Sustainability assessment of advanced window systems in buildings

Facades are a crucial interface between the external conditions and the required conditions inside a building. Using glazing in the building envelope provides daylight, views and ventilation. Heat loss and gain through glazing has an important impact on the energy efficiency of buildings. Windows performance has been improved over the years by using double and triple glazing, low-e coatings and filling the spacing with gases such as argon and krypton. More recently, novel glazing technologies have emerged that promise to further improve windows performance; smart windows, electrochromic filters, PV glazing, advance coatings etc.

In order to avoid high energy consumption in buildings, selecting the appropriate amount and type of glazing, along with the shape, location and functionality of the windows is a very important issue to address in the early stage design. The challenge is to provide a balance between energy efficiency, occupant comfort and saving resources. This can be achieved by obtaining an integrated performance analysis at building level where daylight, heat loss, passive solar gains, occupant needs/behaviour, orientation, life cycle costs and life cycle environmental impacts are considered.

This research aims to investigate the energy efficiency, cost and environmental impact of advanced glazing options available in the market and to examine their role in providing comfort and well-being with a focus on patient’s room in hospitals.  This research will also explore and determine the relationship between glazing and indoor environmental conditions in general and the specific role of glazing and window design regarding patient’s recovery. These findings could have a significant impact on the (re-)design of buildings where their occupants spend substantial time inside.

The findings and outcomes of this study will be interpreted into a set of guidelines, an improved design method and a framework to assist architects in early design stage; recommending optimal glazing solutions and suggesting different scenarios for improving performance and minimizing environmental impacts.