Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

The High Performance Building Façade Solutions–Phase II project was initiated through the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program in July 2010 to support industry’s development and deployment of both incremental and breakthrough façade technologies in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The objective of this three-year project was to develop, or support the development and deployment of, promising near-term and emerging zero net energy building façade technologies for solar control and daylighting, addressing two of the largest end uses in California commercial buildings: cooling and lighting. In partnership with industry (such as manufacturers), three classes of technologies were investigated: daylighting systems, angular-selective shading systems, and dynamic façade systems. Commercially available and emerging prototype technologies were developed and evaluated using laboratory tests. Simulations, full-scale outdoor tests in the Advanced Window Testbed, and demonstration projects quantified energy and peak electric demand reductions and occupant satisfaction, acceptance, and comfort associated with the resultant indoor environment. Several new technologies were developed using virtual prototyping tools. Integrated control systems were developed using model predictive controls. Simulation tools were developed to model operable complex fenestration systems such as shades and microprismatic films. A schematic design tool called COMFEN was developed to facilitate evaluation of these advanced technologies in the early design phase. All three classes of technologies resulted in significant reductions in perimeter zone energy use and peak electric demand, providing viable options that can support California’s long-term goal of achieving zero net energy use in the next decade.