A Review on Innovative Nanomaterials for Enhancing Energy Performance of the Building Envelope

Abstract: The greatest threat of the 21st century is global warming. The building sector is a major contributor to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. About 60% of the total energy consumed in the buildings is caused by HVAC systems. Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that can introduce innovative materials in the building sector which offers great potential for development of innovative building products to enhance performance and energy efficiency of the building. Nanomaterials are a promising candidate for building thermal insulation. This paper presents a theoretical overview of twenty case-based scenarios on the application of nanomaterials to reduce energy consumption in buildings. A comprehensive list of different nanomaterials is reviewed from the literature, as non-structural, insulation, and thermal energy storage materials to improve the insulation performance of the building. Extensive testing and simulation modelling have turned out to be the most popular in this area of research methods for experimental and theoretical studies. The combination of these methods can yield a reliable technique for studying nanomaterials. Finally, embedding nanomaterials into building walls, floors, and roofs can reduce energy consumption and enhance thermal performance of a building’s envelope.