IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i19p14319-d1249711.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Study of Technological Advancement and Challenges of Façade System for Sustainable Building: Current Design Practice

Author

Listed:
  • Dushan Fernando

    (Department of Civil & Construction Engineering, School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Satheeskumar Navaratnam

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia)

  • Pathmanathan Rajeev

    (Department of Civil & Construction Engineering, School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Jay Sanjayan

    (Department of Civil & Construction Engineering, School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

Abstract

Currently, several façade systems exist to enable sustainable building design. The biggest challenges for façade designers are to identify new technology and effective, sustainable systems that enable high structural and sustainable performance while producing a good aesthetic. Therefore, this paper aims to review the performance of existing façade systems for sustainable building designs and their limitations. Among modern façade systems, Double Skin Façades (DSF) show promise for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and aesthetics. However, they face challenges like sound transmission between floors, higher initial costs, and outer skin vibrations. Furthermore, adaptive façades gained popularity for their active methods of achieving energy performance and comfort benefits but encountered complexities in design and construction, demanding codes and standards. Green wall systems enhance air quality and aesthetics, while photovoltaic façade systems reduce electricity costs, but both systems face higher initial costs and maintenance challenges. The review indicates that to produce a sustainable building design, architects, engineers, and builders must consider a sustainable façade system that enables high energy efficiency, less cost, better occupant comfort, and fewer environmental impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Dushan Fernando & Satheeskumar Navaratnam & Pathmanathan Rajeev & Jay Sanjayan, 2023. "Study of Technological Advancement and Challenges of Façade System for Sustainable Building: Current Design Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-33, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14319-:d:1249711
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/19/14319/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/19/14319/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Krstić-Furundžić, Aleksandra & Vujošević, Milica & Petrovski, Aleksandar, 2019. "Energy and environmental performance of the office building facade scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 437-447.
    2. Karthick, A. & Murugavel, K. Kalidasa & Ramanan, P., 2018. "Performance enhancement of a building-integrated photovoltaic module using phase change material," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 803-812.
    3. Wu, Jinshun & Zhang, Xingxing & Shen, Jingchun & Wu, Yupeng & Connelly, Karen & Yang, Tong & Tang, Llewellyn & Xiao, Manxuan & Wei, Yixuan & Jiang, Ke & Chen, Chao & Xu, Peng & Wang, Hong, 2017. "A review of thermal absorbers and their integration methods for the combined solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) modules," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 839-854.
    4. Forrest Meggers & Luca Baldini & Hansjürg Leibundgut, 2012. "An Innovative Use of Renewable Ground Heat for Insulation in Low Exergy Building Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(8), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Hongpeng Xu & Jing Li & Jianmei Wu & Jian Kang, 2019. "Evaluation of Wood Coverage on Building Facades Towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-12, March.
    6. Martyna Maniak-Huesser & Lars G. F. Tellnes & Edwin Zea Escamilla, 2021. "Mind the Gap: A Policy Gap Analysis of Programmes Promoting Timber Construction in Nordic Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-14, October.
    7. Halawa, Edward & Ghaffarianhoseini, Amirhosein & Ghaffarianhoseini, Ali & Trombley, Jeremy & Hassan, Norhaslina & Baig, Mirza & Yusoff, Safiah Yusmah & Azzam Ismail, Muhammad, 2018. "A review on energy conscious designs of building façades in hot and humid climates: Lessons for (and from) Kuala Lumpur and Darwin," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2147-2161.
    8. Spanos, I. & Duckers, L., 2004. "Expected cost benefits of building-integrated PVs in UK, through a quantitative economic analysis of PVs in connection with buildings, focused on UK and Greece," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 1289-1303.
    9. Aboulnaga, Mohsen M., 2006. "Towards green buildings: Glass as a building element—the use and misuse in the gulf region," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 631-653.
    10. Małgorzata Fedorczak-Cisak & Elżbieta Radziszewska-Zielina & Bożena Orlik-Kożdoń & Tomasz Steidl & Tadeusz Tatara, 2020. "Analysis of the Thermal Retrofitting Potential of the External Walls of Podhale’s Historical Timber Buildings in the Aspect of the Non-Deterioration of Their Technical Condition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-35, September.
    11. Steffen Lehmann, 2012. "Sustainable Construction for Urban Infill Development Using Engineered Massive Wood Panel Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(10), pages 1-36, October.
    12. Ilaria Vigna & Lorenza Bianco & Francesco Goia & Valentina Serra, 2018. "Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, January.
    13. Luo, Yongqiang & Zhang, Ling & Su, Xiaosong & Liu, Zhongbing & Lian, Jinbu & Luo, Yongwei, 2019. "Improved thermal-electrical-optical model and performance assessment of a PV-blind embedded glazing façade system with complex shading effects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jerominko, Tomasz & Cichowicz, Robert, 2025. "Improving the energy efficiency of typical public buildings intended for education purposes located in the temperate climate zone in central and Eastern Europe," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    2. Henriqueta Teixeira & A. Moret Rodrigues & Daniel Aelenei & M. Glória Gomes, 2024. "Simulation-Based Evaluation of the Impact of an Electrochromic Glazing on the Energy Use and Indoor Comfort of an Office Room," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-29, April.
    3. Pinar Mert Cuce, 2025. "Sustainable Insulation Technologies for Low-Carbon Buildings: From Past to Present," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-50, June.
    4. Mo Wang & Haoyu Xu & Jiayu Zhao & Chuanhao Sun & Yongqi Liu & Jianjun Li, 2025. "The Carbon Sequestration Potential of Skyscraper Greenery: A Bibliometric Review (2003–2023)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Mitra Manouchehri & Joaquín Santiago López & Mercedes Valiente López, 2024. "Sustainable Design of Vertical Greenery Systems: A Comprehensive Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-28, April.
    6. Xiang Liu & Wanjiang Wang & Yingjie Ding & Kun Wang & Jie Li & Han Cha & Yeriken Saierpeng, 2024. "Research on the Design Strategy of Double–Skin Facade in Cold and Frigid Regions—Using Xinjiang Public Buildings as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-30, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Deka, Manash Jyoti & Kamble, Akash Dilip & Das, Dudul & Sharma, Prabhakar & Ali, Shahadath & Kalita, Paragmoni & Bora, Bhaskor Jyoti & Kalita, Pankaj, 2024. "Enhancing the performance of a photovoltaic thermal system with phase change materials: Predictive modelling and evaluation using neural networks," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    2. Jan K. Kazak & Joanna A. Kamińska & Rafał Madej & Marta Bochenkiewicz, 2020. "Where Renewable Energy Sources Funds are Invested? Spatial Analysis of Energy Production Potential and Public Support," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-26, October.
    3. Liang, Ruobing & Pan, Qiangguang & Wang, Peng & Zhang, Jili, 2018. "Experiment research of solar PV/T cogeneration system on the building façade driven by a refrigerant pump," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 744-752.
    4. Yinghui Song & Junwu Wang & Feng Guo & Jiequn Lu & Sen Liu, 2021. "Research on Supplier Selection of Prefabricated Building Elements from the Perspective of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-24, May.
    5. Geng, Xiaoye & Li, Wei & Yin, Qing & Wang, Yu & Han, Na & Wang, Ning & Bian, Junmin & Wang, Jianping & Zhang, Xingxiang, 2018. "Design and fabrication of reversible thermochromic microencapsulated phase change materials for thermal energy storage and its antibacterial activity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 857-869.
    6. Michał Musiał & Lech Lichołai & Dušan Katunský, 2023. "Modern Thermal Energy Storage Systems Dedicated to Autonomous Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-28, May.
    7. Teggar, Mohamed & Laouer, Abdelghani & Benhorma, Amani & Goudjil, Houssem & Arıcı, Müslüm & Ismail, Kamal AR & Mekhilef, Saad & Mezaache, El Hacene & Tahouri, Tahar, 2023. "Perspective role of phase change materials for energy efficiency in Algeria," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    8. Daniel del Barrio Alvarez & Masahiro Sugiyama, 2020. "A SWOT Analysis of Utility-Scale Solar in Myanmar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    9. Tao, Yao & Yan, Yihuan & Chew, Michael Yit Lin & Tu, Jiyuan & Shi, Long, 2023. "A theoretical model of natural ventilation enhanced by solar thermal energy in double-skin façade," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    10. Pilechiha, Peiman & Mahdavinejad, Mohammadjavad & Pour Rahimian, Farzad & Carnemolla, Phillippa & Seyedzadeh, Saleh, 2020. "Multi-objective optimisation framework for designing office windows: quality of view, daylight and energy efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    11. Mukhamad Faeshol Umam & Md. Hasanuzzaman & Nasrudin Abd Rahim, 2022. "Global Advancement of Nanofluid-Based Sheet and Tube Collectors for a Photovoltaic Thermal System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-37, August.
    12. António Curado & Ricardo Figueiras & Hélder Gonçalves & Filipe Sambento & Leonel J. R. Nunes, 2023. "Novel High-Performance ETICS Coatings with Cool Pigments Incorporation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, June.
    13. Yorgos Spanodimitriou & Giovanni Ciampi & Michelangelo Scorpio & Niloufar Mokhtari & Ainoor Teimoorzadeh & Roberta Laffi & Sergio Sibilio, 2022. "Passive Strategies for Building Retrofitting: Performances Analysis and Incentive Policies for the Iranian Scenario," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, February.
    14. Cui, Yuanlong & Zhu, Jie & Zoras, Stamatis & Zhang, Jizhe, 2021. "Comprehensive review of the recent advances in PV/T system with loop-pipe configuration and nanofluid," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    15. Valeria Palomba & Emiliano Borri & Antonios Charalampidis & Andrea Frazzica & Sotirios Karellas & Luisa F. Cabeza, 2021. "An Innovative Solar-Biomass Energy System to Increase the Share of Renewables in Office Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-25, February.
    16. Wu, Zhenghong & Zhang, Ling & Su, Xiaosong & Wu, Jing & Liu, Zhongbing, 2022. "Experimental and numerical analysis of naturally ventilated PV-DSF in a humid subtropical climate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 633-646.
    17. Savvakis, Nikolaos & Tsoutsos, Theocharis, 2021. "Theoretical design and experimental evaluation of a PV+PCM system in the mediterranean climate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    18. María Nuria Sánchez & Emanuela Giancola & Eduardo Blanco & Silvia Soutullo & María José Suárez, 2019. "Experimental Validation of a Numerical Model of a Ventilated Façade with Horizontal and Vertical Open Joints," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    19. Fatih Selimefendigil & Damla Okulu & Hakan F. Öztop, 2023. "Photovoltaic Thermal Management by Combined Utilization of Thermoelectric Generator and Power-Law-Nanofluid-Assisted Cooling Channel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-29, March.
    20. Radhi, H., 2009. "Can envelope codes reduce electricity and CO2 emissions in different types of buildings in the hot climate of Bahrain?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 205-215.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14319-:d:1249711. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.