Innovative technologies for the control of solar radiation in Mediterranean Areas: analysis of solutions for transparent envelopes

Architecture has considerably modified the form and the function of building’s envelopes. Radical changes were based on the progressive substitution of traditional materials with new ones, owing an higher industrialization level. Among all, the sub-system that mostly has been influenced by technological modifications is the building’s envelope, mainly the one of office buildings, due to its promotional role. The use of external surfaces greatly glazed tries to satisfy aesthetic and technological requirements but, on the other hand, is energetically unbearable, especially in Mediterranean areas where solar radiation reaches very high levels during summer. For these reasons, the need of the control of solar radiation becomes, today, an essential requirement for the design of transparent envelopes. For these aims have been developed new passive and active technologies, that, if applied, are able to rule the incident solar radiation. Active technologies, able to modify the quote of solar energy transmitted to internal spaces as a function of external stresses, and passive systems, able to deflect incident radiation, are the devices that could offer a real increase of internal comfort levels. In the paper, summing up the results of a developing research, are reported the results of Radiance-based simulations of office buildings endowed with innovative glazing. Verifying the results of the simulations, is possible to make a classification of system’s performances in relation to the different boundary conditions. These results could be used by technicians in the design phase of choice of façade’s system, allowing to plan innovative envelopes that interact with external environment and allow to rule energetic exchange between building’s inside and outside.