Evaluation of a prototype active building envelope window-system

Active building envelope systems represent a new enclosure technology that uses solar energy to compensate for passive heat losses or gains through building envelopes. In ABE systems, energy obtained from solar radiation is converted into electrical energy by using photovoltaic cells. This electrical energy is subsequently used to power a series of solid-state thermoelectric modules, which can control the flow of heat through the enclosure. In order to assess the practical feasibility of ABE systems, we have developed a prototype ABE window-system and an outdoor testing room. A testing system was developed to measure the ABE system's temperatures, solar radiation, current and voltage. Theoretical and experimental results are presented and compared. Finally, the performance of the ABE window-system was evaluated. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.