Retrofitting the existing domestic housing stock with the energy-efficient smart window technologies

Saim Memon

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

Carbon footprint and energy efficiency of buildings are deemed to be the global concerns due to links with fuel poverty and climate change. There is also a solemn prospect of balancing the energy supply and energy demand. Smart Vacuum Insulated Glazing (VIG) is a quintessential development in the move to energy-efficient buildings because of the solar thermal energy transmittance through conventional windows (such as double or triple glazed windows) in the hot-arid countries causing an increase to internal cooling energy requirement such as in Pakistan. The reason vacuum glazing is smart is as it maintains the transparency, regardless of tiny pillar dots ( 0.13 mm high and 0.3 mm wide made of stainless steel allow), and its slim due its narrow vacuum gap (0.13 mm height) when compared to the conventional glazing. A vacuum gap essentially is a space, between two glass sheets, of reduced mass of atmospheric-air, thus air-density defines the level of the vacuum pressure. This provides solar thermal vacuum insulation, because with a lower density of air the mean free path between air molecules can be increased to above 1000 m, ultimately reduces the solar thermal flow between air molecules in a space. The space between two glass sheets is usually evacuated to high-vacuum pressure (0.13 Pa to 1.33·10-4 Pa) in order to reduce conductive and convective thermal transmittance to marginal levels, however the solar energy transmittance through radiation can only be minimized using low-emittance coatings or with electrochromic films. In this keynote talk the results of the experimental and theoretical investigations into the development of smart vacuum glazing along with the scope of semi-transparent PV (Building Integrated PV) with electrochromic thin films will be presented. The experimental and theoretical results of the performance of smart windows and how they would be beneficial in reducing the solar heat gains and reducing the energy requirement will be presented with a further scope of joint research collaboration with Mehran UET and the development of joint-venture in enhancing our international research portfolio will be discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 7 Dec 2019
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Development in Civil Engineering -
Duration: 12 Jul 2019 → …

Conference

ConferenceProceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Development in Civil Engineering
Period12/07/19 → …

Keywords

  • Vacuum Glazing
  • Building-Integrated-PV
  • Buildings
  • Electrochromics
  • Energy-Efficiency
  • Solar Thermal
  • Thermal Transmittance

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Retrofitting the existing domestic housing stock with the energy-efficient smart window technologies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this