez-Grande et al.

    Influence of glass properties on the performance of double-glazed façades

    Appl Ther Eng

    (2005)
  • G. Baldinelli

    Double skin façades for warm climate regions: analysis of a solution with an integrated movable shading system

    Build Environ

    (2009)
  • W. Stec et al.

    Modelling the double skin façade with plants

    Energy Build

    (2005)
  • W. Chow et al.

    Effect of cavity depth on smoke spreading of double-skin façade

    Build Environ

    (2006)
  • W. Chow et al.

    Experimental study on smoke movement leading to glass damages in double-skinned façade

    Constr Build Mater

    (2007)
  • N. Hamza

    Double versus single skin façades in hot arid areas

    Energy Build

    (2008)
  • A. Pappas et al.

    Numerical investigation on thermal performance and correlations of double skin façade with buoyancy-driven airflow

    Energy Build

    (2008)
  • W. He et al.

    Experimental and numerical investigation on the performance of amorphous silicon photovoltaics window in East China

    Build Environ

    (2011)
  • A.L.S. Chan et al.

    Calculation of overall thermal transfer value (OTTV) for commercial buildings constructed with naturally ventilated double skin façade in subtropical Hong Kong

    Energy Build

    (2014)
  • T. Pasquay

    Natural ventilation in high-rise buildings with double façades, saving or waste of energy

    Energy Build

    (2004)
  • L. Xu et al.

    Field experiments on natural energy utilization in a residential house with a double skin façade system

    Build Environ

    (2007)
  • R. Høseggen et al.

    Building simulation as an assisting tool in decision making: Case study: with or without a double-skin façade?

    Energy Build

    (2008)
  • S. Chou et al.

    A study on the effects of double skin façades on the energy management in buildings

    Energy Convers Manag

    (2009)
  • M. Haase et al.

    Simulation of ventilated façades in hot and humid climates

    Energy Build

    (2009)
  • Cited by (166)

    • The state of renewable energy source envelopes in urban areas

      2024, International Journal of Thermofluids
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text