How to create a more energy efficient curtain wall facade for your building？

As curtain wall facade system becomes much more popular in the modern building construction today, many architects tend to prefer a more energy efficient curtain wall fa?ade in the modern buildings in the long term. In this article, we would like to talk about five fascinating buildings with varying approaches, including double skin glazing, low iron glass, building-integrated photovoltaics and metal scrims.

1. Double (Or Triple) Skin Glazing
With regard to structural glass curtain wall, there is no doubt that many people would like to maintain the visual qualities of an all-glass design, as well as to reduce the entire building’s energy demand and carbon emissions. The fa?ade system consists of triple glazing on the inner layer and single glazing on the outer, forming a cavity with a fabric roller blind in between. The panels are sealed with a pressurized supply of filtered and dehumidified air, in order to avoid condensation and heat-build up within the cavity.

2. Low Iron Glass
Located in the center of Toronto’s downtown, 7 St. Thomas blends Victorian and contemporary materials to create a unified work. Not only does the tower undulate in response to the existing fabric of the site, but it also features an impressive high-performance curtain wall; fritted patterns allow for pleasant light penetration while specialty insulating and low iron glass by Guardian Glass in bent, concave and convex profiles reduce the overall thermal transmission of the building.
3. Metal Scrims
As it is well acknowledged, an impressive building is always regarded a typical landmark that functions as a dramatic symbol, which signals one’s entrance to the major city. For example, in addition to the building’s geometric form, the architects incorporated a double-skin aluminium curtain wall with stippled golden scrims to further reduce heat loads and provide an effective thermal buffer between the interior and exterior. With such features, Allianz Tower is an excellent example of a structure where the architects were able to able to successfully merge function and aesthetics, to create a building that is equally high-performing as it is striking.
4. Building-Integrated Photovoltaics
Obviously, an office building generally challenges preconceptions of workplace design. Today, Onyx Solar is one of the world’s leading makers of building integrated photovoltaic glass for architectural applications, and has worked with firms such as Gensler, Foster + Partners, SOM and Frank Gehry. Not only does the custom curtain wall enhance the overall performance of the building without the associated eyesore of traditional photovoltaics, but it also invites opportunities for interaction and creative impact among tenants.