Buildings consume 40% of energy in the United States, and influence greenhouse gas emissions. Given the high energy usage and inefficiencies found in conventional HVAC systems, new heating and cooling sources are needed to reduce buildings’ carbon footprint. Moreover, integration of different building systems, particularly building envelope and HVAC, are essential for high-performance buildings.
Here, the inventors have conceived and demonstrated the thermoelectric facade, a novel facade system that integrates active and conventional thermoelectric (TE) modules for cooling, heating and energy generation. TE modules generate heat or cooling when electricity is applied, exploiting the Peltier effect, and produce a voltage when exposed to a temperature gradient, utilizing the Seebeck effect. Coupled with heat sinks, conductive materials and an electronic controller, the TE modules are employed in the facade system to heat or cool interior spaces of buildings, providing highly efficient and localized thermal management without requiring ducting, piping, or other large installations commonly associated with forced-air systems. In addition, thermoelectric facades can take advantage of temperature differences between interior and exterior to generate electricity at those times when active heating or cooling is not in use.
This novel, intelligent facade system can be integrated into various facade types, regardless of the building function. Its modularity allows for easy installation into façade assemblies of the existing buildings, increasing the overall energy performance of the building. Additionally, they can be used in the design and construction of new buildings with various types of building envelope, including curtain walls, rainscreen facades with aluminum cladding, opaque facades with window and vertical shading, and/or opaque facades with window and horizontal shading.
