ABSTRACT

In 1981 Mike Davis proposed a new design of the glass wall, which he called a polyvalent wall that would dynamically respond to changing environmental conditions. The idea of an inter-active component in a building envelope has become a source of inspiration for the proponents of external wall concepts. The proposed designs are important because they apply principles of multifunctionality based on cooperation between the wall layers and the dynamic reaction of changing external and internal thermal conditions. The multilayer wall, therefore, plays a major role in the thermal shielding of a building and is a key component in energy efficiency. And the use of new construction materials the wall functionality has been expanded. This application has also expanded the role of a wall in the process of energy management of a building. A non-transparent wall can produce electricity, supply heat from solar radiation, absorb, store and distribute heat. It can be responsible for stabilizing room temperatures. The cooperation between individual layers also has an impact on energy efficiency and on the microclimate of a given building. This paper will present different ways of energy activation in external walls with a special focus on the photovoltaic panels/modules (PV), the transparent insulation (TIM) and phase change materials (PCM). New materials can be included in the partition structure in different configurations such as a single or a bi-material component for improving thermal effects.

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