Thermal Load and Carbon Emissions With Double Façade and BioPCM Configurations in Different Climates

Abstract

Energy consumption and carbon emissions may be reduced by proper building envelope design. Innovative approaches such as PCM-integrated double-facade systems present an opportunity to increase energy efficiency. However, more scientific data is needed on the performance of these systems in different climate zones and various application scenarios for current local and global energy standards. Therefore, an annual simulation process on ten scenarios with Designbuilder is conducted to analyze the thermal load and carbon emission outputs of five locations with different heating–cooling degree days, varying due to PCMs and insulation layers on double façades. According to the study, the double façade system reduced the total energy load in the office building case in all climates. The double façade system mitigated the total load the most in Istanbul by 17%. BioPCM addition changed the carbon emissions and total loads depending on the building type and the conditions of its application, with or without insulation, in different climates. PCM usage reduced carbon emissions by 0.35% in Antalya while increasing the others. While the highest reduction rate of the total load, with 2.3%, occurred in Erzurum with the insulation and PCM combined case, the same occurred with only the PCM scenario in Antalya, by 1.9%. Accordingly, PCM integration without an insulation layer in hot climates significantly reduces total loads while applying insulation and PCM layers together in cold climates.