Architectural Technologies Studies

Abstract In the field of building, minimizing energy demand and improving energy management of buildings has received much attention in recent years with the development of energy reduction technologies related to openings. In this study, a window in the living space of a residential building is considered, which is investigated with several types of double and triple glazing and different intermediate gases in terms of internal thermal energy management. (Best-case results) Polymer-based phase change materials (PCM) for thermal energy storage (TES) applications have recently received attention due to their high stability and potential solid-to-solid phase transition. In this study, a living space in the cold climate of Tabriz is simulated, which shows the energy consumption in a cold climate by one of the thermal analysis energy plugins for the best case of glass in terms of type and number of glazing. In this example, the glass surface area occupied (WWR) is considered to be 0.6 of the wall area, and the type of materials selected for the ceiling, walls, and floor of the space is selected equally. Some results show that necessarily with increasing the number Thermal resistance will not be achieved in windows, and in some windows with a lower number of panes but more efficient glazing, energy savings will be greater.

Abstract Aims: Reducing energy demand and improving energy management in buildings have become major concerns in contemporary architectural and environmental research. Since windows constitute one of the most critical components of the building envelope in terms of heat transfer, considerable attention has been directed toward developing advanced glazing technologies to enhance thermal performance and reduce energy consumption. Among these technologies, multi-glazed windows and phase change materials (PCMs) have emerged as promising solutions for improving building energy efficiency. Polymer-based PCMs, in particular, have attracted increasing interest because of their high thermal stability and solid-to-solid phase transition characteristics, making them suitable for thermal energy storage (TES) applications. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of phase change materials in optimizing the thermal performance of double- and triple-glazed window systems and to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing energy consumption under cold climatic conditions. The research focuses on a residential living room located in Tabriz, Iran, and seeks to identify the most efficient glazing configuration in terms of thermal energy management.
Materials & Methods: This study employed a simulation-based approach to assess the thermal performance of various glazing systems. A living room in a residential building located in the cold climate of Tabriz was selected as the case study. Several types of double- and triple-glazed windows with different inter-pane gas fillings were modeled and compared. In addition, polymer-based phase change materials were incorporated into selected glazing configurations to evaluate their contribution to thermal energy storage and indoor temperature regulation. Thermal simulations were conducted using an energy-analysis plugin within a digital building modeling environment. The window-to-wall ratio (WWR) was fixed at 0.6, while the material properties of the roof, walls, and floor were kept constant throughout all simulation scenarios to ensure reliable comparisons. The analyses focused on heat transfer behavior, energy demand, and the thermal efficiency of different glazing arrangements under winter climatic conditions. Comparative evaluations were then performed to determine the most effective combination of glazing layers, gas fillings, and PCM integration for minimizing energy consumption.
Findings: The simulation results indicate that both glazing configuration and material selection significantly influence the thermal performance of residential windows. The incorporation of phase change materials improved thermal energy storage capacity and contributed to more stable indoor thermal conditions. However, the results also revealed that increasing the number of glazing layers does not necessarily lead to a proportional increase in thermal resistance or energy savings. In several cases, double-glazed systems equipped with more efficient coatings and optimized gas fillings performed better than certain triple-glazed alternatives. The effectiveness of the glazing systems was found to depend not only on the number of panes but also on the overall thermal properties of the window assembly. PCM-enhanced glazing systems demonstrated improved energy management capabilities by reducing heat loss and moderating temperature fluctuations within the interior space. These findings highlight the importance of considering the combined effects of glazing technology, gas type, and thermal storage materials rather than relying solely on the number of glazing layers when designing energy-efficient window systems.
Conclusion: The findings of this research demonstrate that optimizing window performance requires a comprehensive evaluation of glazing characteristics rather than simply increasing the number of panes. Although triple-glazed windows are generally assumed to provide superior thermal insulation, the results show that certain double-glazed systems with advanced coatings and appropriate thermal properties can achieve comparable or even better energy performance. Furthermore, the integration of polymer-based phase change materials enhances the thermal behavior of glazing systems by increasing energy storage capacity and improving indoor thermal stability. Therefore, PCM-based glazing technologies represent a promising strategy for reducing energy consumption and improving thermal comfort in residential buildings located in cold climates. The study underscores the necessity of performance-based design approaches in selecting window systems and highlights the potential of phase change materials as an effective component of sustainable and energy-efficient building envelopes.

Abstract The increasing trend of population growth, the energy crisis, and the depletion of energy resources on the planet are all warnings for all sciences and in all fields and professions in order to help sustain the existing situation. Since a large amount of energy consumption in the world is spent on construction purposes, specifically on cooling and heating loads and creating thermal comfort in the building, a study in this field is significantly important. In this research, by choosing a building as a case study, the amount of sunlight received by vertical surfaces has been investigated. Then, using the simulation method and related software, different angles between zero and 180 degrees of rotation are considered for the building to optimize the orientation angle of the building. The optimal angle means that the minimum amount of solar energy is received on vertical surfaces and the maximum amount of shading. Numerous research has been conducted in the past years about the amount of sunlight received in the building and the optimal angle. However, the used software and the measurement on vertical surfaces in Tehran in this research are considered research innovations. The optimal angle results from building energy analysis charts are displayed in this research.