ABSTRACT

It is common knowledge that fulfilling the basic requirem ents is possible with different existing construction methods and materials. But it turns out that the facade’s contribution towards a better balance of energy , financial and hum an health or living quality can be realised best by the application of Double Skin facades m ade of glass. Glass as a transparent building material allows natural lighting of rooms. This means less costs for lighting energy as well as positive effects to people. The advantage using double skin facades is not only the possibility of dividing the different tasks to two lay ers and giving additional therm al and sound insulation but that in fact the space between the two facades can be regarded as an additional com ponent. And by planning the opportunity to open each facade and maybe even change the open cross section the second facade moreover acts as variable elem ent supplementing or replacing an artificial ventilation system. So a second facade allows windows to be opened (and by this natural air) also in comparatively loud areas and is nearly independent of weather or wind conditions even in high buildings. And in addition the use of sim ple sun blind instead of expensive systems protected from wind and weather is possible. This again saves energy and capital as well as it has positive effects towards the people’s conscious. As further advantage – by using the right structural elements – solar energy input is enabled or disabled, even collecting energy and saving energy at the same time is possible for exam ple by using solar panels for keeping unwanted direct sunlight and energy outside the room s. The until now mentioned topics have in common, that they reduce running costs as well as fixed costs of installation because less or – in some cases of optimal conditions – no artificial air-conditioning, ventilation and heating sy stems have to be installed and maintanenced. In addition to the pos itive effects of saving energy and financial recourses it allows people who are living or working in the building to feel better: windows can be opened, man and not a machine is responsible for ventilation and different wishes of individuals are not ignored. This all helps reducing the basis for SBS (Sick Building Sy ndrome) with its

B. Siebert Ingenieurbüro Dr. Siebert - Consulting Engineers Munich, www.ing-siebert.de

ABSTRACT: In times of rising costs for energy and change of conscience towards environment new requirements for buildings are formulated. Not only for actual planned and future constructions but also for existing buildings these have to be taken in consideration. Hereby reduction of energy for heating and cooling as well as for lighting and artificial ventilation is not the only goal. To reduce the expansion of SBS (sick building syndrome) also living and working conditions have to be improved. As a smart construction element for solving these questions, a double skin facade is placed with a certain distance in front of the inner facade. To allow transm ission of light and solar energy as a material for the second facade glass is used. Natural ventilation is possible when there is enough free space between the glass panes and if an optimized ventilation concept exists.