Abstract
The demand for zero emission buildings (ZEB) and energy-producing buildings is increasing along with the growing focus on material resource abundance and scarcity, energy efficiency, renewable and non-polluting energy sources and carriers, and environmental impact. In this respect, development of new materials and technologies will be crucial. This development is taking place in a large range of different scientific and technological fields, hence covering many functions and applications in buildings, including tailor-making of miscellaneous materials with specific and even dynamic, i.e. adaptive or controllable, properties. This study will present the development and investigation of new materials and technologies in our laboratories for possible utilization in zero emission buildings. Among the materials and technologies which will be discussed herein are vacuum insulation panels (VIP), nano insulation materials (NIM) including hollow silica nanospheres (HSNS) with a quest to obtain as low thermal conductivity as possible, aerogel-incorporated concrete, translucent aerogel windows, low-emissivity coatings, anti-reflective coatings, solar-selective materials, snow- and ice-avoiding material surfaces, low-weight glass material, smart windows and in particular electrochromic materials for solar radiation regulation, phase change materials, and building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Emphasis will be given on experimental results, although some theoretical and conceptual studies will also be treated.