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Abstract Solar near-infrared (NIR) selective glazing systems have been proposed by incorporating photothermal effects (PTE) of a nanoparticle film into building windows. From an energy efficiency perspective, the nanoscale PTE forms unique inward-flowing heat by heating up the window interior surface temperature under solar near-infrared, significantly improving the window thermal performance. Also, the PTE-driven solar heat gains are dynamic upon solar radiation and weather conditions. However, the PTE on annual building energy use has not been investigated thoroughly, due to the lack of an accurate and appropriate energy simulation method. In this study, we used the EnergyPlus energy management system to develop a parametric energy model and simulation approach in which a solar-temperature-dependent thermal model was embedded into the parametric energy simulation workflow. Applying this method, we examined the solar near-infrared-dependent PTE-induced thermal performances of glazing systems and their effects on annual heating energy use in representative cold climates (i.e., Zones 4, 5, and 6). The results show that the dynamic model considering the PTE demonstrated more heating energy savings, up to 11.64% in cold climates, as opposed to the baseline model that ignored the PTE. This work presents a method to model and simulate the dynamic thermal performance of windows with PTE. 

With the recent discoveries and engineering solutions emerging in nanomaterials and nanostructures, independent band modulation of solar radiation on building envelopes, including glazing systems, has become increasingly viable as a potential means of improving building energy savings and indoor visual comfort. However, when it comes to the prediction of these new materials’ potential energy performance in buildings, most studies utilize a simple solar irradiance (e.g., global horizontal solar irradiance, direct beam solar irradiance) or a rough estimation of solar infrared (e.g., 50% solar irradiance) as input, which may cause significant errors. Consequently, there is a pressing need for reliable performance estimations of the solar infrared control and response at the building’s scale. To assess this, we need a solar spectral irradiance model, or at least a wideband (visible or infrared) solar irradiance model, as input. To develop this new type of model, one needs to understand the modeling-related key elements, including available solar spectral irradiance datasets, data collection methods, and modeling techniques. As such, this paper reviews the current major measurement methods and tools used in collecting solar spectral irradiance data with a focus on the solar infrared region, identifies the available related resources and datasets that particularly encompass the solar spectral irradiance data with a sufficient wavelength range, and studies existing solar irradiation modeling techniques for building simulations. These investigations will then form the background and backbone for a study scheme of solar infrared radiation modeling and indicate future research paths and opportunities. 

Solar radiation is a key factor influencing sustainable building engineering, in terms of both optical and thermal properties of building envelopes. Solar irradiance data in a conventional weather data file are broadband, representing the total of ultraviolet (UV), visible light (VIS), and near-infrared radiation (NIR), three components of the solar spectrum; however, these three components play different roles in sustainable building design and engineering. For instance, solar VIS always provides benefits to indoor building energy savings (e.g., electrical lighting), while solar NIR is beneficial to building energy savings in winter but undesirable in summer. As a consequence, there is a need for reliable separate analyses focusing on individual solar radiation components. In this work, we explore and test classification-based modeling methods for decomposing hourly broadband global horizontal solar irradiance data in conventional weather files into hourly global horizontal solar NIR components. This model can then be conveniently implemented for sustainable building design and engineering purposes. 

Single-pane windows still account for a large percentage of US building energy consumption. In this paper, we introduced a new solution incorporating the photothermal effect of metallic nanoparticles(Fe3O4@Cu2−xS) into glazing structures to utilize solar infrared and then enhance the window’s thermal performance in winter. Such spectrally selective characteristics of the designed photothermal films were obtained from lab measurements and then integrated into a thermodynamic analytical model. Subsequently, we examined the thermal and optical behaviors of the photothermal single-pane window and compared its overall energy performance with the conventional low-e coated single-pane window, in which typical window properties, dimensions, winter boundary conditions, and solar irradiance were adopted. The numerical analysis results demonstrated that the photothermal window systems could yield 20.4% energy savings relative to the conventional low-e coated windows. This research paves an underlying thermodynamic mechanism for understanding such a nanoscale phenomenon at the architectural scale. From the implementation perspective, the designed photothermal film can be added into the existing single-pane windows for energy-efficient retrofitting purposes. 

ABSTRACT To understand the potential impacts on both thermal performance and condensation risks of using low-e coatings in buildings, especially in the single-pane sector, in this work, parametric numerical analysis in winter is conducted. Three building glazing models, including the single-pane without low-e coatings (SNL), single-pane with exterior low-e coatings (SEL), and single-pane with interior low-e coatings (SIL), are selected and simulated through COMSOL over a range of outdoor temperature and indoor humidity. The temperature of the interior surface of windows, heat flux through windows, winter U-factor of center-of-glass will be obtained and compared. Additionally, a numerical code is developed in R to compute and plot the condensation temperatures of these three models upon the given indoor humidity levels and simulated surface temperatures. The comprehensive analysis of condensation risks on the glazing inner surface of the three models will be conducted. This parametric simulation effort indicates an interesting feature for a single-pane window: while the SIL gives a substantially lower U than the SNL, it also corresponds to an increased condensation risk under certain limits of external temperature and indoor humidity levels. Upon the resultant condensation temperatures and thermal performance analysis, we can conclude the parameters of the windowpane property, coating emissivity and placement, local climate, and building interior thermal settings must be taken into account collectively when it comes to adding low-e coatings to single-pane windows.