Some eighty builders, building consultants and project developers visited ECN last month for the presentation of a new facade concept which can halve building related energy consumption in the offices inside. As a result of the Zon-WEL project the Smartfacade was presented: an innovative and promising facade concept with potential for market introduction in the near future. A number of its components are already being developed with a view to launching a commercial product.

Zon-WEL is a joint R&D project by a number of organisations and aimed to develop a practical, energy-saving facade concept based upon solar heat, power and light. “Given the many positive responses to the presentation,” says project leader Bart de Boer of ECN’s Energy in the Built Environment and Networks Unit, “that is exactly what we in the Zon-WEL team have managed to do. You can therefore call it a success.”

The Smartfacade consists of an outer wall system which makes clever use of sunlight to regulate the climate inside the building. It uses reflective awning slats to increase the amount of natural light entering the building, features highly insulating vacuum panels and incorporates built-in photovoltaic solar cells to generate electricity. Units called “smartboxes”, which are integrated into the crossingpoint of outer walls and the interior floors, control all climate-related functions: heating, cooling, humidity and ventilation with heat recovery. The result is a comfortable working environment, with the ability to regulate the climate individually in each room if desired.

Future energy and cost savings

All this may sound futuristic, but it is now within reach. The rooms behind the new wall are more comfortable climatically than in a standard building, yet consume only half as much energy at no extra cost. “The outer wall itself may be more expensive due to its innovative components and systems,” says De Boer, “but the lack of ducts and cabling for climate-control units – and hence elimination of the need to install false ceilings – can reduce construction costs by about 10 per cent. And it cuts energy costs by more than half.”

The response to the new concept has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The overall impression is that the construction industry finds it a very good idea and is convinced of its practical benefits. Contacts have already been established with major commercial organisations which are interested in further development of the prototype “smartbox”, the so called ‘heart’ of the facade concept, and bringing onto the market.

For more information, visit www.smartfacade.nl or contact:

B. J. de Boer
ECN Energy in the Built Environment and Networks
Postbus 1
1755 ZG Petten
The Netherlands
Telephone +31 224 564901
Fax: 0224 56 8966
E-mail: b.deboer@remove-this-part-ecn.nl