A review of prefabricated self-sufficient facades with integrated decentralised HVAC and renewable energy generation and storage

To be future proof, it is essential for buildings and their heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to be adaptive to changing climate and occupancy scenarios and supplied with locally generated renewable energy. To accomplish this, the trend is towards decentralising HVAC and energy-generating equipment into prefabricated non load-bearing facade systems, which can be replaced with minimal disturbance to the building core and its ongoing activities. Key to a successful implementation of such facades in the building industry, is self-sufficiency through facade-integrated energy storage and the absence of (grid/water) supply and drainage lines. This review discusses the savings potential of about 50 facade systems and projects classifying them according to their renewable energy generation, storage and HVAC technology. Up to 63 kg/m(2)a CO2 savings have been reported for the considered technologies. Although many studies are energy-neutral, few attempts towards self-sufficient facade-integrated storage are published. Decentralized ventilation combined with thermo-electric elements or heat pumps further shows potential for self-sufficient curtain wall-integrated HVAC. This review, however, found no self-sufficient prefabricated facade system on the market with integrated HVAC. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

To ensure future sustainability, buildings and HVAC systems need to adapt to climate and occupancy changes by using prefabricated facade systems and self-sufficient energy storage technology.