NICMAR

Synopsis on
IMPLEMENTATION OF ENERGY OPTIMISED
TECHNIUES FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

By
SWAPNIL SHARMA
Reg No.: 213-08-32-11709-2151

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CONSTRUCTION

MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH, PUNE.

SCOPE OF PROJECT STUDY

Energy-optimised buildings are already technically realisable today. But also in the building trade, new
technologies offer new opportunities. New materials, technologies and systems for construction
engineering and for buildings' technical equipment can make buildings more comfortable, slimmer, more

energy-efficient, more flexible, more convenient, more cost-efficient, or more durable. Here, on an
ongoing basis, we present new technological approaches arising from research into "buildings of the
future", show the pilot projects in which prototype systems are already proving themselves, and show
which hurdles must yet be surmounted before market entry is possible. Here we will discuss regarding
various energy optimised technologies which can change the building construction scenario.

1 Adaptive heating system according to plug-and-play principle

2 Activatable shading for membrane cushion constructions
3 Adaptive synthetic glazing for roofing and facades
4 Thermally insulated concrete roof elements with integrated solar absorbers
5 Vacuum insulation under the spotlight

ADVANTAGES:
ADAPTIVE HEATING SYSTEM ACCORDING TO PLUG-AND-PLAY PRINCIPLE

This research project sought to design and examine a new innovative adaptive heating system according
to the plug-and-play principle. The central components in the system communicate with one another. And
the boiler, pump and thermostatic valves interact with the central control unit to make operation as
convenient and energy efficient as possible. Hydraulic balancing is performed automatically in ongoing
operation and the pump output and heating curve are continually adapted to current demand. Static
hydraulic balancing is no longer necessary with this concept and the pre-configuration of the thermostatic
valves is done away with. Operation of the system is designed to minimize hydraulic resistance and the
associated pump power requirements. Further optimization functionalities are likewise feasible with the
system, such as optimized heating and cooling processes, reduced supply temperatures or open window
detection.

ACTIVATABLE SHADING FOR MEMBRANE CUSHION CONSTRUCTIONS

This is a first for textile architecture: Solar thermal energy can be extracted for use in buildings, with dyed
fluids in transparent, pneumatically stabilised film membranes. This produces a simultaneous shading
effect with activatable properties where the dyed fluid is replaced by a clear fluid. This research project

involved the development of a system for the activatable shading of membrane cushion constructions
produced from ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) and its testing on an element prototype. The system
allows the thermal and indoor environmental properties of pneumatically stabilized membrane envelopes
in the architecture to be enhanced and solar thermal energy in the building to be put to effective use. And
as this permits the striking of a more conducive balance between the utilization of daylight, solar heat
recovery and effective sun protection, the scope of application of membrane cushion constructions
potentially could be greatly expanded with the new concept.

ADAPTIVE SYNTHETIC GLAZING FOR ROOFING AND FACADES

This research project sought to develop a new innovative thermo tropic additive for acrylic glass. It is
now possible to manufacture synthetic glazing with a temperature-sensitive total energy transmission
coefficient. At high outside temperatures or where the glazing is heated by sunlight, adaptive synthetic
glazing alternates from a transparent to an intensive light-dispersive state. This reduces the total
permeability for solar radiation by more than 50 per cent. Cost-effective acrylic glass (polymethyl
methacrylate, PMMA) is widely used in the construction industry as a real glass alternative. Established
products include in particular multi-wall sheeting and corrugated panels alongside solid sheeting. The
favorable dimensional stability under heat of acrylic glass provides the overall thermo tropic system with
high mechanical and thermal stability. Elements produced from thermo tropic acrylic glass are selfsupporting. An elaborate and cost-intensive sandwich construction is unnecessary. In contrast to activeswitching electro chromic sun protection glazing, no external power supply is required. This simplifies
the system construction, reduces production costs and involves no operating or maintenance costs. At low
outside temperatures, transparency remains favorable and the glazings see-through properties are
retained. Primary areas of application include roofing, industrial glazing and greenhouses.

THERMALLY INSULATED CONCRETE ROOF ELEMENTS WITH INTEGRATED

SOLAR ADSORBERS

In this research project, a roof element was developed based on textile-reinforced concrete. The idea
behind it is that integrated thermal insulation reduces the heat loss through the roof, while thermal energy
can be fed into the building using the integrated solar absorber. The element is effectively a simple solar
collector, but without front-side thermal protection. This open construction method makes the solar
absorber especially suitable for generating heat with small temperature differences to the ambient air. In
combination with a heat pump process, the provision of higher temperatures would also be possible. The
newly developed concrete roof element essentially provides an alternative heat pump source. Direct water
heating would even be conceivable in the summer months with, however, a significantly reduced solar
efficiency. Here another supplementary heat generator would certainly be necessary. The lightweight
component with a composite structure makes it possible to reduce the transport costs and facilitates
assembly on the building site.

VACUUM INSULATION UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Thermographic image of the gable facade immediate

following the renovation in 2001 (left) and at the end of 2008, almost eight years after the first image was
taken (right). Despite the growth of climbing plants and the use of a poorer quality IR camera in 2008, it
can be seen that the vacuum insulation panels do not show any further faults.
Although the advantages of slim vacuum insulation are self-evident, designers and developers still have
their reservations about using the new technology. It is questioned whether the vacuum enclosure actually
remains intact when handled during construction and whether the excellent insulation remains once the
panels are installed. For this reason, the aim of the VIP-PROVE project was to thoroughly investigate the

reliability of vacuum insulation with commercial buildings equipped with this technology. In addition to
the commercially realised building projects, a few of the earliest and thus probably oldest documented
demonstration projects were also included in the study programme. The detailed investigation of the
buildings with vacuum insulation, which numbered 15 refurbishment and 9 new-build schemes, shows
that more than 95 per cent of the installed panels continue to work flawlessly even years after they were
installed. This is a respectable value, especially given that this was still a very new technology at the time
of the planning and installation. This meant that this was the first time that most of the designers and
contractors had come into contact with the new insulation technology. A particularly positive aspect is that
practically no cases of failure or ageing were determined over the course of time. A particularly critical
aspect, however, seems to be the handling on the building site. Once the vacuum panels are installed, the
high thermal insulation evidently remains reliable for many years.