Revolutionizing the Building Envelope: A Comprehensive Scientific Review of Innovative Technologies for Reduced Emissions

Abstract

Abstract This paper reviews innovative building envelope technologies that can improve total building energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The building envelope has a significant impact on energy and thermal performance, making various technologies like phase change materials, aerogel, and active and adaptive systems essential for enhancing the building envelope’s energy efficiency. Phase change materials reduce energy consumption by lowering peak heating and cooling loads, improving thermal comfort. Paraffin wax is considered the most dependable phase change material for building envelopes, as it can decrease energy consumption for heating and cooling. Study shows that active PCM thermal energy storage system can reduce room temperature by 6.8 °C in summer. Aerogel, in comparison, is recognized for its exceptional insulation capabilities and low density that minimize heat transfer and boost thermal insulation in buildings. Silica aerogel’s outstanding feature is its capacity to offer thermal performance that surpasses traditional insulation materials by 2–4 times, thereby delivering substantial energy savings of up to 35 %. Active and adaptive systems, such as smart windows and kinetic facades, enable real-time control of building envelope performance, improving energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Smart windows can lead to annual energy savings up to 35.9 kWh/m 2 compared to traditional windows, and kinetic facades can reduce cooling loads for buildings up to 21 %. The review assesses various adaptive facade solutions for their suitability in diverse climate zones, versatility in application and energy efficiency. Despite the existence of some limitations and challenges, such as high costs and insufficient understanding of their long-term performance, the continuous development and deployment of these technologies can still yield a significant contribution to improving building energy efficiency and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.