In the residential sector, solar thermal and PV systems are typically placed on building roofs with limited attempts to incorporate them into the building envelope thus creating aesthetic drawbacks and space availability problems. On the contrary, the use of facades is highly unexplored, and daylight control is delegated to individual management of blinds and curtains leading to high thermal loads during mid-seasons and summer.
 

SHC Task 56 focuses on simulation, laboratory tests and monitoring of multifunctional envelope systems that use and/or control solar energy, influencing thermal energy demand, thermal energy consumption and comfort of the building. The strategic objective of Task 56 is to coordinate the research and innovation effort taking place within the scientific community and the private sector towards broader utilization of envelope integrated technologies.

The achievements in Task 56 during 2019 are summarised in this issue. Topics are: SWOT analysis of solar envelope systems, the study of solar envelope solutions for office and residential buildings using building and system numerical simulations and one Industry workshop, organized in collaboration with “Smart Energy Green Cities” in Copenhagen, Denmark, in March 2019.

The achievements in Task 56 during 2017 are summarised in this issue. Task 56 focused on simulation, laboratory tests and monitoring of multifunctional envelope systems. Two industry workshops were arranged. The industry workshop during the Dublin meeting in March 2017 investigated the opportunities and hurdles of solar integrated multifunctional envelopes. During the second workshop in Eindhoven in September, six experts met to discuss their most innovative technologies.

SHC Task 56 focuses on the analysis, simulation, laboratory testing and onsite monitoring of active envelope solutions that are integrated with building HVAC and comfort systems faced with one of the following: Delivering renewable thermal or/and electric energy to the building’s systems providing heating, cooling and ventilation, or reducing a building’s heating and cooling demands while controlling daylight.