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High-Performance Building Envelopes

Detailed overview of innovation with sample startups and prominent university research

What it is

High-performance building envelopes are building exteriors designed to minimize energy consumption and maximize occupant comfort. These envelopes incorporate advanced materials, construction techniques, and design principles to optimize thermal performance, reduce air leakage, and control moisture, resulting in buildings that are more energy-efficient, durable, and sustainable.

Impact on climate action

High-Performance Building Envelopes under Energy-Efficient Buildings elevate climate action by enhancing insulation and reducing energy consumption. By minimizing heat transfer and air leakage, these envelopes lower heating and cooling demands, curbing carbon emissions from energy generation, and fostering the development of sustainable, low-carbon buildings for a greener future.

Underlying
Technology

Building Science: Understanding the principles of heat transfer, air leakage, and moisture control is essential for designing high-performance building envelopes.
Advanced Materials: High-performance building envelopes often incorporate advanced materials, such as:
- Insulation: High-performance insulation materials, such as spray foam, rigid foam board, and cellulose insulation, provide superior thermal resistance and reduce heat loss or gain through the building envelope.
- Air Barriers: Air barriers prevent air leakage through the building envelope, reducing energy loss and improving indoor air quality.
- Vapor Barriers: Vapor barriers control moisture movement through the building envelope, preventing condensation and moisture-related problems.
- High-Performance Windows: Energy-efficient windows with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings and multiple glazing layers reduce heat transfer and improve thermal comfort.
Construction Techniques: Advanced construction techniques, such as prefabrication and modular construction, can improve the quality and efficiency of building envelope construction.
Building Energy Modeling: Building energy modeling software is used to simulate and optimize the performance of building envelopes, ensuring they meet energy efficiency goals.

TRL : 7-8

Prominent Innovation themes

Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs): VIPs are high-performance insulation panels that offer superior thermal resistance compared to traditional insulation materials.
Aerogel Insulation: Aerogel is a highly porous material with excellent insulating properties. It is being used in building envelopes to improve thermal performance and reduce energy consumption.
Dynamic Building Envelopes: Dynamic building envelopes can adapt to changing environmental conditions, such as sunlight and temperature, to optimize energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): BIPV integrates solar panels into building materials, such as roof tiles and facades, generating electricity while serving as part of the building envelope.

Other Innovation Subthemes

Advanced Insulation Technologies
Next-Generation Air Barrier Systems
Cutting-Edge Vapor Barrier Solutions
Smart Window Innovations
Prefabrication for Building Envelopes
Aerogel Integration in Construction
Adaptive Envelope Systems
Solar-Integrated Building Materials
Precision Air Sealing Technologies
Innovations in Roofing Systems
Sustainable Facade Design
High-Efficiency Glazing Solutions
Modular Envelope Construction Methods
Energy Modeling Software Advancements
Vacuum Insulation Panel Applications
Dynamic Facades for Climate Control
Novel Materials for Thermal Resistance
Building-Integrated Renewable Energy
Innovative Sealing Techniques

Related Innovations

Sample Global Startups and Companies

AeroBarrier:
- Technology Enhancement: AeroBarrier offers an innovative air sealing technology that provides a high-performance building envelope. Their proprietary aerosol sealing process effectively seals building envelopes by pressurizing the space and then applying an aerosolized sealant, which automatically fills leaks and gaps in the structure. This technology ensures airtightness, improves energy efficiency, and enhances indoor air quality in buildings.
- Uniqueness of the Startup: AeroBarrier stands out for its cutting-edge approach to building envelope sealing, offering a fast, efficient, and automated solution to address air leakage issues in buildings. Their technology provides real-time monitoring and verification of air sealing effectiveness, allowing builders and contractors to achieve desired performance levels and meet energy efficiency standards with precision.
- End-User Segments Addressing: AeroBarrier serves builders, architects, and developers involved in residential, commercial, and institutional construction projects. Their high-performance building envelope solutions are particularly beneficial for energy-efficient and green building initiatives, helping to minimize air leakage, reduce heating and cooling loads, and optimize HVAC system performance.
Sto Corp:
- Technology Enhancement: Sto Corp specializes in exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), rainscreen cladding systems, and air barrier solutions for high-performance building envelopes. Their products include insulated wall systems, air and moisture barriers, and facade finishes designed to enhance energy efficiency, durability, and aesthetics of buildings. Sto Corp’s systems are engineered to provide thermal insulation, moisture management, and air tightness, contributing to superior building envelope performance.
- Uniqueness of the Startup: Sto Corp stands out for its comprehensive range of building envelope solutions and its commitment to innovation in exterior cladding and insulation systems. Their products are designed to meet the evolving needs of architects, builders, and owners seeking sustainable and resilient building envelopes that withstand environmental challenges and deliver long-term performance.
- End-User Segments Addressing: Sto Corp serves architects, contractors, and building owners across various market segments, including commercial, residential, healthcare, and education. Their high-performance building envelope solutions are used in new construction and renovation projects, helping to improve energy efficiency, indoor comfort, and building longevity.
Kingspan:
- Technology Enhancement: Kingspan is a leading manufacturer of high-performance insulation products, insulated panels, and building envelope solutions. Their offerings include insulated metal panels, roof systems, and facade systems designed to optimize thermal performance, fire resistance, and sustainability of buildings. Kingspan’s products feature advanced insulation materials and construction techniques to create energy-efficient and durable building envelopes.
- Uniqueness of the Startup: Kingspan stands out for its global presence and expertise in providing integrated building envelope solutions that address the challenges of energy efficiency and climate resilience. Their commitment to innovation and sustainability drives the development of high-performance building materials and systems that contribute to carbon reduction and occupant comfort.
- End-User Segments Addressing: Kingspan serves architects, contractors, developers, and building owners seeking high-quality and sustainable building envelope solutions. Their products are used in a wide range of applications, including commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential buildings, where superior thermal performance, design flexibility, and environmental responsibility are priorities.

Sample Research At Top-Tier Universities

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL):
- Research Focus: NREL is a leading research institution in the field of High-Performance Building Envelopes, focusing on developing and evaluating advanced materials, technologies, and design strategies to enhance the energy efficiency, comfort, and durability of building envelopes.
- Uniqueness: Their research encompasses the development of novel insulation materials, advanced glazing systems, and integrated facade solutions that optimize thermal performance, daylighting, and solar heat gain control. They also conduct comprehensive performance testing, modeling, and simulation studies to assess the impact of building envelope innovations on energy consumption, indoor environmental quality, and occupant comfort.
- End-use Applications: The outcomes of their work have applications in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. By improving the performance of building envelopes, NREL’s research contributes to reducing heating, cooling, and lighting loads, lowering energy bills, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions associated with building operation.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL):
- Research Focus: LBNL conducts cutting-edge research on High-Performance Building Envelopes, leveraging its expertise in building science, materials science, and environmental sustainability to develop innovative solutions for improving the thermal, visual, and acoustic performance of building envelopes.
- Uniqueness: Their research involves the development of advanced facade systems, dynamic shading devices, and passive cooling strategies that optimize energy efficiency and occupant comfort in diverse climatic conditions. They also explore the integration of smart sensors, adaptive controls, and building energy management systems to enhance the responsiveness and adaptability of building envelopes to changing environmental conditions.
- End-use Applications: The outcomes of their work find applications in commercial buildings, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. By advancing high-performance building envelopes, LBNL’s research supports the development of sustainable, resilient, and healthy built environments, fostering productivity, well-being, and environmental stewardship.
Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP):
- Research Focus: IBP is a leading research institute in Europe specializing in building physics and building envelope research, focusing on developing innovative solutions for improving the energy efficiency, durability, and indoor environmental quality of buildings.
- Uniqueness: Their research encompasses the development of multifunctional building envelope components, advanced facade systems, and innovative construction materials that enhance thermal insulation, moisture management, and sound attenuation properties. They also conduct field experiments, building simulations, and life cycle assessments to evaluate the performance and sustainability of building envelope innovations under real-world conditions.
- End-use Applications: The outcomes of their work have applications in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings across various climate zones. By promoting energy-efficient building envelopes, IBP’s research contributes to achieving climate targets, reducing resource consumption, and improving the resilience and comfort of the built environment.

Commercial Implementation

High-performance building envelopes are being implemented in various building types around the world, including residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. For example, the Bullitt Center in Seattle is a net-zero energy building that features a high-performance building envelope with advanced insulation, air sealing, and energy-efficient windows.

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