Development of a low energy building using an integrated system of bio-phase change materials and roof-top greenery system.

Buildings are a major part of sustainable urban development and the need for increasing energy efficiency in buildings is attested by the growing demand in energy usage and emission reduction targets. In a response, the purposed research identifies significances, challenges, and mitigating strategies of energy efficiency in buildings. Furthermore, individual, and combined abilities of bio-phase change materials (Bio-PCMs) and rooftop greenery systems (RTGS) will be explored.

Research has shown promising prospects in their energy efficient applications. An existing experimental setup will be refurbished to incorporate Bio-BCMs and RTGS in sub-tropical climates. The energy consumption profile will be developed to investigate the combined effect of Bio-PCMs and RTGS in a building’s energy savings. A model will be developed using the “DesignBuilder” software to predict the thermal performance of the model building which will be validated with experimental data.

The research expects increased thermal performance, enhanced thermal comfort of occupants and eventually a remarkable energy saving for the sub-tropical Australian climates. The research will point towards the unexplored potential of energy efficient technologies and implementational techniques which will certainly aid in the lacking advancement towards the sustainable and energy efficient building designs