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This study evaluates the potential energy efficiency benefits of Switchable Insulation Systems (SIS) when applied to walls and windows of residential buildings in France. SIS allows to adjust dynamically both thermal and optical properties of walls and windows with the potential to reduce energy consumption from heating and cooling while keeping acceptable indoor thermal comfort within buildings. Based on indoor and outdoor conditions, SIS modulates its thermal and optical properties to facilitate free heating during winter and free cooling during summer. Using a 3R2C-based analysis tool, the energy performance of SIS integrated in exterior walls and/or windows is evaluated for both detached houses and apartment units located in seven cities representing different climates throughout France. The results of various analyses indicated that SIS applied to both walls and windows achieve up to 63% of annual energy savings associated to heating and cooling for a detached house and 82% for an apartment unit. Moreover, SIS is able to eliminate the need for air conditioning systems for residential buildings located in several French climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the potential energy use and peak demand savings associated with optimal controls of switchable transparent insulation systems (STIS) applied to smart windows for US residential buildings. The optimal controls are developed based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) to identify the automatic settings of the dynamic shades. First, switchable insulation systems and their operation mechanisms are briefly described when combined with smart windows. Then, the GA-based optimization approach is outlined to operate switchable insulation systems applied to windows for a prototypical US residential building. The optimized controls are implemented to reduce heating and cooling energy end-uses for a house located four US locations, during three representative days of swing, summer, and winter seasons. The performance of optimal controller is compared to that obtained using simplified rule-based control sets to operate the dynamic insulation systems. The analysis results indicate that optimized controls of STISs can save up to 81.8% in daily thermal loads compared to the simplified rule-set especially when dwellings are located in hot climates such as that of Phoenix, AZ. Moreover, optimally controlled STISs can reduce electrical peak demand by up to 49.8% compared to the simplified rule-set, indicating significant energy efficiency and demand response potentials of the SIS technology when applied to US residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the potential energy savings when switchable insulation systems (SIS) are applied to walls of residential buildings located in Belgium and other locations in Europe. The study considers two low-energy prototypical dwellings (an apartment and a detached house) that are representative of post-2010 constructions and renovations in Belgium. Using an 3R2C-based analysis tool, the performance of both dwellings is evaluated with static and dynamic wall insulation systems. First, the switchable insulating system is described along with its associated simple 2-step rule-based control strategy. Then the modeling strategy and simulation analysis tools are presented. In Belgium, it was found that SIS-integrated walls allow energy savings up to 3.7% for space heating and up to 98% for cooling. Moreover, it was found that to further reduce the energy consumption of SIS-integrated buildings in various European climates, thermal mass placement needs to be considered. By optimizing the placement and the parameters of the various wall layers, it is possible to increase the space heating savings by up to a factor of 4 and those of cooling by up to a factor of 2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]