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Coloured low-emissivity films for building envelopes for year-round energy savings

Author

Listed:
  • Yucan Peng

    (Stanford University)

  • Lingling Fan

    (Stanford University)

  • Weiliang Jin

    (Stanford University)

  • Yusheng Ye

    (Stanford University)

  • Zhuojun Huang

    (Stanford University)

  • Shang Zhai

    (Stanford University)

  • Xuan Luo

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Yinxing Ma

    (Stanford University)

  • Jing Tang

    (Stanford University)

  • Jiawei Zhou

    (Stanford University)

  • Louisa C. Greenburg

    (Stanford University)

  • Arun Majumdar

    (Stanford University)

  • Shanhui Fan

    (Stanford University)

  • Yi Cui

    (Stanford University
    SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

Abstract

Buildings are responsible for over 40% of total US energy use, of which about 40% is directly related to the operation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Saving energy to heat and cool buildings would contribute substantially to sustainability. Here we propose a category of coloured low-emissivity films for building walls that constitute the main component of the building thermal envelope. We demonstrate high reflectance (~90%) in infrared wavelength range and selective reflectance in the visible light wavelength range for desired colours. These films can help minimize radiative heat exchange between the indoor and outdoor environments, thus saving energy for all-year cooling and heating while satisfying the required aesthetical effect. Simulations show that these films can help reduce heat gain and loss by up to 257.6 MJ per installation wall area annually. In the case of a typical midrise apartment building, the HVAC system can save up to 124.46 GJ (equal to 9.87% of the building’s HVAC energy consumption). By rough estimation, a global CO2 emission reduction of 1.14 billion metric tons annually could be achieved. Our work provides insights for innovative energy-saving building envelope materials that can help achieve global carbon neutrality and sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Yucan Peng & Lingling Fan & Weiliang Jin & Yusheng Ye & Zhuojun Huang & Shang Zhai & Xuan Luo & Yinxing Ma & Jing Tang & Jiawei Zhou & Louisa C. Greenburg & Arun Majumdar & Shanhui Fan & Yi Cui, 2022. "Coloured low-emissivity films for building envelopes for year-round energy savings," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(4), pages 339-347, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:5:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1038_s41893-021-00836-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00836-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Ogutu B. Osoro & Edward J. Oughton & Andrew R. Wilson & Akhil Rao, 2023. "Sustainability assessment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite broadband megaconstellations," Papers 2309.02338, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2024.

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