journal article·2025-07-02Open access

Energy Sustainability, Resilience, and Climate Adaptability of Modular and Panelized Buildings with a Lightweight Envelope Integrating Active Thermal Protection: Part 2—Design and Implementation of an Experimental Prototype of a Building Module for Modular Buildings

Daniel Kalús, Veronika Mučková, Zuzana Straková, Rastislav Ingeli, Naďa Antošová, Patrik Šťastný, Marek Ďubek, Mária Füri, Martin Bolček

Coatings· Volume 15· Issue 7

Abstract

The integration of energy-active elements into the building envelope in the form of large-area heating/cooling, active thermal protection (ATP), thermal barriers (TB), and TABS represents a technical solution that is consistent with the principles of energy sustainability, resilience, and adaptability to climate change and ensures affordable and clean energy for all while protecting the climate in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The aim and innovation of our research is to develop energy multifunctional facades (EMFs) that are capable of performing a dual role, which includes the primary known energy functions of end elements and the additional innovative ability to serve as a source of heat/cooling/electricity. This new function of EMFs will facilitate heat dissipation from overheated facade surfaces, preheating of hot water, and electricity generation for the operation of building energy systems through integrated photovoltaic components. The theoretical assumptions and hypotheses presented in our previous research work must be verified by experimental measurements with predictions of the optimal operation of building energy systems. Most existing studies on thermal barriers are based on calculations. However, there are few empirical measurements that quantify the benefits of ATP in real operation and specify the conditions under which different types of ATP are feasible. In this article, we present the development, design, and implementation of an experimental prototype of a prefabricated building module with integrated energy-active elements. The aim is to fill the knowledge gaps by providing a comprehensive framework that includes the development, research, design, and implementation of combined energy systems for buildings. The design of energy systems will be developed in BIM. An important result of this research is the development of a technological process for the implementation of a contact insulation system with integrated ATP in modular and panel buildings with a lightweight envelope.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Building Energy and Comfort Optimization · Architecture and Computational Design

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Affiliations

Department of Building Services, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 11, 810 05 Bratislava, Slovakia

Funding

EHBconsulting Ltd.

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