CFS4LowCarb – Integrated Solutions of Complex Fenestration Systems for Low Carbon Buildings
Project leader: David Geisler-Moroder
Project manager overall project Austria: Martin Hauer, Bartenbach GmbH
- Bartenbach GmbH
- AEE - Institute for Sustainable Technologies
- Architekturbüro Reinberg ZT GmbH
- HELLA Sonnen- und Wetterschutztechnik GmbH
- Universität Innsbruck, Arbeitsbereich Energieeffizientes Bauen
- Hunan University, School of Architecture
- Beijing GBSWARE Software Inc.
- China Academy of Building Research
- China Construction Fifth Engineering Division Corp., Ltd.
Contracting authority: Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK), managed through The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
Funding program: TECXPORT: Bilateral FTI-Call 2022
Project period: 01/01/2024 - 31/12/2025
Summary
To address the rapidly changing challenges of daylighting, cooling, and solar active systems in buildings, the research performed in CFS4LowCarb will focus on complex fenestration systems and compliance tools dedicated to predicting, evaluating and improving daylighting in buildings while reducing the cooling demand. Further, R&D approaches for novel attractive energy-efficient façade systems by integrating solar-active components into transparent building components are investigated. This contributes to buildings becoming energy efficient and moving towards a low carbon built environment. The proposed methods will be tested and evaluated for selected CFS solutions in transparent façades in virtual and real-world case studies by integrating them into digital twin testbeds in Austria and China.
Motivation
China and Austria, like all countries in the world, face a rapid increase in the usage of mechanical air-conditioning and overpowered HVAC systems in buildings. This development is driven by multiple factors, such as demand for transparent façades and windows, urbanization, climate-change-related factors, and elevated comfort expectations together with economic growth. The trend towards integrating daylighting, cooling, and solar-active systems in buildings seems inevitable. Therefore, it is mandatory to guide this development towards sustainable solutions for complex fenestration systems (CFS) based on scientific knowledge gained in dedicated research projects.
Scope and Goals
The research performed in CFS4LowCarb will focus on complex fenestration systems and compliance tools dedicated to predicting, evaluating and improving daylighting in buildings while reducing the cooling demand. Further, R&D approaches for novel attractive energy-efficient façade systems by integrating solar-active components into transparent building components are investigated. This contributes to buildings becoming energy efficient and moving towards a low-carbon built environment. The proposed methods will be tested and evaluated for selected CFS solutions in transparent façades in virtual and real-world case studies by integrating them into digital twin testbeds in Austria and China.
Methods
To achieve the proposed goals, the project explores technical measures and multi-objective synergy and optimization solutions for transparent façades, develops and implements analysis and evaluation tools, supports enterprise technology research and development, and promotes international cooperative research between Austria and China, key technology application and scientific and corporate networking.
Expected Results
- Fast simulation models based on existing matrix calculation methods for daylight system characterization and creation of digital design workflows.
- Calculation methods to evaluate the light and solar reflections in terms of glare and heat, and first design guidelines for CFS in high-density urban areas.
- New possibilities for active energy generation with (semi-)transparent CFS by integrating photovoltaics, daylighting technology and solar shading.
- Deep understanding of spectral characteristics of the solar radiation under different sky conditions, and improvement of the calculation accuracy of PV yield calculation.
- Optimization of microclimate in the urban context with regard to overheating prevention by using innovative materials ("radiative cooling material").
- Evaluation of life-cycle carbon emissions for selected CFS solutions in transparent facades and implementation of the proposed methods in several real-world design cases and digital twins.